Serological studies on flocks showing depressed egg production

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Abstract
A serological investigation was undertaken of flocks with depressed egg production. No obvious correlation was found between antibody to adenovirus, infectious bronchitis virus or infectious bursal disease virus and this syndrome. No antibody was detected to Newcastle disease virus, Mycoplasma gallisepticum or in most cases to M. synoviae. A relationship was found between the development of antibody to a hemagglutinating virus, 127, and depressed egg production. A retrospective survey of fowl sera for antibody to 127 virus indicated the 1st evidence of its presence in Northern Ireland was in June, 1976. If 127 is the etiological agent of this syndrome, then it appears to have very limited powers of lateral spread and vertical transmission. The widespread dissemination of this condition in Western Europe, coupled with its apparent lack of horizontal transmissibility, can best be explained by contamination of a vaccine with 127 virus.