MERKEZ VETERİNER KONTROL VE ARAŞTIRMA ENSTİTÜSÜ
ETLIK   ANKARA   TURKEY

In this laboratory, diagnosis and research work of poultry are carried out. The specimens which are sent from governmental and private establishments of different provinces, are examined by using bacterial, virological, parasitological and serological methods.

The information about the diagnose and treatment methods and protective provisions of epidemic poultry diseases are given on time. Newcastle disease, Avian influenza disease, Fowl tyhoid and Pullorum disease are notifiable diseases and all isolations to be reported to the GDPC (General Directorate for Protection and Control)  of MARA (The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs).

Bacteriological diagnosis of causative bacteria (aerobic, anaerobic or enteric) is done from diseased, suspect and dead poultry by isolation and identification. Antibiogram tests are applied for the determination of antibiotic sensitivities of the agents isolated from the materials sent for the bacterial examination.

Primary isolation of virus samples using laboratory animals, chicken embryos or tissue culture and identification of isolated strains by investigating the physical, chemical and biological properties of viral sample are carried out. Antigens and immune serum are prepared for diagnostic studies.

Poultry sera are examined for antibody by different serological techniques such as Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), Agar gel presipitation test (AGPT), Hemaglutination test (HA), Hemaglutination-inhibition test (HI), Plate agglutination test (SPAT), Rapid blood test (RBT) and tube agglutination test (TAT).

From 1990 Salmonella gallinarum and S. pullorum and Mycoplasma gallinarum and M. synoviae control programs have been caried out for all poultry breeders and hatcheries in Turkey. Breeding flocks and hatcheries are tested every six months and if a flock is free from disease, a health certificate is issued by MARA, otherwise a slaughter policy is used for infected breeding flock.

Additionally, seminar programmes on poultry diseases are undertaken by our laboratory.