Prevalence of selected viral infections in various age groups of village chickens in Borno State, Nigeria

Abstract

A preliminary survey for antibodies against some selected viruses in village chickens of various age groups was carried out in Barno State, Nigeria. Three hundred and twenty samples consisting of 160 sera from adult chickens, 60 sera from chicks and 100 yolk samples from embryonated chicken eggs were tested against Newcastle disease (ND), influenza (FLU) A and B viruses, and egg drop syndrome (EDS) - 76 viruses using haemagglutination inhibition (HI) test; and infectious bursal disease (IBD) virus using the agar gel diffusion test (AGDT). Eighty-five percent of the samples tested positive to one or more viruses, with IBD having the highest percentage prevalence (45.7%) followed by FLU A (26.5%), ND (22.4%), EDS-76 (19.3%) and FLU B (0%). The percentage of mixed infectious among different age groups was highest among chicks. The importance of village chickens in the spread and maintenance of viral diseases of poultry are discussed from epidemiological point of view.

Keywords: Viral antibodies, village chickens, Nigeria