Abstract
Newcastle disease (ND) is an infectious, highly contagious and lethal disease of avian species. It is considered that ducks are natural reservoir or carrier for Newcastle disease virus (NDV) and are resistant against different strains of NDV. Current study was designed to evaluate the pathogenesis of Newcastle disease in domestic ducks through histopathology, immunohistochemistry (IHC) and serum biochemical changes. For this purpose, eighty ducks were reared for 42 days and divided in two groups A and B. Ducks in group A were challenged with (NDV) at rate of 0.1 ml of ELD50 (virus titer 107.32/100µl) on second week of age, whereas Group B was control negative. Splenomegaly, atrophy of thymus and necrotic lesion in kidney were observed on 9th day of post infection. Hepatic degeneration and mononuclear cell infiltration were noticed in proventriculus and intestine in challenged ducks. Viral antigen detected in lungs, intestine, proventriculus and lymphoid organs of infected ducks through IHC. Albumin and total protein values were significantly low in infected groups A as compared to control group B. ALT, AST, and ALP values were significantly high in infected group A. On 5th and 7th day of post infection oropharyngeal swabs were negative for NDV and cloacal swabs were positive for NDV through Reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction. It is concluded that ducks are susceptible to NDV and virulent strain of NDV caused disease in ducks.
Highlights
Newcastle disease (ND) is a highly fatal disease of the birds
All ducks challenged to Newcastle Disease Virus were dull, depressed, feed and water consumption was decreased and had ruffled feathers at 9th days post infection (DPI)
Ducks were slaughtered on 3rd, 7th, 9th, 14th, day of post challenge for gross and histological lesions observation
Summary
Newcastle disease (ND) is a highly fatal disease of the birds. Considering poultry, turkey and chicken are highly to susceptible to disease and duck and geese are. Ducks and geese are natural reservoir for NDV. Many NDV strains of different virulence have been isolated from diseased ducks (Zhang et al, 2011). Some isolates were pathogenic for ducks, and ND cases in ducks have been gradually increased in recent years (Song et al, 2007; Liu et al, 2010)
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