The National Poultry Improvement Plan was originally implemented to eliminate which organism from poultry?

• A. Salmonella typhoid
• B. Salmonella enteritidis
• C. Salmonella pullorum
• D. Salmonella typhimurium

Answer: (C)

The plan was created to tackle a specific poultry disease caused by Salmonella pullorum. This organism led to pullorum disease, causing high mortality in young chicks and, importantly, could be passed from a hen to her offspring through the egg. Because of that vertical transmission, eliminating the bacterium from breeding stock was essential, and the program implemented breeder flock testing, culling positives, and certified hatcheries to prevent infected birds from entering production. The other organisms listed are either human-associated or different poultry serotypes that were not the original target of the plan. Therefore, the organism the National Poultry Improvement Plan aimed to eliminate was Salmonella pullorum.