Retrospective Study of Newcastle Disease Cases Diagnosed at the Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria

Abstract

Newcastle Disease (ND) is a contagious viral disease of birds affecting many domestic and wild avian species. Even though
vaccines and vaccination schedules are currently being employed in the prevention of the disease, prevention and control are
still a problem in the poultry industry. This study was conducted at the Veterinary Teaching Hospital (VTH), Ahmadu Bello
University (A.B.U), Zaria and the aim was to determine the monthly, yearly and seasonal prevalence of ND diagnosed in the
Avian Clinic of the VTH, A.B.U., Zaria. Case record files were collected, studied, and clinically diagnosed cases of ND for
five years (2014-2018) were extracted. Diagnosis of ND was by history of the case, clinical findings and post mortem lesions
observed. Results showed that out of 1,768 cases of poultry presented, 42.6 % (754 cases) were confirmed via necropsy findings
as ND. The highest number of cases of the disease was in June having a prevalence of 4.98% followed by March with a
prevalence of 4.64 % and July with a prevalence of 4.47 %. The annual prevalence was highest in 2014 (14.82 %). The cases
of ND were observed to be higher in the pre-rainy season (April to June) with a prevalence of 12.33%. The environmental
stress condition of these periods of the year was likely to be the main reason that potentiate and worsen the occurrence of ND
at these periods. Also, stress condition suppresses the immune system of birds making them more susceptible to infection
leading to an outbreak of disease. It is recommended to administer anti-stress before these periods in order to protect the birds
from the disease.

Keywords: Newcastle disease; Diagnosis; Prevalence; Season