Diagnosis

Young chickens and turkeys

Clinical signs (neurological disease), histopathology, serology.

Laying chickens and turkeys

Clinical signs (egg production drop), serology.

Serology is also used in monitoring efficacy of vaccination.

Specimens required

1. Whole live birds, or,
2. Brain, spinal cord, skeletal muscle, myocardium, proventriculus, gizzard in buffered formalin, for histopathology.
3. Fresh or frozen sera, collected early during the problem (within 7 days of onset), and again during convalescence (3-4 weeks later). Unless the birds are vaccinated, the titre range could indicate recent exposure and the paired sera may not be required in all circumstances.