ARS | Publication request: Phylogenetic and biological characterization of virulent Newcastle disease viruses isolated in wild birds during 2002-2007

Submitted to: American Association of Avian Pathologists
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: January 15, 2008
Publication Date: July 19, 2000
Citation: Afonso, C.L., King, D.J., Kim, L.M., Guzman, H., Tesh, R.B., Dennett, J.A. 2000. Phylogenetic and biological characterization of virulent Newcastle disease viruses isolated in wild birds during 2002-2007 [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association of Avian Pathologists meeting, July 19-23, 2008, New Orleans, Louisiana. p. 118.

Technical Abstract: As part of a West Nile virus surveillance program in the Houston Metropolitan Area and in Rhode Island, extracts from brain from 5608 dead birds representing 21 avian orders, were cultured in Vero cells. Sixteen Newcastle disease virus isolates were recovered from birds of the order Columbiformes. These viruses were identified as pigeon paramyxoviruses from genotype VIb by partial genomic sequencing and phylogenetic analysis. All viruses corresponded to virulent phenotypes upon analysis of the fusion protein cleavage site, and intracerebral pathogenicity tests suggested mesogenic pathotypes (0.98-1.35); however none were detected with the U.S. validated real time RT-PCR assay which targets the fusion gene.