CURRENT STATUS ON THE LABORATORY DIAGNOSIS OF ORNITHOBACTERIUM-RHINOTRACHEALE ORT IN POULTRY

Respiratory disease conditions are one of the most serious groups of d iseases affecting poultry. Ornithobacterium rhinotracheale by has rece ntly been recognized in many countries. Clinical signs and lesions are of little value in diagnosis. Accurate diagnosis must be substantiate d by isolation and identification of the causative bacteria and/or det ection of antibodies using serological examination. In the present pap er a review on the current status of ORT laboratory diagnosis, results of serotyping of field isolates, serological surveillance in poultry flocks as well as the role of other avian pathogens in course of ORT i nfection will be given.