Newcastle disease

NEWCASTLE DISEASE

  • Newcastle disease is a highly contagious virus disease of birds.
  • Four major strains of the virus affect poultry and non domestic birds. Transmission is primarily by aerosols.
  • Infection is also spread to other facilities either by moving people form one place to another.
  • Most of the families of the order Psittaciformes has reported occurrence of ND.
  • Passerines seem to be more resistant, but Mynah, Java sparrow and canaries have experienced mortality when exposed to VVND virus.
  • Some of the pets like Amazon parrots, Indian hill Mynah, Budgerigar and some conures act as carrier and shed virus for long period following infection.
  • Clinical signs are in young birds, especially the only sing may be a per acute disease unresponsive to antibiotic therapy and with high mortality.
  • In more susceptible birds yellowish or hemorrhagic diarrhea, coughing, sneezing and dyspnea are noticed.
  • The central nervous system is commonly affected, resulting in a bird that is ataxic, uncoordinated or hyper excitable.
  • Other CNS signs include torticollis, opisthotonus, tremors, nodding, jerking of head and bilateral paralysis of the limbs.
  • Control of the disease is by minimizing the exposure to affected/carrier birds.
  • VVND virus are sensitive to a number of disinfectants. Orthophenyl phenol is a good disinfectant.
  • Infected and exposed birds should be killed.
  • The vaccination programs so important in commercial poultry operations are not an option for control of VVND in cage birds.
Last modified: Thursday, 7 June 2012, 10:33 AM