Molekularbiologische Untersuchungen zum Vorkommen verschiedener viraler und bakterieller Erreger bei Greif- und Rabenvögeln

- Molecularbiological investigations on the occurence of different viral and bacterial agens by raptors and corvid birds - In the present investigation samples (pharyngeal and cloacal swabs) were collected from 278 raptors and corvid birds raised mainly in Germany. All the samples were tested for the presence of eight different viral and bacterial pathogens, namely avian adenovirus, avian herpes viruses, avian influenza viruses (AIV), Newcastle disease virus (NDV), aviary metapneumoviruses (AMPV), Avian mykoplasma, Chlamydia psittaci and Ornithobakterium rhinotracheale (ORT). The samples were collected in 2010/2011 from birds belonged to seven different families of different origin. The obtained results showed, that from the examined viruses only herpesvirus-DNA could be detected in some birds. Neither adenovirus-DNA nor Influenza A virus-, NDV- or AMPVspecific RNA could be detected. Quite different results were optained by the investigations on the bacterial pathogens. While Chlamydia psittaci-DNA like the herpesvirus-DNA, only with few birds could be detected, showed most positive birds an infection with mycoplasma and ORT. As expected a high mycoplasma prevalence of over 50 % of examined birds could be detected. As determined by previous studies no correlation could be determined between mycoplasma infection and health state of the bird. However, new findings were obtained in relation to the infection with ORT. In 22 % of all examined birds, ORT-specific DNA could be detected. Also in this case no correlation between respiratory symptomatology and ORT-infection could be determined. Furthermore the results of the bacteriological investigation showed that the ORT isolates obtained from investigated birds belongs to different serotypes than those detected in chickens and turkeys. Further studies on the importance of different serotypes are required.