Author
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King, Daniel |
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Submitted to: International Seminar of Avian Pathology
Publication Type: Proceedings Publication Acceptance Date: 4/15/2002 Publication Date: 5/29/2002 Citation: King, D.J. 2002. Newcastle disease: worldwide situation and control. International Seminar of Avian Pathology. Interpretive Summary: Not required for proceedings. Technical Abstract: Newcastle disease (ND) is one of the most important diseases of poultry world wide. Because so many bird species including feral birds can be infected, commercial poultry flocks are at risk to infection from many sources. International trade is affected by the occurrence of virulent forms of the disease. The history of recent outbreaks of virulent ND in Australia, Brazil, Honduras, Italy, and Mexico were reviewed as examples of the different types of risk that can result in infection and disease related losses in commercial poultry. The disease in Australia was due to the mutation to virulence of a low virulence ND virus strain. In contrast, outbreaks in the other countries were due to transmission of the disease by movement of infected birds or contaminated equipment. The outbreak in Mexico was attributed to the failure to adopt an immunization program appropriate to control disease from indigenous virulent strains. Although efficacious vaccines are available to protect poultry from disease the vaccines do not protect against infection. Therefore biosecurity measures must be employed to reduce if not eliminate the exposure of poultry flocks to hazardous infectious agents including ND virus. |
