Serological survey of the infectious disease status of Old English Game fowl in the lower North Island, New Zealand

Abstract

AIM: To investigate the serological status of Old English Game (OEG) cockerels for a range of infectious diseases of poultry.

METHODS: Standard methods were used to screen serum collected from approximately 200 birds during routine dubbing operations, in 2004 and 2005.

RESULTS: There was no serological evidence of infection with Newcastle disease, infectious bursal disease, or Salmonella Pullorum. Antibodies to infectious bronchitis virus, avian encephalomyelitis (AE) virus, Mycoplasma gallisepticum and Mycoplasma synoviae were detected.

CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The disease status of OEG birds is similar to that of commercial poultry.

KEY WORDS:

• Fancy poultry
• disease surveillance

Acknowledgements

The author would like to thank Tegel Poultry for sponsoring the tests, and in particular Val Morgan of Tegel's National Serology Laboratory for doing the serological work.