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Title: Biological and phylogenetic characterization of a genotype VII Newcastle disease virus from Venezuela: Efficacy of vaccination

Author
item PEROZO, FRANSCISCO - Universidad Del Zulia
item MARCANO, ROSMAR - University Of Central Venezuela
item Afonso, Claudio

Submitted to: Journal of Clinical Microbiology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/29/2011
Publication Date: 1/1/2012
Citation: Perozo, F., Marcano, R., Afonso, C.L. 2012. Biological and phylogenetic characterization of a genotype VII Newcastle disease virus from Venezuela: Efficacy of vaccination. Journal of Clinical Microbiology. 50:1204-1208.

Interpretive Summary: Newcastle disease virus (NDV) causes a serious disease in avian species and is especially important due to the economic damages it causes to the international poultry industry. The viruses continue to evolve worldwide and it is important for U.S. veterinarians to be able to recognize and characterize the threat presented by highly virulent viruses present in countries with commercial or geographic links to the U.S. Here we present the report of the presence of viruses of genotype VII in the American continent and demonstrate that these viruses are highly virulent. Potential problems with commercial vaccination programs in Venezuela are described.

Technical Abstract: Here we describe the characterization a virulent genotype VII Newcastle disease virus (NDV) from Venezuela and evaluate the efficacy of heterologous genotype commercial vaccination under field and controlled rearing conditions. Biological pathotyping and molecular analysis were applied. Results showed mean dead time of 50 hours and an intracerebral pathogenicity index of 1.86. Phylogenetic analysis demonstrated that the virus belonged to genotype VII in the class II (a genotype often found in Asia and Africa) representing the first report of the presence of this genotype in the American continent. A vaccine-challenge trial was implemented and included dual (live/killed) 1-day-old genotype I and II NDV priming of commercial broilers plus two live NDV and Infectious bursal disease (IBDV) field vaccinations at seven and 17 days, followed by a very stringent genotype VII NDV challenge at day 28. Serology for NDV and IBDV, lymphoid organs integrity and protection against challenge were assessed. In the field group, significantly lower NDV (1.356 vs 2.384) and higher IBD (7295 vs 1489) ELISA antibody titres were observed. Lower bursal size and bursa-body weight ratio (P<0.05) and higher bursa lesions score were detected in the commercial set. Only 57.1% field vaccinates survived the lethal challenge, differing (P<0.05) from 90.5% survival in the experimental farm. Overall, results suggest that field associated factors such as immunosuppression or quality of vaccination procedures may compromise the protection provided by the heterologous genotype vaccine program against the novel genotype VII isolate herein reported and may be responsible for the ND outbreaks in Venezuela.