The effects of Newcastle Disease Vaccine (Komarov) on unvaccinated local hens

Abstract

Twenty out of thirty local breed of hens (Gallus gallus domesticus) that had not been immunologically primed by previous routine vaccination were inoculated with Newcastle disease vaccine (Komarov) intramuscularly while the remaining ten hens acted as uninoculated control. Clinical results show that 30% of the 20 birds vaccinated with Newcastle Disease Vaccine (Komarov) showed characteristic greenish yellowish diarrhoea, cumulative sharp drop in egg production (60%) while respiratory signs like gasping, sneezing and coughing were noticed in the 60% of the birds. Statistical analysis using analysis of variance (ANOVA) showed that Newcastle disease viral antibody titres in the sera and egg yolk of the inoculated hens were significantly (p<0.01) higher than those of the uninoculated control hens. It was concluded that mesogenic strain of Newcastle Disease Vaccine (Komarov) can precipitate experimental Newcastle disease in local breed of hens which have not received previous vaccination with either Newcastle Disease vaccine intraoccular or Newcastle Disease Vaccine Lasota.

KEY WORDS: Newcastle disease vaccine, Komarov, local hens, haemagglutination inhibition

Nigerian Veterinary Journal Vol.25(2) 2004: 60-65