Health status of northern bobwhite quail (Colinus virginianus) in eastern Kansas

The health status of wild northern bobwhite quail (Colinus virginianus) fro m Lyon County, Kansas, was evaluated by conducting comprehensive health ass essments on 25 birds. Gross lesions indicative of avian pox, ulcerative ent eritis, and quail bronchitis were not present. Serologic tests for antibodi es to Salmonella pullorum, Salmonella gallinarum, Pasteurella multocida, My coplasma gallisepticum, Mycoplasma synoviae, and avian adenoviruses were al l negative. Intestinal coccidia (Eimeria spp.) were found in 36% of the bir ds. Only three species of helminth parasites were found: Dispharynx nasuta in two birds, Cyrnea colini in one bird, and larval Physaloptera sp. in fou r birds. Arthropod parasites (ticks, lice, mites, and/ or chiggers) were pr esent on 96% of the birds examined. Compared with wild bobwhite populations in the southeastern United States, the diversity, prevalence, and intensit ies of microbial and parasitic agents were low.