A study on the role of birds in the spread of infections.

During three expeditions undertaken in March 1977 to June 1978, 797 cloacal swabs were collected from birds of 54 species. Seven salmonella strains of six serotype were isolated from Larus ridibundus (five strains), Corvus frugilegus and Acrocephalus schoenobaenus (one each). Four strains of influenza A (HAV2 NA4V) virus were isolated from Larus ridibundus. For the first time in Czechoslovakia, two strains of Yucaipa paramyxovirus were isolated, both of them from Troglodytes troglodytes. These results are the first contribution to a study on the role of birds as hosts and vectors of different bacterial and viral agents.