Sera from 255 apparently nonnal birds pertaining to 16 species ofthe Psittacifonnes order, at Parque de las Leyendas Zoo in Lima were tested for the presence ofNewcastle Disease antibodies. The hemagglutination-inhibition test was used for detecting antibodies against Paramyxovirus serotype 1. Ali ofthe birds tested negative, suggesting that they have not been exposed to the Newcastle Disease virus and

The hemagglutination inhibition test was used to determine the prevalence of Newcastle disease virus antibodies in healthy wild song birds (Passeriformes) (N=263), pigeons and doves (Columbifonnes) (n=l35) from Chancay province, Peru. All the animals tested were negative, suggesting that the birds were either not exposed to the virus or that prevalence is below 0.75 %.

The prevalence of antibodies to Newcastle disease virus NCDV among wild birds of the order Columbiformes was evaluated during a major outbreak of the disease in local chicken populations. A total of 462 samples from Baños de Boza (Aucallama District, Huaral Province, Peru), including 86 do ves ( Columba livia) and 367 turtle doves (Eupelia cruziana), were studied by the hemaglutination inhibition technique. Ali of the birds tested proved negative for NCDV virus antibodies, indicating that they had not been exposed to the virus and could not, therefor, be a reservoir.

The seroprevalence of Avían Influenza antibodies was deternúned utilizing ELISA (KPL) technique to analyze 384 broilers collected from 36 poultry farms in Chancay (Lima. Perú) at the end of 1998 and the beginning of 1999. All the animals had suffered from light to severe respiratory processes, 10 to 15 days prior to sample collection. No antibodies against Avían Influenza Virus, serotype Afturkey/wisconsin/66/H9N2 were detected, indicating that these birds have not been exposed to this serotype. We recommend that similar Avían Influenza prevalence monitoring studies should be carried out in other areas to determine its epidemiology in Peru.

The impact of avian leukosis virus (ALV) on broiler production was evaluated using 300 chickens ofthe Ross 308 (75 male, 75 female) and Cobb Vantres (75 male, 75 female) lines. Cloaca! swabs were taken from ali the birds at one day of age and tested for VLA using ELISA. A total of five birds from the Ross 308 line and four from Cobb Vantress lines tested positive and subsequently disseminated the virus. Based on results of the ELISA test, four experimental groups of 60 birds each were established. One group contained the Ross 308 line ALV positive males and females, another the Cobb Vantress ALV positive males and females, another the Ross 308 ALV negative males and females and the last, the Cobb Vantress ALV negative males and females. Ali birds were tested again for ALV by cloaca! swab on days 28 and 49, and evaluated for weight, pigmentation and unifonnity. HorizontalALV infection did not significantly change the weight, pigmentation or unifonnity of effected birds.