Immune response following Newcastle disease immunization and growth performance of kuroiler, broiler and local Tanzanian chickens

Abstract

Chicken is a major livestock species raised by smallholder households in rural areas in developing countries of Sub-Saharan Africa as a chief source of meat protein and income generation. However, Newcastle disease largely compromises the production of this precious bird under backyard production settings. The purpose of the study was to assess antibody responses and growth performance following Newcastle disease vaccination in kuroiler, broiler, and local Tanzanian chickens raised under the same tropical environmental condition. In the experiment, a total of 358 chickens comprised of 127 kuroilers, 121 broilers, and 110 local Tanzanian chickens were raised for seven weeks, and body weights were recorded weekly. Birds were vaccinated at four weeks, and blood samples were collected at days 10, and 21 post-vaccination for antibody titres quantification by ELISA test. Results demonstrated higher (P < 0.05) antibody titres in kuroilers (3.81 ± 0.06) as compared to local chicken (3.73 ± 0.07) and broilers (3.53±0.06) at day 10 post-vaccination. The growth performance of local Tanzanian chickens was comparable to that of kuroilers. The present findings contribute to ongoing work in understanding chicken immune responses against NDV and inform breeding programs designed for developing chickens with increased resistance to NDV.

Determination of Immune Response Traits in Nigerian Indigenous Chickens Challenged with Newcastle Inactive Antigen

“…The high immune response to Newcastle disease vaccines recorded in normal feathered high and frizzle feathered high chicks in this study differs from the findings of Pitcovski et al 14 , who observed high antibody response in naked-neck chicks. The antibody titre mean values recorded at 21 days post-inoculation (PI) in this study were higher than the observed values recorded by Mpenda et al 15 . Sex had significant effects on the immune response to Newcastle disease on chicks of all ages in this study.…”

“…Female chicks had a higher value than the male counterparts in this study, these as a result of sexual dimorphism in immune response in the animal, where females produce more vigorous humoral immune reactions, which are more resistant to certain infectious diseases. Antibody response to the same virus was different among chicken genotypes study according to Mpenda et al 15 . The selection of chicken genotypes with high protective antibody titres may have a significant contribution in preventing Newcastle disease outbreaks in chicken populations 16 .…”