Serological Survey of Newcastle Disease in Free Ranging Local Chickens in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, Nigeria

A serological survey was carried out in four area councils (Abuja Municipal, Kuje, Gwagwalada, and Kwali) of the Federal Capital Territory (Abuja) to determine the prevalence of antibodies to Newcastle disease virus in local chickens using haemagglutination inhibition (HI) tests. In each area council, one hundred sera samples were collected from apparently healthy local chickens with no history of vaccination. Abuja Municipal, Kuje, Gwagwalada, and Kwali area councils had prevalence of 37, 44, 79, and 68%, respectively. The overall prevalence of antibody to Newcastle disease in the four area councils was 57%. This study shows that Newcastle disease virus is circulating in local chickens in the study area, and this may pose a serious threat to the commercial poultry industry within these four area councils of the Federal Capital Territory (Abuja) where this study was carried out.

[1]  A. Adesiyun,et al.  Challenge study on infectious bursal disease in chicks derived from vaccinated hens , 1987, Tropical Animal Health and Production.

[2]  N. Bloch,et al.  [Serological survey on Newcastle and Gumboro diseases, pasteurellosis and pullorosis in local hens in Niger]. , 1990, Revue d'elevage et de medecine veterinaire des pays tropicaux.

[3]  M. Hadipour A serological survey for Newcastle disease virus antibodies in backyard chickens around Maharlou lake in Iran. , 2009 .

[4]  R. E. Gough,et al.  A standard haemagglutination inhibition test for Newcastle disease. (1). A comparison of macro and micro methods , 1974, Veterinary Record.

[5]  P. Abdu,et al.  Newcastle disease in Nigeria , 2007 .

[6]  P. Ozegbe,et al.  Survey Of Antibodies To Newcastle Disease Virus In Apparently Healthy Adult Nigerian Indigenous Chickens (Gallus domesticus) In Ibadan Using Elisa , 2002 .

[7]  J. Hyman,et al.  Lessons from Nigeria: the role of roads in the geo-temporal progression of avian influenza (H5N1) virus , 2009, Epidemiology and Infection.

[8]  J. Wilde,et al.  Newcastle Disease in Nigeria , 1953 .

[9]  J. G. Bell,et al.  A reservoir of virulent Newcastle disease virus in village chicken flocks , 1988 .

[10]  P. Abdu,et al.  Seroprevalence, Seasonal Occurrence and Clinical Manifestation of Newcastle Disease in Rural Household Chickens in Plateau State, Nigeria , 2009 .

[11]  I. Yamato,et al.  Antibody levels against Newcastle Disease Virus in chickens in Rajshahi and surrounding districts of Bangladesh , 2010 .

[12]  D. Adene,et al.  Seroprevalence of Newcastle disease in local chickens from Southeast derived savannah zone of Nigeria , 1999 .

[13]  T. Sori,et al.  Newcastle Disease in Village Chickens in the Southern and Rift Valley Districts in Ethiopia , 2005 .

[14]  D. Eze,et al.  The Annual Prevalence of Newcastle Disease in Commercial Chickens Reared in South Eastern Savannah Zone of Nigeria , 2010 .

[15]  E. Ibitoye,et al.  A Retrospective (2007-2011) Analysis of Newcastle Disease Diagnosed at Avian Clinic of Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Usmanu Danfodiyo University Sokoto, Nigeria , 2013 .