ANNEX XX EXAMINATION, SAMPLING AND TESTING PROCEDURES OF CAPTIVE BIRDS FOR HIGHLY PATHOGENIC AVIAN INFLUENZA AND NEWCASTLE DISEASE

1. During quarantine either the sentinel birds, or if sentinel birds are not used, the captive birds, shall must undergo the following procedures:

(a)

cases involving the use of sentinel birds:

(i)

blood samples for serological examination must be taken from all sentinel birds within a period of not less than 21 days following the date of their entry into the quarantine and within a period of at least 3 days prior to the date of the end of the quarantine;

(ii)

if sentinel birds show positive or inconclusive serological results for the samples referred to in point (i):

• the imported birds must undergo a virological examination,

• cloacal swabs (or faeces) and tracheal or oropharyngeal swabs must be taken from at least 60 birds, or from all birds if the consignment is less than 60 birds;

(b)

cases not involving the use of sentinel birds:

• imported birds must be examined virologically (i.e. serological testing is not appropriate),

• tracheal or oropharyngeal or cloacal swabs (or faeces) must be taken from at least 60 birds, or from all birds if the consignment is less than 60 birds, during the period of the first 7 to 15 days of the quarantine.

2. In addition to the testing set out in point 1, the following samples must be taken for virological examination:

(a)

cloacal swabs (or faeces) and tracheal or oropharyngeal swabs, if possible, from clinically ill birds or ill sentinel birds;

(b)

from the intestinal contents, brain, trachea, lungs, liver, spleen, kidneys and other obviously affected organs as soon as possible following death, from:

(i)

dead sentinel birds and all birds dead on arrival in quarantine and those which die during quarantine; or

(ii)

in the case of high mortality in large consignments made of small birds, from at least 10 % of the dead birds.

3. For virological examination, pooling of samples up to a maximum of five samples of individual birds in one pool is allowed.

Faecal material must be pooled separately from other organ and tissue samples.