Health survey of backyard poultry and other avian species located within one mile of commercial California meat-turkey flocks.

A survey was conducted to characterize domestic and exotic bird populations, estimate seroprevalence to selected disease agents, and describe health management practices on 62 premises containing "backyard" flocks located within one mile of 22 commercial California meat-turkey flocks participating in National Animal Health Monitoring System (NAHMS). Chickens were present on 56 backyard premises and turkeys on seven. Antibodies were identified against Mycoplasma gallisepticum, M. synoviae, M. meleagridis, Salmonella pullorum, Newcastle disease virus, avian encephalomyelitis virus, Bordetella avium, hemorrhagic enteritis virus, infectious bronchitis virus, and infectious bursal disease virus in 367 blood samples from 32 backyard premises. Twenty-two owners of backyard premises said they restricted visitor contact with their birds, and two required visitors to wear rubber boots and use boot disinfectant. Owners of seven premises used biologics and/or pharmaceutics for disease prevention. One family member worked on a commercial turkey ranch, but no other contact between owners, relatives, or employees and commercial poultry was reported.