Abstract
Experimental intraocular (conjunctival) infection of exotic cockerels with a new field strain of viscerotropic velogenic Newcastle Disease Virus (NDV) was conducted to explore the concurrence of some pathological changes with humoral immune responses. After the NDV infection of 4-week-old cockerels, pathologic changes and antibody responses were observed. The clinical signs observed after the artificial inoculation included inappetence, depression, diarrhea, dyspnea, wing and leg paralysis, torticollis and weight loss. Morbidity due to the NDV was 100%, but mortality was 80% by day 18-21 post-infection. Early hyperthermia followed by terminal hypothermia, decreased packed cell volume (PCV), and 231.4 folds peak-antibody response were observed. Necrotic and/or inflammatory lesions were present in the proventriculus, intestine, liver, spleen, kidney and brain. Neurologic and digestive tract perturbations occurred in 10% and 85% of cases, respectively. The disease consistently caused stunted growth, decreased PCV, and necro-inflammatroy lesions concurrent with antibody response, suggesting probable involvement of immune-mediated mechanisms and cell membrane desialylation by viral neuraminidase in the pathogenesis.
Highlights
Newcastle disease (ND), an acute infectious disease of poultry caused by avian paramyxovirus serotype 1 is endemic in Nigeria (Saidu et al, 2006; Ibu et al, 2009; Musa et al, 2010)
We describe the pathological responses of exotic cockerels after intraocular infection with a new eISSN 2311-7710
Nigerian field strain of viscerotropic velogenic Newcastle Disease Virus (NDV) of chicken origin with reference to clinical signs, body weight and packed cell volume changes, antibody response and lesions in concurrence with pathogenic mechanisms associated with NDV-host interactions
Summary
Newcastle disease (ND), an acute infectious disease of poultry caused by avian paramyxovirus serotype 1 is endemic in Nigeria (Saidu et al, 2006; Ibu et al, 2009; Musa et al, 2010). Intraocular infection, Newcastle disease, Nigerian NDV strain, velogenic virus, viscerotropic virus Experimental infections with local strains of the velogenic NDV through oral, aerosolized (occulanasal) and intramuscular routes have been reported in chickens (Oladele et al, 2005; Bobbo et al, 2013; Igwe et al, 2014) where the infections produced viscerotropic and neurotropic lesions.
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callMore From: Journal of Advanced Veterinary and Animal Research
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
