PREVALENCE OF CHLAMYDIA-PSITTACI AMONG FERAL BIRDS IN HIMACHAL-PRADESH, INDIA

In order to find out the prevalence of Chlamydia psittaci in feral bir ds, 99 samples comprising of 56 fecal swabs/intestinal contents and 43 pooled visceral organs (spleen, liver, lung/air sacs and heart) from different species that were either trapped or killed in the vicinity o f poultry houses, feed stores and water tanks were screened. The sampl es were processed in seven to eight days old embryonated chicken eggs. A total 16 (16.16%) isolations were made i.e. 9 (16.07%) from fecal s wabs/intestinal contents and 7 (16.28%) from pooled visceral organs, a ccruing from pigeons (16.36%), pc. lots (26.31%) and crows (18.18%). W hilst house sparrows, doves, Indian mynahs and nightingale did not yie ld C. psittaci. All the isolates were confirmed as C. psittaci by demo nstration of elementary bodies/inclusions through specific stains, reg ular mortality pattern in inoculated chicken embryos, indirect microim munofluorescence and dot-ELISA.