Between August 1986 and July 1987, 373 submissions for laboratory diagnosis of suspected virus diseases of birds were received. In 116 cases (31%) viruses were isolated or detected, consisting of 25 reo-viruses, 17 rotaviruses, 14 adenoviruses plus demonstration of haemorrhagic enteritis virus antigen in the spleens of 15 birds, eight pox-viruses, 19 duck enteritis herpesviruses and six other avian herpes-viruses, four duck hepatitis viruses, six other enterovirus-like isolates, two duck astroviruses and two avian infectious bronchitis viruses.