NEWCASTLE DISEASE Aetiology Epidemiology Diagnosis Prevention and Control References

Classification of the causative agent Newcastle disease (ND) is a member of the family Paramyxoviridae in the genus Avulavirus. There are ten serotypes of avian paramyxoviruses designated APMV-I to APMV-10 and ND virus (NDV) has been designated APMV-1. NDV has also been categorised into five pathotypes based on clinical signs in infected chickens, designated: a) viscerotropic velogenic, b) neurotropic velogenic, c) mesogenic, d) lentogenic or respiratory and e) aymptomatic. Pathotype groupings are rarely clear-cut. Temperature: Inactivated by 56°C/3 hours or 60°C/30 minutes. pH: Inactivated by acid pH ≤ 2. Chemicals/Disinfectants: Ether sensitive; inactivated by formalin, phenolics and oxidising agents (e.g. Virkon®); chlorhexidine, sodium hypochlorite (6%). Survival: Survives for long periods at ambient temperature, especially in faeces. EPIDEMIOLOGY Hosts Many species of birds both domestic and wild o Chickens are highly susceptible to disease; turkeys do not tend to develop severe sign