Blood sampling is one of the most important diagnostic tools in veterinary medicine, and this is also true for Avian medicine. A properly collected and handled venous sample can be used for serology, biochemistry and electrolyte analysis, as well as for blood smears, packed cell volume and cell differentiation. Caring for sick birds is a challenge for all veterinary staff. Many birds are easily stressed individuals, and to a very ill bird a big increase in stress level can even be fatal. Avian patients who are presented in a veterinary clinic are often in a poor condition, and blood sampling is an invasive procedure that can cause stress to the patient.

In the spring of 2006 we had our first outbreak of Avian influenza of highly pathogenic H5N1 (HPAI) among wild birds in Sweden. This disease have impact on poultry industries world wide. Sporadically the virus infects other species than birds and we now know it can even cause fatal infection of humans. There are not yet any confirmed cases of transmission of the disease between humans though a suspected case in an Indonesian family is under investigation. If a mutation occurs that changes the pathogenicity and host affinity to humans we are at a risk of a new pandemia, perhaps like the Spanish flu in 1918-1920.

Background: As a part of a national health control program, Statens VeterinärmedicinskaAnstalt performs diagnostics to screen flocks for certain pathogens causing high mortality,morbidity and/or serious economical losses. There are several viruses in the programincluding IBDV (infectious bursal disease virus), IBV (infectious bronchitis virus) and NDV(Newcastle disease virus). Method: 96 serum samples were collected from different poultryflocks in Sweden and analyzed by ELISA, which are currently used in the health controlprogram as well as by a commercial prototype of a multiplex immunoassay manufactured byLuminex Corp., which is currently under evaluation at the United States Department ofAgriculture USDA. This 4-plex assay detects antibodies for the three above-mentionedviruses as well as antibodies of Avian reovirus. In the context of this study the ELISAs run inroutine diagnostics as well as a REO ELISA were used as the standard for comparison.Result: The antibody concentration in serum from vaccinated chickens was high while theantibody concentration level in serum from not vaccinated chickens was low.

Background: As a part of a national health control program, Statens VeterinärmedicinskaAnstalt performs diagnostics to screen flocks for certain pathogens causing high mortality,morbidity and/or serious economical losses. There are several viruses in the programincluding IBDV (infectious bursal disease virus), IBV (infectious bronchitis virus) and NDV(Newcastle disease virus). Method: 96 serum samples were collected from different poultryflocks in Sweden and analyzed by ELISA, which are currently used in the health controlprogram as well as by a commercial prototype of a multiplex immunoassay manufactured byLuminex Corp., which is currently under evaluation at the United States Department ofAgriculture USDA. This 4-plex assay detects antibodies for the three above-mentionedviruses as well as antibodies of Avian reovirus. In the context of this study the ELISAs run inroutine diagnostics as well as a REO ELISA were used as the standard for comparison.Result: The antibody concentration in serum from vaccinated chickens was high while theantibody concentration level in serum from not vaccinated chickens was low.

The aim of this study was to examine what impact restored and constructed pounds and wetlands have on waterfowls in the area of Linköping. The birdlife in five constructed wetlands werechosen to investigate if specific factors like age, size and vegetation affected the Avian diversity in wetlands. Also, extra focus has been given to the threatened Horned Grebe (Podiceps Auritus), breeding in the studied area. The results showed that the number of species as well as individuals of waterfowl and Horned Grebe changed over time in what might be a result of succession in the wetlands. Comparing the number of birds to the size of the wetlands showed a clear correlation. Larger areas inhabited greater numbers of species and individuals.

Background: As a part of a national health control program, Statens VeterinärmedicinskaAnstalt performs diagnostics to screen flocks for certain pathogens causing high mortality,morbidity and/or serious economical losses. There are several viruses in the programincluding IBDV (infectious bursal disease virus), IBV (infectious bronchitis virus) and NDV(Newcastle disease virus). Method: 96 serum samples were collected from different poultryflocks in Sweden and analyzed by ELISA, which are currently used in the health controlprogram as well as by a commercial prototype of a multiplex immunoassay manufactured byLuminex Corp., which is currently under evaluation at the United States Department ofAgriculture USDA. This 4-plex assay detects antibodies for the three above-mentionedviruses as well as antibodies of Avian reovirus. In the context of this study the ELISAs run inroutine diagnostics as well as a REO ELISA were used as the standard for comparison.Result: The antibody concentration in serum from vaccinated chickens was high while theantibody concentration level in serum from not vaccinated chickens was low.

Förekomsten av sjukdomen kolibacillos har ökat inom besättningar med värphöns. Utbrott av sjukdomen orsakar ekonomiska förluster inom alla produktionsgrenar av fjäderfä. Ett samband kan ses mellan ökningen av antalet kolibacillos-utbrott och den ökade andelen frigående besättningar. Flertalet parametrar i hönsens omgivande stallmiljö inverkar på känsligheten för infektion. Producenten bör lägga vikt vid att kontrollera ventilationen i stallet för att hålla kontroll på ammoniak, damm, luftflöden, luftfuktighet och temperatur, vilka samtliga inverkar på spridningen och infektionspotentialen hos sjukdomsframkallande sk.

Vole populations in northern Scandinavia vary in cycles with peaks every third or fourth year as described by the National Environmental Monitoring Programme of small mammals (NEMP). Some vole species have declined in population numbers since the NEMP started in 1971, especially the grey-sided vole (Myodes rufocanus) which is nearly extinct in the forested region. Since small mammals are an important food source for several Avian and mammalian predators, the decline in vole numbers is expected to have consequences for the whole food chain, especially if other vole species start to decline in numbers. This study tried to test the hypothesis that presence and abundance of M. rufocanus (a specialist species) and Myodes glareolus (a generalist species) can be predicted by patch size and connectivity of forest patches >60 years old with a minimum of 15% pine >100years old.

Det är svårt att upptäcka smärta hos fåglar samt se om den smärtlindring som administreras ger någon effekt. Fåglar kan likt andra djur inte tala om var de har ont någonstans och hur stark smärtan är. Det är svårt att mäta smärta objektivt hos dem, vilket gör det komplicerat att ställa upp vetenskapliga försök. Metoder som kan användas för att bedöma smärta är bland annat att titta på förändringar i beteenden och fysiologi hos skadade djur eller att mäta smärtan objektivt med olika typer av apparater. Fåglar känner smärta och behöver därmed smärtlindring i precis samma situationer som däggdjur. Opioider, NSAID-preparat, lokalanestetika, alfa2-agonister och kortikosteroider används alla som smärtlindring till såväl fåglar som däggdjur.

Infectious Bronchitis (IB) is a highly contagious viral respiratory and productiondepressant disease distributed world wide. The disease is caused by the InfectiousBronchitis Virus (IBV), a positive RNA strand Avian Coronavirus within thegenus Gammacoronavirus. Due to a combination of high mutation rate and atendency of recombination a constant emergence of new genotypes and serotypesis seen. In Brazil, a country with an extensive poultry production and majorproblems with disease control, the diversity of circulating strains are wide andoutbreaks of clinical disease despite intensive use of vaccines are common. Theaim of this study was to investigate the presence of IBV and to identify genotypesof isolated IBVs in a limited number of layer flocks in Bastos, São Paulo, as partof the screening for circulating genotypes in the country.