Respiratory disease (rhinotracheitis) in turkeys in Brittany, France, 1981-1982. I. Field observations and serology.

During the summer of 1981, a respiratory disease epidemic occurred in turkeys in Brittany, France. Since this initial epizootic, which lasted through fall, epizootic waves similar to the initial one have occurred at approximately 6-month intervals, with smaller peaks at 2-month intervals. The epidemiology, clinical signs, and postmortem findings were highly suggestive of an epizootic of chlamydiosis.

[Results of a serological survey made in France (Vendeé region) in domestic ducks].

The sera of domestic ducks were examined for antibodies to several infectious agents of palmipeds during the winter of 1982 in the abattoirs in la Vendée, an important region of duck production in the West of France. The performance of each batch and their antecedents was also studied. In Barbary ducks and crossbred ducks (from male wild ducks and female domestic ducks), antibodies were found to the virus of egg drop syndrome 16 (EDS 76), to Newcastle disease virus (NDV), to duck hepatitis virus and to chlamydia psittici.

[Comparison of counterimmunoelectrophoresis with standard serological tests in the diagnosis of ovine brucellosis].

Sera from 30 sheep experimentally infected and from 126 others with chronic brucellosis were comparatively studied by serum agglutination (SA), complement fixation (CF), rose bengal (RB), and counter-immunoelectrophoresis (CIEP) test. Standard serological tests, particularly SA and RB, essentially detect antibodies against cell-wall fractions of Brucella (LPS), whereas CIEP responds to intracellular antigens. Antibodies involved in this test appear late but remain a long time in the sera.

[Immunization of ewes against experimental Brucella melitensis infection: comparison of eleven vaccines].

A comparative study of 11 antibrucellic vaccines has been carried out in the Limousin region of 360 ewe-lambs divided into groups of 30, a 12th group serving as control. After being vaccinated at 8 months, the ewe-lambs were covered between 9 1/2 and 10 1/2 months, then infected at 11 months with Br. melitensis strain 53 H 38 by instillation of 4 x 10(6) germs on the conjonctiva.