UK Poultry Disease Surveillance Report - August 2004 - By Veterinary Laboratories Agency - This report monitors trends in the major endemic poultry diseases and utilises the farmfile and VIDA (Veterinary Investigation Disease Analysis) databases. The report is compiled using disease data gathered by the network of 15 VLA regional laboratories which carry out disease investigation in the field.

Quarterly Surveillance Report Poultry: Vol. 8 No. 2 April - June 2004 - Published Aug 2004 Contents OVERVIEW (here) POULTRY STATISTICS NOTIFIABLE DISEASES: - Submissions to the EU Reference Laboratory - Imported captive birds - Fowl Cholera FOOD SAFETY AND ZOONOSES: - Food Safety - Salmonella Report - Non-Statutory Zoonoses ENDEMIC/NEW AND EMERGING DISEASE SURVEILLANCE: - Virology Report - Goose parvovirus in England & Wales - Update on ”Vibrionic hepatitis” - Update on Blackhead (histomoniasis)s - Other poultry topics:Mareks disease, - Brachyspira in layers, Necrotic Enteritis & Spondylitis, Infectious Bursal disease Gamebird topics: Ulcerative Enteritis in Red legged partridges - Suspect Hypocalcaemia in adult pheasants Appendix I – VLA Lasswdae histopathology submission

Highlights

• Goose parvovirus returns to UK
• Blackhead update
• Mareks disease in layer and hobby flocks
• Ulcerative enteritis in partridges

Overview

The overall health status of the industry has remained reasonably good during the quarter. However individual health problems have been highlighted and are presented in this report, notably goose parvovirus which has been diagnosed in the UK for the first time since 1981.

There is current interest in the poultry industry in the use of naked oats as a feed. Naked oats have a relatively high oil content and may offer palatability advantages over wheat, and also aid overall bird health.

STOP PRESS – GOOSE PARVOVIRUS IN THE LAST FEW DAYS ELECTRON MICROSCOPY (EM) EXAMINATION OF MUSCOVY DUCK EMBRYO FIBROBLAST CELL CULTURES WHICH HAD BEEN INOCULATED WITH A VARIETY OF TISSUES FROM GOSLINGS WITH SUSPECTED PARVOVIRUS HAS REVEALED THE PRESENCE OF PARVOVIRUS-LIKE PARTICLES. ALTHOUGH NO DISTINCT CYTOPATHIC EFFECT WAS SEEN EM EXAMINATION OF CELL LYSATES FROM THE THIRD BLIND PASSAGE DETECTED VIRUS PARTICLES 18-20nm IN DIAMETER.

To read the full 10 page PDF report please click here

Source: Veterinary Laboratories Agency - August 2004