Biomedical Letters

Sero Investigation of Newcastle Disease Virus in Pigeons at Chittagong Metropolitan Area, Bangladesh

Elina K.C.1, Abdul Ahad 2, Nayem Akhter Palash 1, A.K.M. Mostafa Anower 1*

1 Department of Microbiology and Public Health, Patuakhali Science and Technology University, Bangladesh

2 Department of Microbiology and Veterinary Public Health, Chittagong Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Bangladesh

Abstract

Newcastle disease is one of the major killer diseases in chicken and pigeon. Pigeon is considered as a fancy bird by the rearer because of its beauty. The squab meat is very nutritious for debilitative human being as it is easily digestible. The objective of this study is to evaluate the clinical signs of Newcastle Disease (ND) in infected pigeon lofts at Chittagong Metropolitan Area and to determine serological status against NDV of these lofts. From 10 pigeon lofts, 100 blood samples were collected and examined with Hemagglutination Inhibition (HI) test. The samples were divided into ten different groups by sample collected from pigeon lofts. Descriptive statistical analysis was performed based on age, breed, housing and their association with system affected by chi-square test through STATA statistical package. Geometric mean antibody titer (GMT) for NDV in serum of pigeon was found to be log2^3.09 although the pigeons were not vaccinated against NDV. Some of the pigeons exhibited nervous and diarrheic symptoms. From the investigation, we can conclude that most pigeons have antibody against NDV in the bottom line of protection. This antibody level is not sufficient to give protection in the birds infected with a velogenic strain of the virus. The owners are advised to administer NDV vaccine routinely and monitor antibody at regular intervals.

Keywords: Pigeons, Newcastle disease, HI, Chittagong Metropolitan area.

Received April 20, 2017 Revised June 10, 2017 Accepted June 22, 2017

*Correspondence: A.K.M. Mostafa Anower Email: anower@pstu.ac.bd Contact: +8801711069468