Field trial of Malaysian thermostable Newcastle disease vaccine in village chickens in Kaduna State, Nigeria

Abstract

Village chickens in Kaduna State, Nigeria were vaccinated once with a Malaysian heat-resistant Newcastle disease vaccine (NDV4HR) given in feed. In all, 1605 chickens in 223 households covering 33 villages and 13 Local Government Areas were tagged and bled before vaccination and two weeks after vaccination. Antibodies to Newcastle disease virus were titrated by haemagglutination inhibition test and titres . 3(log2) were assumed to be protective. Presumed protective titres were recorded in 143 (8.9%) of chickens before vaccination and in 957 (65.5%) after vaccination. Recommendation is made for the widespread adoption of this technology.