Newcastle
Disease Virus Shedding Among Healthy Commercial Chickens and its
Epidemiological Importance
Okwor Emmanuel Chukwudi, Eze Didacus Chukwuemeka* and Umeh Mary
Department of Veterinary Pathology and Microbiology,
University
of Nigeria,
Nsukka
*Corresponding author: eldidacuscj@yahoo.com
Abstract
Newcastle
disease virus (NDV), shedding among apparently healthy commercial chickens
reared intensively in Nsukka and its environs were studied. Samples were
collected from birds that were not vaccinated against Newcastle disease (ND),
and also from those that were vaccinated but given an interval of 28 days
between vaccination and sample collection. Cloacal and tracheal swabs were
collected from each bird and a total of 1800 birds were sampled from 72 farms
located in the area. The birds in the area were monitored for 15 days post
sampling. The samples were examined for NDV by isolation in embryonated chicken
eggs through the allantoic cavity route. Result showed an isolation frequency of
3.2% and this could be termed as the prevalence of NDV in clinically healthy
chickens in Nsukka area as the birds remained apparently healthy for more than
15 days. We therefore conclude that there is virus shedding among healthy
commercial chickens in Nsukka and its environs and this should be considered an
important epidemiological factor in the spread of the disease. Healthy carriers
can serve as short term reservoirs and transmit the disease to other birds.