Clinico-histopathological observations of pigeons (Columba Livia) suffering from Newcastle disease in northern Bangladesh

Md Jalal Uddin Sarder,Md Najmul Hassan Parvez,Md Reazul Islam,Most Tahera Dil Akter

doi:10.3329/ajmbr.v3i1.32049

Abstract

A survey was conducted to study clinical signs, gross and histopathological lesions in pigeons with naturally occurring Newcastle disease (ND). For this purpose, 45 pigeon farms of the Rajshahi, Natore and Pabna districts were conducted during from July 2015 to June 2016. Among these, 17(37.78%) farms showed clinical signs of Newcastle disease, including mainly greenish white mucoid diarrhoea and nervous signs with high morbidity and mortality. Morbidity was 90% and mortality was 100%. Diarrhoea, the most common clinical sign observed, was present in 48.28% of the affected pigeons, followed by nervous signs (27.59%), shivering (24.14%). Postmortem examination of affected birds showed lesions mainly in proventriculus, liver, lungs and kidneys. Histopathological changes were also observed in lungs, liver, and proventriculus. The results showed that the Newcastle disease virus was widespread in pigeons locally and caused high mortality rate. It is concluded that pigeon fanciers of northern Bangladesh do not maintain the regular preventive measures or vaccination against ND is being adopted to control the disease.Asian J. Med. Biol. Res. March 2017, 3(1): 134-139

Highlights

Pigeons are ubiquitous flying birds belonging to order columbiformes
Surveys indicated that the onset of Newcastle disease (ND) in pigeons was sudden
Body condition of pigeons affected by ND was satisfactory in majority of the cases (71.43%), 28.57% of the affected pigeons were emaciated

Summary

Introduction

Pigeons are ubiquitous flying birds belonging to order columbiformes. The tradition of pigeon rearing in Indian subcontinent is traced back to Mughal era, when pigeons were primarily used as postal messengers. Newcastle disease (ND) is world wide in distribution and has a wide range of hosts like chickens, pigeons, turkeys, partridges, pheasants, doves, sparrows, gees, starlings and other free flying birds (Vindevogel et al, 1972). It is caused by avian serotype-1 paramyxovirus in pigeons that is closely related to paramyxoviruses causing ND in poultry but not identical (Alexander et al, 1985). Several outbreaks have been reported in pigeon lofts throughout the world including Sudan (Eisa and Omer, 1984), Continental Europe and Great Britain (Alexander et al, 1984), India (Mangat et al, 1988; Singh et al, 1989), Germany (Fischer, 1986), Pakistan(S.

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion