AVIAN CHLAMYDIOSIS IN FRANCE FROM 1992 TO 1995 ON 701 BIRDS FROM DIFFERENT ORDERS

Avian chlamydiosis research was carried out from 1992 to 1995 on 701 b irds belonging to 19 families of 10 different orders and 366 birds wer e found infected (52.2%). But important differences were noted between these orders. The prevalence of infection was very high in anseriform s (86.4%) and struthioniforms (79.2%), important in columbiforms (50%) and psittaciforms (45.9%) and lower in passeriforms (40.3%). Asymptom atic carrying rate was very important in anseriforms, moderated in psi ttaciforms and columbiforms and low in passeriforms. But, in contrast, chlamydiosis frequently induced clinical manifestations in passerifor ms and very rarely in anseriforms. Clinical disease was observed in 17 .2% of columbiforms and 16.5% of psittaciforms. The most frequent clin ical signs in different orders are presented and discussed.