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Exotic Newcastle's Disease Page 2 of 3
<br /> Drastic preventative measures are the best defense against Exotic Newcastle's.These include quarantining property where
<br /> birds have been infected, euthanizing all birds that may have been exposed, and sanitizing the infection site.
<br /> Since NDV is stable in the environment,the virus is resistant to many common disinfectants.The virus has been found to
<br /> remain active in moist soil for 22 days,on feathers at 20 degrees C for 123 days and in lake water for 19 days.The virus can
<br /> be inactivated by extremes in pH (less than 2, greater than 11), high temperatures (56 degrees C), sunlight,detergents,
<br /> chloramines (1%), bleach, phenols and 2%formalin.
<br /> PMV 1 can cause disease in humans. Healthy people who are exposed may develop mild signs of infection(malaise)or
<br /> conjunctivitis. Infected people will shed the virus in secretions for a period of time after exposure, and they will be technically
<br /> able to pass the virus to other humans or birds, but this is unlikely, as practicing good hygiene should prevent this.The risk of
<br /> human disease is confined primarily to poultry workers however,any human exposed could develop signs of infection.
<br /> If you are concerned about NDV or suspect that you might have,or have seen an infected bird, in California, contact California
<br /> Department of Food and Agriculture,916-952-1595. E-mail:cdfapublicaffairs@cdfa_ ca.aov. If you are concerned that you
<br /> might have contracted this virus from being around infected birds,contact your own physician, hospital epidemiologist
<br /> physician or your local health department.
<br /> For in-depth information on PMV-1, consult Avian Viruses, Function and Control, by Branson W. Ritchie, DVM, PhD, 1995,
<br /> Wingers Publishing Co, Lake Worth, FL. Much of the information presented here is from this valuable resource.
<br /> Commercial poultry facilities in the US vaccinate their birds against lentogenic and mesogenic NDV. However,they are not
<br /> vaccinated against Exotic Newcastle's Disease,WND and VNND. Prevention of these diseases is accomplished by strict
<br /> control of birds imported into this country. Psittacine birds are not vaccinated against lentogenic and mesogenic NDV, as some
<br /> vaccines contain modified live virus and could possibly cause the disease.This is because the vaccine was not developed for
<br /> psittacine birds. In general, modified live vaccines and killed virus vaccines should not cause disease in the species that they
<br /> were developed to protect. Since Exotic NDV is a reportable and notifiable disease,government regulations may restrict
<br /> vaccination of avian species other than commercial fowl.Vaccination against WND and VNND is performed in some other
<br /> countries.
<br /> Is it possible to purchase a frozen chicken from the grocery store that is infected with Exotic Newcastle's Disease virus?No,
<br /> you would never purchase a frozen chicken from the supermarket with Exotic Newcastle's Disease. One reason that everyone
<br /> gets so concerned about Exotic Newcastle's Disease is that it is so deadly to commercial poultry, and is likely to kill a high
<br /> percentage of these birds if exposed. So, any facility suspected of having poultry infected with this virus will be placed under
<br /> observation by government agencies and the birds will be screened by lab testing.Also, poultry is inspected by the USDA prior
<br /> to being released for consumer purchase, and this inspection process should prevent the sale of poultry with serious disease
<br /> problems.
<br /> PMV-1 can be diagnosed in both live birds and dead specimens. Most commonly, in live birds, swabs of the pharyngeal area
<br /> and/or cloaca (or feces)maybe tested at appropriate diagnostic laboratories, using virus isolation.These swabs are then
<br /> tested for the presence of virus by attempting to grow PMV-1.The feces may also be examined under an electron microscope
<br /> to look for PMV-1 virus particles. Blood may be drawn to test for an increase in antibody titer(which requires paired serum
<br /> samples drawn two weeks apart).These tests,called serology,are less effective than virus isolation in diagnosing infections.
<br /> In live birds, swabs of the pharynx;cloaca or feces,to attempt virus isolation, are the tests used to screen birds in quarantine
<br /> and those suspected of being infected. Post-mortem samples for virus isolation should include trachea, lung,spleen, liver and
<br /> brain.
<br /> Recently,the task force in California mailed out information and sampling kits to veterinarians in Southern California who are
<br /> members of the Association of Avian Veterinarians.They have diagnostic test kits so that they can take cloacal swabs and
<br /> submit samples for testing in the self-mailers that have been provided. Suspicious birds will be tested at the state diagnostic
<br /> lab in San Bernardino, California.Veterinarians can call 562-795-1940 to speak with a veterinarian on the task force,and vets
<br /> are urged to give their clients the hotline number for the disease so that they can report possible symptoms and suspicious
<br /> cases.The hotline number is:800-491-1899.
<br /> h":l/www.exotiepetvet.net/avian/newcastle.htm] 5/23/2008
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