SEROLOGIC EXAMINATION OF WILD BIRDS FOR HEMORRHAGIC ENTERITIS OF TURKEY AND MARBLE SPLEEN DISEASE OF PHEASANTS

¹ Department of Veterinary Science, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Virginia 24061, USA
² Laboratory of Wildlife Disease Research, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32610, USA
³ College of Natural Resources, University of Wisconsin, Stevens Point, Wisconsin 54481, USA
⁴ Health Program Office, Department of Health and Rehabilitative Services, Tallahassee, Florida 32301, USA

Precipitin antibody which reacted with the hemorrhagic enteritis (HE) of turkeys/marble spleen disease (MSD) of pheasants group of avian adenoviruses, was not detected in serum samples of 618 wild birds (42 species) from Florida, Texas and Virginia. HE/MSD precipitin antibody was detected in serum samples of penreared ring-necked pheasants (Phasianus colchicus) which had experienced MSD, but not in serum samples of similar MSD unaffected birds.