Newcastle disease in white Pekin ducks: response to experimental vaccination and challenge

Abstract

A total of 120 Pekin ducks were distributed at random into four experimental groups, vaccinated or not against Newcastle disease (ND): G1 (Ulster 2C strain), G2 (B1 strain), G3 (LaSota strain), and G4 (nonvaccinated group). At 60 days of age, all groups were challenged with a pathogenic ND virus (NDV) suspension, and a group of specific pathogen free (SPF) chicks (G5) was also inoculated. Cloacal and tracheal swabs from all birds were collected after six, 14, 20, and 30 days post-challenge for virus isolation. NDV was isolated in 100% of SPF chicks. Pekin ducks from all groups, vaccinated or not, did not show any ND clinical signs, demonstrating that these birds are not susceptible to ND clinical disease. In the control group (G4), the virus was isolated 20 to 30 days after challenge, suggesting their possible NDV carrier state. In the vaccinated groups, no virus was isolated. This demonstrates that vaccination of white Pekin ducks against NDV is important to reduce NDV shedding in the field

Experimental infection of duck origin virulent Newcastle disease virus strain in ducks

“…There is still debate over whether NDV can cause the disease in ducks [ 30 , 31 ], though many natural outbreaks were associated with NDV [ 10 , 11 , 14 , 16 - 19 , 21 , 23 - 25 ], and ducks had developed the disease or died after experimental infections with virulent strains at large doses [ 23 , 24 , 29 ]. Combining the results from this and other studies on ducks, some of the inconsistencies may be due to differences in NDV strain, dose and route of inoculation, breed, age, and maternal antibody level in different experiments.…”

Newcastle disease

“…Ducks can become infected and spread the virus; however, no clinical signs are usually reported when animals are experimentally infected, even with velogenic strains. 91,94 Only one paper describes neurological signs in ducklings that were experimentally infected with a mesogenic strain that was responsible for a previous field outbreak in ducks. 46 Geese.…”

Evaluation of Histopathological Changes in Ducks Infected With Newcastle Disease Virus

“…The present study focused on the histopathological changes in the duck tissues after infecting with velogenic form of Newcastle Disease virus to study the pathogenicity between two breeds of ducks. Among ducks, White Pekin ducks were more resistant to the velogenic form of NDV, while other breeds were less susceptible to the infection (Dai et al, (2014) and Nishizawa et al, (2007)). The severity of disease and mortality was noticed only in Khaki Campbell whereas no mortality was observed in White Pekin.…”

“…Yabin Dai et al, (2014) reported that the Mallard ducks appeared to be the most susceptible, where the Pekin ducks was the most resistant to NDV infection among 6 breeds of ducks (Mallard, Gaoyou, Jinding, Shaoxing, Shanma & Pekin). Nishizawa et al, (2007) observed that White Pekin ducks were resistant to the development of ND clinical signs when challenged with velogenic NDV and reported that vaccination is essential to reduce elimination of virus. Zhang et al, (2011) infected the ducks with NDV/Duck/China/GD09-2/2009 and NDV/ Duck/China/SD09/2009 and noticed the histopathological changes includes villus missing and necrosis of epithelial cell infiltration in the intestine, lymphocytes infiltration and venous congestion in liver, necrosis of massive tissue in spleen.…”