Avian mycoplasmosis  (Mycoplasma gallisepticum)

Article 10.5.1.

General provisions

Standards for diagnostic tests are described in the Terrestrial Manual.

Article 10.5.2.

Establishment free from avian mycoplasmosis

To qualify as free from avian mycoplasmosis, an establishment should satisfy the following requirements:

1. it is under official veterinary control;

2. it contains no bird which has been vaccinated against avian mycoplasmosis;

3. 5% of the birds, with a maximum of 100 birds of different age groups present in the establishment, are subjected to the serum-agglutination test with negative results at the age of 10, 18 and 26 weeks, and thereafter at 4-week intervals (the results of at least the last two tests carried out on adult birds should be negative);

4. all birds introduced into the flocks come from an establishment free from avian mycoplasmosis.

Article 10.5.3.

Recommendations for the importation of chickens and turkeys

Veterinary Authorities of importing countries should require the presentation of an international veterinary certificate attesting that the birds:

1. showed no clinical sign of avian mycoplasmosis on the day of shipment;

2. come from an establishment free from avian mycoplasmosis; and/or

3. were kept in a quarantine station for the 28 days prior to shipment and were subjected to a diagnostic test for avian mycoplasmosis with negative results, on two occasions, at the beginning and at the end of the 28-day period.

Article 10.5.4.

Recommendations for the importation of day-old birds

Veterinary Authorities of importing countries should require the presentation of an international veterinary certificate attesting that the day-old birds:

1. come from establishments free from avian mycoplasmosis and from hatcheries which comply with the standards referred to in Chapter 6.5.;

2. were shipped in clean and unused packages.

Article 10.5.5.

Recommendations for the importation of hatching eggs of chickens and turkeys

Veterinary Authorities of importing countries should require the presentation of an international veterinary certificate attesting that the hatching eggs:

1. have been disinfected in accordance with the standards referred to in Chapter 6.5.;

2. come from establishments free from avian mycoplasmosis and from hatcheries which comply with the standards referred to in Chapter 6.5.;

3. were shipped in clean and unused packages.

nb: first adopted in 1982; most recent update adopted in 1998.