Detection of serum antibody levels against newcastle disease in local chickens in Bauchi metropolis, Bauchi state, Nigeria

Abstract

Poultry diseases are one of the main factors constraining poultry practice in most developing countries. Newcastle disease (ND) is a highly contagious and commonly fatal viral poultry disease caused by Newcastle disease virus (NDV). Detection of antibodies to Newcastle disease virus in 300 blood samples from local chickens slaughtered at Muda Lawal Market Bauchi was carried out using the haemagglutination inhibition test (HI). This was to determine the immune status of local birds to NDV in Bauchi Metropolis. 169 (56.3%) birds tested positive with antibody titre ranging from 2 to 512. The geometric mean titre was 19.7. This low antibody titre reveals the epizootic nature of the virus in the study area and is suggestive of an inter-epidemic phase or early phase of infection pointing a finger to possible economic losses in the event of an outbreak, alongside the role of local chickens in the transmission cycle of NDV to other avian species. Vaccination of local chickens were possible is advocated for.

Key words: Poultry diseases, Newcastle disease, haemagglutination inhibition, antibody titre