Newcastle Disease (ND):

Why in news ? Recently , a new Newcastle Disease detected in Brazil poultry farm.

About Newcastle Disease (ND):

• Newcastle Disease (ND) is a highly contagious and serious viral disease that primarily affects birds, especially domestic poultry like chickens, turkeys, and ducks. It’s caused by virulent strains of avian paramyxovirus type 1.

Severity: ND can be very severe, causing significant economic losses in the poultry industry due to high mortality rates in unvaccinated birds.

Spread: The virus spreads quickly through contact with infected birds, their droppings, and contaminated equipment or clothing.

Strains: There are different strains of the virus with varying degrees of severity:

Lentogenic: Mildest form, causing few or no symptoms.

Mesogenic: Moderate form, with some illness and mortality.

Velogenic: Most virulent form, causing severe illness and high mortality (also called Exotic Newcastle Disease).

Symptoms: Clinical signs depend on the strain and can include:

• Respiratory distress (gasping, coughing)
• Nervous signs (twisting of the head, paralysis)
• Depression, lethargy
• Diarrhea
• Drop in egg production and abnormal eggshells