Newcastle Disease: In News
Reports of Newcastle disease circulating across Europe, poultry producers across the UK are being urged to step up vigilance as the virus continues its concerning westward spread.
- It is caused by avian paramyxovirus serotype 1, affects chickens and a wide range of other birds.
- It is a highly contagious and often severe disease found worldwide that affects birds including domestic poultry.
- The disease appears in three forms: lentogenic or mild, mesogenic or moderate and velogenic or very virulent.
- The lentogenic strains are very widespread but cause few disease outbreaks.
- Infected birds shed virus in exhaled air, respiratory discharge, and feces.
- It usually presents as a respiratory disease, but depression, nervous manifestations, or diarrhoea may be the predominant clinical form.
- Respiratory signs – gasping, coughing, sneezing and rales
- Nervous signs – tremors, paralyzed wings and legs, twisted necks, circling, spasms, and paralysis
- Apartial or complete drop in egg production may occur. Eggs may be abnormal in color, shape, or surface, and have watery albumen
- There is no treatment for Newcastle Disease, although treatment with antibiotics to control secondary infections may assist.
