Isolation and identification of paramyxoviruses from Japanese buntings (Emberiza spodocephala) and ducks (Anas crecca and Anas penelope)

In the autum of 1979, 719 small birds of 32 species, 255 water fowls of 19 species and 126 sea birds of 6 species were virologically examined. C1oacal swabs of 207 Japanese buntings (Emberiza spodocephala) yielded 6 paramyxovirus strains which were found to belong to species Yucaipa on the basis of the antigenic specificity of their M proteins but not to be identical with Chicken/California/Yucaipa/56 virus according to the antigenic characters of their HN proteins in double immunodiffusion tests. Five paramyxovirus strains were isolated from cloacal swabs of 3 of 21 teal (Anas crecca) and 2 of 90 wigeons (Anas penelope). Four of those were antigenically identical to Duck/Mississippi/75 and the other was identified as a Newcastle disease virus.