Riemerella anatipestifer （RA） is an important gram-negative pathogen that harms ducks， geese and other waterfowl， causing fibrinous pericarditis， perihepatitis， balloonitis and meningitis in its host， and leads to the huge economic loss in the poultry industry. The serotypes of RA are complex， and the bacteria is easily resistant to antibiotics， so multiple drug resistance of RA is common. The clinical symptoms and pathological changes of the RA infection are similar to the colibacillosis and salmonellosis， and it is difficult to distinguish the RA infection from the colibacillosis and salmonellosis，so the definite diagnosis of the RA infection must depend on laboratory tests. At present， microbiological detection， immunological detection and molecular biology detection are the main detection methods for RA. This article mainly summarizes the research advances in the detection methods of RA， in order to provide reference for the diagnosis and control of the RA infection.