News

7 biological material samples taken from poultry (chickens) in the territory of 7 settlements of the Crimea Republic were delivered to the Reference Laboratory for Viral Avian Diseases of the FGBI “Federal Centre for Animal Health” subordinated to the Rosselkhoznadzor. It was earlier reported that the virus had been detected in 8 samples from 8 settlements sent from the GBI “Regional State Veterinary Laboratory” of the Crimea Republic.

The tests carried out at the FGBI “ARRIAH” Reference Laboratory for Viral Avian Diseases using RT-PCR confirmed the presence of ND virus genome in all samples. In the course of the comparative analysis of the nucleotide sequences of F gene fragment it was found that the detected microorganism belonged to the group of the virulent isolates of the ND virus isolated in Pakistan, Israel, Indonesia and other countries in previous years. Influenza virus genome was not detected in tested samples.

The last ND outbreaks in poultry flocks in the Russian Federation were registered in 2013. In the first half of the year a highly-virulent virus genetically close to South-East Asia isolates caused the disease and chicken mortality in private backyards of 5 settlements of the Kaliningrad Oblast. In autumn 2013, the disease was registered in the poultry farm of the Yaroslavl Oblast but the isolate belonged to the vast group of paramyxoviruses serotype 1 prevailing mainly in wild pigeon populations in the European and Asian countries. These viruses are annually detected in wild bird populations in some states and pose no threat to poultry breeding if animal health measures are carried out properly in the course of poultry handling and breeding.

Newcastle disease outbreaks were registered in Bulgaria in February and March, 2016 and in Romania in November, 2015. The situation in some countries of Asia, Africa and Middle East remains tense.

Disease symptoms induced by the virus may differ essentially depending on the poultry type and age, presence of associated diseases, immune system condition. Diseased birds may demonstrate appetite loss and digestive disorder, weakness, drowsiness, conjunctivitis, symptoms of disorders in respiratory (snickling, sneezing, gasping symptoms) and nervous (torticollis, pareses and paralyses of legs and wings, motor dysfunction) systems. Cases of sudden mortality in birds, especially young are possible. Chickens, turkeys, pheasants and guinea fowl are mostly susceptible to the Newcastle disease but the risk of infection of the other types of birds is not excluded.

FGBI “ARRIAH” Reference Laboratory for Viral Avian Diseases draws the attention of the veterinary services of the RF Subjects, poultry farms and poultry holders to the fact that the contacts between domestic and wild (including synanthropic) birds are inadmissible and calls for strict observance of animal health measures during poultry handling and breeding.

In case of detection of diseased and dead birds it is necessary to inform the veterinary service immediately.

FGBI “ARRIAH” Press-office