ABSTRACT
Wild Turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo) are susceptible to many of the same diseases as domestic turkeys. Before 2005, most Wild Turkeys in southern Georgia, US, had little or no exposure to commercial poultry operations. As part of a pathogen survey examining the effects of commercial poultry on Wild Turkeys, samples were collected from Wild Turkeys from March 2005 through May 2008. The turkeys were collected from 13 counties in southern Georgia and Madison County, Florida, and tested for antibodies to various pathogens of poultry. Three (13%) of the turkeys were positive for antibodies to Salmonella. Thirteen turkeys (54%) were positive for Newcastle disease virus antibodies, and 15 turkeys (63%) were positive for antibodies to reticuloendotheliosis virus. One turkey (4%) from Madison County was positive for avian encephalomyelitis virus antibodies.
Subject(s)
Bird Diseases/virology , Encephalomyelitis Virus, Avian , Picornaviridae Infections/veterinary , Turkeys , Animals , Antibodies, Viral/blood , Bird Diseases/blood , Florida/epidemiology , Georgia/epidemiology , Newcastle disease virus/immunology , Picornaviridae Infections/blood , Picornaviridae Infections/epidemiology , Picornaviridae Infections/virology , Reticuloendotheliosis Viruses, Avian/immunology , Salmonella Infections, Animal/blood , Salmonella Infections, Animal/epidemiology , Seroepidemiologic StudiesABSTRACT
We examined male shoal bass Micropterus cataractae from the Flint River, Georgia, to determine the prevalence of intersex. During March and April 2010, we sampled 61 shoal bass from six sites along the Flint River. Testes were examined histologically and classified as intersex if the presence of oocytes was noted. Using a severity index, we compared samples collected on different dates and from different locations according to age and testis weight. No significant variations were noted among any of the groupings. Further investigation is needed to determine whether the intersex condition in shoal bass is severe enough to warrant concern and whether it is a natural phenomenon.