Skip to main content
ARS Home » Southeast Area » Athens, Georgia » U.S. National Poultry Research Center » Exotic & Emerging Avian Viral Diseases Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #321217

Title: Temporal, geographic, and host distribution of avian paramyxovirus 1 (Newcastle disease virus)

Author
item DIMITROV, KIRIL - National Diagnostic And Research Veterinary Medicine Institute
item RAMEY, ANDREW - Us Geological Survey (USGS)
item QIU, XUETING - University Of Texas
item BAHL, JUSTIN - University Of Texas
item Afonso, Claudio

Submitted to: Infection, Genetics and Evolution
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/9/2016
Publication Date: 1/12/2016
Publication URL: https://handle.nal.usda.gov/10113/62692
Citation: Dimitrov, K.M., Ramey, A.M., Qiu, X., Bahl, J., Afonso, C.L. 2016. Temporal, geographic, and host distribution of avian paramyxovirus 1 (Newcastle disease virus). Infection, Genetics and Evolution. 39(1)22-34 doi: 10.1016/j.meegid.2016.01.008.

Interpretive Summary: Virulent Newcastle disease viruses can cause significant disease in non-vaccinated and in poorly vaccinated poultry. The presence of the virus across the globe represents a significant threat to U.S. poultry industries. Because of the large range of hosts and of the capacity of the virus to mutate, there are multiple strains circulating worldwide. The transport of goods and people, and the migration of wild birds, facilitate the movement of viruses across the globe. Therefore, there is strong interest in identifying and characterizing all of the different strains circulating worldwide, as there is a need to understand the causes of outbreaks. Here we provide a review of the most recent epidemiological and evolutionary studies on Newcastle disease viruses. This review will help veterinarians and researchers to better understand the risk in their respective countries, the mechanisms of virus evolution, and the potential for outbreaks in different locations across the globe.

Technical Abstract: Newcastle disease (ND) caused by the virulent forms of avian paramyxoviruses of serotype 1 (APMV-1) reached panzootic proportions within two decades, after first being identified in 1926 in the United Kingdom and Indonesia. Reviewed here is the current understanding of the genetic diversity of APMV-1 based on the complete coding region of the fusion gene, and the host, temporal, and geographic analysis of genotype distribution. Strains of APMV-1 fall into either class I or class II when compared phylogenetically, and these are further classified into genotypes based on genetic differences. Class I viruses are genetically less diverse, generally present in wild waterfowl, and are of low virulence. Class II viruses are genetically and phenotypically most diverse, most frequently isolated from poultry with occasional spillovers into wild birds, and exhibit a wider range of virulence. Waterfowl, cormorants, and pigeons are natural reservoirs of APMV-1 of low and medium virulence, but natural reservoirs of highly virulent APMV-1 have not been identified. Genotypes I and II within Class II include isolates of high and low virulence, the latter often being used as vaccines. Viruses of genotypes III and IX that emerged decades ago are rare, but may be found in domestic and wild birds in China. Containing only virulent viruses and responsible for the majority of current outbreaks in poultry and wild birds, viruses from genotypes V, VI, and VII, are highly mobile and have been isolated simultaneously across different continents. Conversely, virulent viruses isolated predominantly from poultry from genotypes XI (Madagascar), XIII (mainly Southwest Asia), XVI (North America), and XIV, XVII, and XVIII (Africa) appear to have a more limited geographic distribution. With a few exceptions, viruses within one genotype do not display significant differences in virulence. However, both virulence and host range appear to be only loosely associated with its genotype.