[Ecologic significance of M. avium infectiousness of waterside and aquatic birds]

A total of 777 specimens of the river-side and water birds of 36 species belonging to 8 orders were examined for infectivity by the causative agent of tuberculosis M. avium. Examination was carried out in the northern zone of the land along the lower Volga. Infectivity was studied by serologic and bacteriologic tests. Serologic examination showed that 104 out of the 399 birds were AIT-positive (26.0 +/- 2.195%), in bacteriologic examination 73 out of the 378 specimens were infected (19.57 +/- 2.040%). The infectivity parameters of birds determined by both methods had certain characteristic features typical of the examination territory. The character of distribution of the infected birds was determined according to the regions of the examination zone.