Infectious bursal disease (Gumboro disease)

Infectious bursal disease (IBD) (Gumboro disease) has been described throug hout the world, and the socio-economic significance of the disease is consi derable world-wide. Various forms of the disease have been described, but t yping remains unclear, since antigenic and pathotypic criteria are used ind iscriminately, and the true incidence of different types is difficult to de termine. Moreover, the infection, when not fatal, leads to a degree of immu nosuppression which is often difficult to measure. Finally, the control mea sures used are subject to variations, and seldom follow a specific or stand ardised plan. In the context of expanding international trade, the authors provide an overview of existing knowledge on the subject to enhance availab le information on the epidemiology of IBD, the identification of reliable v iral markers for diagnosis, and the implementation of specific control meas ures to ensure a global and co-ordinated approach to the disease.