ARS | Publication request: Complete genome sequence and clinicopathological characterization of a virulent Newcastle disease virus isolated from poultry in South America

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: November 2, 2011
Publication Date: January 26, 2012
Citation: Diel, D.G., Susta, L., Cardenas Garcia, S., Killian, M., Brown, C., Miller, P.J., Afonso, C.L. 2012. Complete genome sequence and clinicopathological characterization of a virulent Newcastle disease virus isolated from poultry in South America. Meeting Abstract. Vol.50, pages 378-387.

Technical Abstract: Newcastle disease (ND) is one of the most important diseases of poultry, negatively affecting poultry production worldwide. The disease is caused by Newcastle disease virus (NDV) or avian paramyxovirus type-1 (APMV-1), a negative sense single-stranded RNA virus of the genus Avulavirus, family Paramyxoviridae. Although all NDV isolates characterized to date belong to a single serotype of APMV-1, significant genetic diversity has been described between different NDV isolates. Here, we present the complete genome sequence and the clinicopathological characterization of a virulent Newcastle disease virus isolate (NDV-Peru/08) obtained from poultry during an outbreak of ND in Peru in 2008. Phylogenetic reconstruction based on the complete genome sequence demonstrated that NDV-Peru/08 is clearly distinct from viruses of other known NDV genotypes. Analysis of the evolutionary distances between NDV-Peru/08 and isolates representing established NDV genotypes revealed the existence of large genomic and amino differences that distinguish this isolate from viruses of typical NDV genotypes. Although NDV-Peru/08 is a genetically distinct virus, pathogenesis studies conducted in chickens revealed that NDV-Peru/08-infection results in clinical signs characteristic of velogenic viscerotropic NDV strains. Additionally, vaccination studies have shown that an inactivated NDV-LaSota/46 vaccine conferred full protection from NDV-Peru/08-induced clinical disease and mortality. Characterization of novel NDV isolates that occasionally emerge and cause outbreaks or of those that frequently circulate worldwide are important to improve the current understanding of NDV epidemiology and evolution, and for the development of improved control and diagnostic strategies.