Current status on the laboratory diagnosis of Ornithobacterium rhinotracheale "ORT" in poultry

Respiratory disease conditions are one of the most serious groups of diseases affecting poultry. Ornithobacterium rhinotracheale by has recently been recognized in many countries. Clinical signs and lesions are of little value in diagnosis. Accurate diagnosis must be substantiated by isolation and identification of the causative bacteria and/or detection of antibodies using serological examination. In the present paper a review on the current status of ORT laboratory diagnosis, results of serotyping of field isolates, serological surveillance in poultry flocks as well as the role of other avian pathogens in course of ORT infection will be given.