Main description:

This book is based on the proceedings of a seminar on acute viral in fections of poultry, which was held in Brussels on 13-14 June 1985. The aim of the seminar, which was sponsored by the CEC, was to gather infor mation on those infections of immediate or increasing importance. It is hoped that dissemination of this information will make it easier to har monize diagnostic and control measures throughout the member states of the EEC. Several points emerge from recent outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza. In view of the apparent change in pathogenicity of the virus involved in the outbreak in the USA, infections of domestic poultry, particularly with H5 and H7 sub-types, should be regarded as a potential threat, even if the viruses involved are of low pathogenicity. The reasons for the amount of lateral spread which occurred in the USA outbreak are still not clear, and it can not be assumed that future outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza will tend to be self-limiting, as in the past. The importance of denying access of wild birds, particularly water fowl, to domestic poultry needs to be re-emphasised. Lastly, there appears to be increasing support for a combination of slaughter and ring vaccination to control future outbreaks of spreading avian influenza.

Contents:

A Lethal Outbreak of H5N2 Influenza in Poultry in the USA: Virus Characterization and Host Range.- The Control and Epidemiology of an Influenza A Outbreak in Ireland.- Current Situation of Avian Influenza in Italy and Approaches to its Control.- Avian Influenza: Diagnosis and Vaccination.- Experimental Vaccination of Chickens Against Avian Influenza Subtype H5 With an Inactivated Oil Emulsion Vaccine.- The Classification, Host Range and Distribution of Avian Paramyxoviruses.- Paramyxovirus Type 1 Infection in Pigeons.- Vaccination of Pigeons With Live and Inactivated Vaccines Against Paramyxovirus 1 Infection.- Avian Paramyxovirus Type 1 Infections in Pigeons - Spread to Domestic Poultry in Great Britain in 1984.- Recent Advances in Paramyxovirus Infection of Turkeys in France.- The Diagnosis and Control of Infectious Bronchitis Variant Infections.- A New Pathogenic Avian Infectious Bronchitis Virus Isolated in France.- Antigenic Differentiation of Avian Bronchitis Virus Variant Strains Employing Monoclonal Antibodies.- Efficiency of Oil Adjuvanted Infectious Bronchitis Vaccines.- Evaluation of Vaccination Experiments in Broiler Breeders and Layers With Live Virus and Formalin Inactivated Oil Emulsion Infectious Bronchitis Vaccines.- Preliminary Results With a Combined Inactivated Newcastle Disease and Infectious Bronchitis (Variant Strain) Vaccine in Laying Hens.- An Enterotropic Avian Infectious Bronchitis Virus.- Runting in Broilers.- Runting Syndrome in Broiler Chickens. Experimental Reproduction Studies.- Findings in History and Etiology of the Stunting Syndrome in the USA.- Recent Advances in Enterovirus Infections of Birds.- Avian Infectious Anaemia Caused by Chicken Anaemia Agent (CAA).- Recent Advances in Duck Viral Hepatitis.- Duck Hepatitis Type 2 Associated With an Astrovirus.- Dual Infections of Ducks With Derzsy's Disease and Eds (A-127) Viruses.- Diagnosis and Control of Parvovirus Infection of Geese (Derzsy's Disease).