SEROLOGICAL EVIDENCE OF AVIAN INFECTIOUS BRONCHITIS IN NIGERIA

Abstract

Avian infectious bronchitis is an acute rapidly spreading viral respira­tory disease of chickens characterized by tracheal rales, coughing and sneezing. In adult laying flocks it causes a drastic drop in egg production — most of which are malformed.The disease was first described in the U.S.A. by Schalk and Hawn (1931) and its viral aetiology was confirmed 5 years later (Beach and Schalm, 1936). It is now report­ed to be world-wide in distribution (Estola, 1966).However, the F.A.O. Animal Health Year Books do not .list AIB as being present in Nigeria. Similarly, a recent compilation of Nigeria Veterinary bibliography (1970-1983) did not include AIB and the disease until a previous report (Komolafe and Erojikwe, 1985) has not been described in Nigeria.In the present communication, a serological evidence based on the detection of AIR virus specific preci­pitating antibody in the sera of sufs­pected cases is reported.