A SEROSURVEY USING ENZYME-LINKED-IMMUNOSORBENT-ASSAY FOR ANTIBODIES AGAINST POULTRY PATHOGENS IN OSTRICHES (STRUTHIO-CAMELUS) FROM ZIMBABWE

Horseradish peroxidase-conjugated goat anti-ostrich IgG was raised and used in commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits to detect antibodies reactive with 11 poultry pathogens in sera from 149 ostriches from nine farms around Zimbabwe. Antibodies were detected to turkey rhinotracheitis virus (99%), Newcastle disease virus (23%), avian reovirus (19%), infectious bursal disease virus (15%), avian encephalomyelitis virus (15%), Mycoplasma gallisepticum and/or M. synoviae (11%), reticuloendotheliosis virus (10%), Salmonella enteritidis (8%), avian leukosis virus (3%), infectious bronchitis virus (2%), and Pasteurella multocida (<1%). Although evidence of prior infection with turkey rhinotracheitis and newcastle disease virus was present on all farms tested, there was marked variation between farms in the prevalence of exposure to other poultry pathogens.