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RESEARCH ARTICLE
EPIDEMIOLOGICAL IMPLICATION OF NEWCASTLE DISEASE VIRUS IN LOCAL CHICKENS AT LIVE
BIRD MARKETS IN JOS, NIGERIA
*1Chollom, S. C., 2Emerhirhi, F. T., 3Akwaowo, E. E., 3Ogbaji, J. U., 4Fyaktu, E. J., 5Ohemu, T. L.,
3Idoko, M. A., 3Ujah, A. 3Onovoh, E. and 3Okwori A. E. J.
1Viral Research Department, National Veterinary Research Institute, Vom, Nigeria
2Department of Animal Production, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi, Nigeria
3Federal College of Veterinary and Medical Laboratory Technology, Vom, Nigeria
4Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Jos, Nigeria
5Department of Pharmacognosy Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Jos, Nigeria
ARTICLE INFO ABSTRACT
We investigated local chicken at sale points for antibodies against Newcastle Disease Virus (NDV) in some live
bird markets in Plateau State, Nigeria. Our aim was to determine the degree of endemicity of NDV in the target
population and to evaluate the attendant epidemiological implication. A total of 300 samples were collected from
two markets. Standard method for Haemagglutination Inhibition (HI) test was adopted for screening the samples.
Results showed that 245 (81.5%) of the samples tested positive for the agent. The distribution of antibodies (log2)
showed that 4 samples (1.5%) had a titre of 1, 8 samples (2.5%) had a titre of 2, 15 samples (5.1%) had a titre of 3,
28 samples (9.3%) had a titre of 4, 42 samples (13.8%) had a titre of 5, while 42 samples (14.2%) had a titre of 6,
48 samples (16%) had a titre of 7 which was the second most frequently encountered titre, 57 samples (19%) had a
titre of 8, which was the most frequently encountered titre 35 samples (11.7%) had a titre of 9, while the highest
titre obtained was 10, in (6.8%) samples. Overall HI (log2) in all samples collected ranged from1-10. The highest
positive sample was observed in Bukuru with 124 (82%) positive while for Jos 120 (80%) was positive. The result
obtained was subjected to statistical analysis using statistical package for social science (SPSS version 16) for
statistical difference at 95% confidence interval and there was no significant difference in the percentage of the
two sites.
Copyright © 2013 Chollom, S. C., et al., This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted
use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
INTRODUCTION
Newcastle disease (ND) is a highly contagious zoonotic disease of
birds affecting many domestic and wild avian species. Its effect is most
notable in domestic poultry due to their high susceptibility and
potential for serve in the poultry industries (Nelson et al., 1952). The
disease was discovered in Java, Indonesia in 1926, but was named
after Newcastle upon Tyne, England, where it was rediscovered a year
later in 1927 (Nelson et al., 1952). It occurs in domestic fowls,
turkeys, pigeons, quails and guinea fowls and many species of wild
birds, ducks and geese are also susceptible but severe disease is rare.
Human infection via exposure of humans to infected birds can cause
mild conjunctivitis and influenza-like symptoms and in severe cases it
may lead to some lasting impairment of vision (Beard and Hanson,
1984). Newcastle disease in human is an occupational hazard limited
to laboratory workers and poultry workers handling infected birds
(Jawetz et al., 2005). The causal agent, Newcastle Disease Virus, is a
negative sense single stranded RNA virus. Transmission occurs by
exposure to faecal and other excretions from infected birds and
through contact with contaminated feed, water, equipment and clothing
(Nelson et a1., 1952). Newcastle disease is endemic in Nigeria. The
first documented outbreak of the disease occurred in Ibadan in 1952,
since then the disease has been the most important disease of chickens
in Nigeria. The disease has been reported in guinea fowls and a highly
*Corresponding author: Chollom, S. C., Viral Research Department, National
Veterinary Research Institute, Vom, Nigeria.
velogenic strain of NDV has been isolated from apparently healthy
ducks (Echeonwu et al., 1993). A suspected outbreak of ND in young
ostrich was also reported by Sa'idu et al, (1999). To date, there has
only been serological evidence of NDV infection in pigeons in Nigeria
(Oladele et al., 1996). Newcastle disease is a dreaded virus disease of
poultry which reduces the hatchability and fertility of eggs, production
and impaired egg shell and albumen quality. The virus causes high
mortality and morbidity in the flock and produces teratogenic defects
and early mortality among experimentally infected embryos (Blattner
and Williamson 1951). Infection is through direct contact between
healthy body discharges from infected birds, and the commonest portal
of entry is the respiratory tract. The incubation period for the disease
ranges from 2 to 15 days. The clinical symptoms in infected birds
depend on the strain of the virus and the age of the bud and range from
mild respiratory infection to severe enteritis and paralysis resulting in
death (Pang et al., 2003). No treatment for NDV exits, but the use of
prophylactic vaccines and sanitary measures reduce the likelihood of
outbreaks. Very recently, some herbs have been investigated and found
to be good candidates for ethno-veterinary intervention in ND
outbreaks (Chollom et al., 2012) Confirmatory diagnosis requires the
isolation and characterization of the virus involved. Laboratory
diagnosis is by viral isolation using embryonated chickens eggs after
which the allantoic fluid is harvested and tested for haemagglutination
(HA) activity and confirmation by HI. Other tests are conventional
assessment using in-viro technique, Enzymes linked irnmunosorbent
Assay (ELISA), Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR), Agar Gel
ISSN
: 0975
-
833X
Available online at http://www.journalcra.com
International Journal of Current Research
Vol. 5, Issue, 10, pp.2872-2874, October, 2013
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL
OF CURRENT RESEARCH
Article History:
Received 12th July, 2013
Received in revised form
30th August, 2013
Accepted 17th September 2013
Published online 10th October, 2013
Key words:
Newcastle Disease Virus,
Haemagglutination Inhibition,
Titre,
Bukuru,
Jos
.
Precipitating Test (AGPT) (Pang et al., 2003). The study was meant to
ascertain the endemicity of the disease in the targeted locations and
emphasize on the potential hazard local birds posed to poultry
production in the country.
MATERIALS AND METHOD
Standard Antigen and Hyper immune sera
Lyophilized Newcastle Disease (ND) agent and hyper immune sera
were obtained from Virology Division, National Veterinary Research
Institute, Vom.
Sample Collection
2ml of blood was collected from 300 birds via the brachial vein into
well labelled clean sample bottles. The blood was allowed to clot,
serum was separated and stored at -200C as described by Allan and
Gough, (1974a).
Treatment of Samples
Sera were inactivated in water bath at 560C for 30minutes prior to use,
to remove non specific inhibitors.
Haemagglutination (HA) Test
This was done according to the method of Young et al., 2000 as earlier
documented by Chollom et al. (2012). The HA titre was recorded as
the dilution of the virus showing 50% haemagglutination (Allan and
Gough, 1974a; Allan et al., 1978). The resulting titre was used to
calculate the 4 Haemagglutination unit (4HAU) for HI test
Haemagglutination Inhibition (HI) Test
This was carried out according to the method of Young et al. (2000).
Briefly:
i. To each row of eight wells on microtitre plate 1 volume of PBS
was added using a micro dropper pipette into wells in the row.
ii. To each first well of each row, 1 volume of particular test sera was
added.
iii. A micro diluter calibrated to carry same volume as the micro
dropper pipette was used to make a two – fold dilution of the sera
as in antigen dilution in HA titration, leaving the 11th and 12th well
as control .
iv. Using another micro dropper pipette, 1 volume of the standard
antigen was added to wells 1 - 10.
v. The contents were mixed gently by tapping the plate and incubated
at room temperature for 45 minutes.
vi. To each well again, 1 volume of 1% washed chick red blood cell
was added, mixed and incubated at room temperature for 30
minutes.
vii. The same procedure was used to treat control sera.
viii.The titre was read as the highest dilution showing
heamagglutination inhibition.
RESULTS
The study shows that 245 (81.7%) of the screened population had
antibodies against Newcastle Disease Virus. The breakdown according
to location showed that Bukuru market had a seroprevalence of
(82.7%) while Jos market had 80.3%. Table 1/SPSS version 16 at 95%
confidence interval showed that x2 = 0.542 df = 1 P-Value = 0.462
(Not significant). HI log2 titre of sample distribution in relation to
location in Bukuru and Jos respectively was shown in table 2/SSPS
showed that x2 = 0.688, df =1 P-Value = 0.709 (Not Significant). The
overall frequency of the titre in HI (log2) shows that, the highest
antibody titre (log2) of 141 (19.0%) was found in 57 samples while
others had < 1(1.5%), 2(2.5%), 3(5.1%), 4(9.3%). 5(13.8%) 6(14.2%)
7(19%), 9(11.7%), and 10(6.8%) as shown in Table 3.
Table 1. Distribution of HI LOG2 titre in different location
X2 = 0,542 df = 1 P – Value = 0,484 (Not Significant)
Table 2. Percentage distribution of titre ranges
X2 = 0.688 df = 1 P- Value = 0.709 (Not significant)
DISCUSSION
The sudden boom in poultry production in Nigeria and indeed Africa
as a source of supply of animal protein suggests that awareness in
disease control measures be correspondingly increased. In Nigeria for
instance, the population of local chickens that wander about as
scavengers is high and control of the disease difficult (Okeke and
Lamorde, 1998). These birds are hardly ever vaccinated and roam
about acting as reservoirs and carrier of diseases to commercial farms
and to themselves (Olabode et al., 1992). One of the most important
poultry diseases of economic importance in Nigeria is Newcastle
Disease (ND) which is highly fatal to young chicks and causes severe
drop in eggs production among layers. All birds of all ages are
susceptible to ND. In man, Newcastle Disease can give rise to acute
unilateral or bilateral conjunctivitis (Okeke and Lamorde, 1998).
Based on the result of this work, which shows that 96% tested positive,
the prevalence of HI antibodies is high when compared with Newcastle
disease seroprevalence studies conducted in village chickens z- 34
different parts of Nigeria which shows variable prevalence rate: in
Kaduna State, 73.8% (Ezeokoli et al., 1985), 74.3% (Nwanta, 2003) in
Maiduguri Bomo State, 54.0% (Baba et al., 1998) in Plateau State,
41.0% (Abdu et al., 1985) and Kubuwa villagepwari area council 1 a&
FCT Abuja (44,3%) (Olabode et al., 2006). The high prevalence rate
documented in this study probably may be due to more frequent
contacts of these birds with wild and domestic virus carriers (Vui et al.,
2000). Furthermore, poultry butchers have direct contact with
apparently healthy and sick birds for slaughter, most of these birds are
brought to the slaughter point sick. As a result, poultry butchers
became contaminated. They may not necessarily become infected but
may serve as vehicle of transmission of the virus (Pary et al., 2003).
These people also have close contact with healthy unvaccinated flocks
either by keeping or selling and those flocks are susceptible to
Newcastle disease infection. Consequently, the rate of transmission
increases resulting in high disease prevalence with attendant economic
loss. The movement of live infected village birds is probably seen to
be the main source of virus transmission (Nawathe, 1999; Ibrahim and
Abdu, 2002). Village poultry are mobile and may pass through markets
and the birds will spread the virus and disperse. Chicken purchased for
consumption is brought life and may mix for a while with the home
flock. Experience has shown that outbreak of Newcastle disease may
follow the introduction of newly-purchased chicken (Nwanta
et al.,
0.L- 2006). Sick birds or suspected contacts are slaughtered for
consumption or sold in the pretext of salvaging the bids by the owners
(Nawathe, 1988; Ibrahim and Abdu, 1992). The sale of such infected
birds aid the spread of infection (Nwanta et al., 2006). The findings of
this work shows that chickens has an HI antibody titre of > 4 log2
which is enough to boost the immunity level, hence presumed to be
protected (Nwanta, 2003). The higher titre of these species may be due
to their nature of mobility is higher than the rest species used in this
study, which suggests that they also harbour and shed the virus, acting
as source of infection for chickens (Onunkwo and Momo,1981; Alders
and Sprabrow, 2001). With regards to the sources of samples used in
2873 Chollom, et al., Epidemiological implication of new castle disease virus in local chickens at live bird markets in Jos, Nigeria
this study, Bukuru had the highest numbers of positive samples while
lowest had the lowest positive samples but the numbers are close to
each other. The wider range of NDV titre as obtained in this study may
also be due to natural infection which is known to produce higher
antibody titres than vaccination (Luc et al., 1992). The variations of
immune responses and protection observed from location to location
may be due to variable environmental condition such as ambient
temperatures, humidity, rainfall and heath status of the chicken as well
as human factors in the vaccine administration which may also vary
from location to location (Echeonwu et al., 2008).
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