[Serological studies of synanthropic birds for infection by M. avium]

Examination for M. avium contamination covered 702 specimens of the synanthropic birds of 6 species (hooded crows, daws, rooks, magpies, sparrows, starlings) which was carried out in 13 landscape-epizootic areas of the northern zone of the Low Volga region. Contamination was studied by a serological test (AIT) using the M. avium extract and dry avian tuberculin as an antigen in the parallel tests. It was found that 96 (23%) of the 416 specimens from the right bank of the Volga and 65 (22.72%) of the 286 birds from the left bank were AIT-seropositive. The paper presents methods of study and contamination parameters of birds; the character of distribution of the infected birds by the region of the examination zone is discussed.