Serological Detection of Newcastle Disease Virus Antibodies in Local Chickens and Guinea Fowls in the Area of Kumasi, Ghana

Abstract

Newcastle Disease (ND) has been identified as a major constraint to local poultry production with its impact being felt more in rural poultry production which forms about 80% of Ghana poultry population. However documented evidence on ND virus activity in rural poultry in Ghana is still lacking. Hence, this study was conducted to evaluate the level of circulating antibodies against ND using the Haemagglutination Inhibition (HI) technique. Sera collected from unvaccinated 292 chickens and 153 guinea fowls randomly selected from households and a live bird market in Kumasi and its environs were evaluated for Newcastle disease virus antibodies. Results showed 81.8 % (239/292) of local chickens and 24.2 % (37/153) of guinea fowls tested positive for ND antibodies.Comparison was made between the seroprevalence of ND antibodies in household and live bird market as well as between sexes. Significantly higher prevalence rate (p<0.05) was observed with chickens sampled from households compared to those from the live bird market. Higher ranges of titers were also observed in chickens from households than those from live bird markets. The presence of ND antibodies in these unvaccinated local chickens and guinea fowls indicated the presence of the virus amongst the rural poultry population, hence aneed for improvement in vaccine campaignand delivery against ND for rural poultry especially with the use of thermostable and improved oral or feed-based vaccine delivery systems.

Sero-prevalence of newcastle disease in apparently healthy normal feathered local chickens in Ido and Atiba Local Government Areas, Oyo State, Nigeria

“…The results from this study which were obtained in the Month of May were lower than the prevalence of 80.9% reported by Ibitoye et al (2013) in Sokoto State, Nigeria, 81.8% by Boakye et al (2016) in Kumasi, Ghana, 55.5% and 53.7% by Lawal et al (2015) and Lawal et al (2016) in a ten-year retrospective study of ND cases reported and diagnosed in Veterinary clinics in Gombe metropolis, Nigeria. The difference might be as a result of seasonality of Newcastle disease virus having high occurrence in the months of March and October which coincides with the onset of rainy and dry seasons respectively.…”

Development of a coagglutination kit as a rapid test for diagnosing Newcastle disease in poultry

“…It can infect all species of poultry, including both domesticated and wild. In the poultry industry, ND has significant impacts on morbidity and mortality and decreases poultry production, which lead to severe economic losses [ 12 , 13 ]. The high mortality in the poultry industry due to ND infection is because this infection affects several prominent organs such as the brain, lung, digestive tract, and the lymphoid system.…”

Awareness and antibody detection of Newcastle disease virus in a neglected society in Nigeria

“…It is imperative to suggest that most LCs obtained from rural communities and some urban areas in this study area were survivors of infectious diseases, of which NDV played a prominent role since they were unvaccinated but yet exposed in NDV endemic environment (Tables- 1 - 3 and Figure-2 ) [ 12 , 13 ].…”

“…The occurrence of high HI-positive sera in LCs (20.8%) and none in GF in this study can be compared with Boakye et al . [ 13 ] who reported high positive sera in LCs (81.8%) than in GFs (24.2%) in area of Kumasi, Ghana. It has been reported that chickens are highly susceptible to velogenic strain of NDV while gallinaceous birds such as pheasants, GF, partridges, peacocks, and quails have variable susceptibility [ 14 ].…”