Vaccination of ostriches (Struthio camelus, Linne, 1758) against Newcastledisease: Compatibility of vaccines and seroconversion post vaccinationem using hemagglutination inhibition test and virus neutralisation test

Newcastle disease (ND) remains to be the worldwide most important infectiou s disease of poultry. This epizootic is in Germany and many other countries a notifyable disease. Prophylactic vaccination is the major tool for the c ontrol of ND in poultry and other birds. Eighty-three ostriches (Struthio camelus) which were kept on farms in Germa ny were checked for the presence of NDV-specific antibodies. Some of these birds are said to be vaccinated against Newcastle disease. Only some of the se ostriches contained antibodies which were measurable in haemagglutinatio n inhibition and virus neutralisation tests. Twenty-three previously unvaccinated ostrichs were vaccinated with commerci ally available vaccines. Both the LaSota live and inactivated oil emulsion vaccines were well tolerated following conjunctival or subcutaneous applica tion, respectively. Neither local nor systemic side reactions were observed . After the vaccinations high antibody titres were detected in hemagglutina tion inhibition and virus neutralisation tests. A strong correlation betwee n both established methods (r = 0.92; < 0,001) were noted.