Research team is studying the development of disease-resistant poultry

Poultry disease is an international issue, especially when there is an outbreak close to home. However, it’s a particularly costly problem in developing countries. 
Developing animals resistant to disease may be one of the long-term solutions. University of Georgia researchers in the Regenerative Bioscience Center have spent the last four years gathering data that could make the process a reality.
The team, which includes Steven Stice and Franklin West in the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences and Claudio Afonso at the Southeast Poultry Research Laboratory of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Research Service, used a technology platform called shRNA—single strands of RNA that fold back on themselves—to selectively stop the production of nucleic acids that cause disease, such as the Newcastle disease virus. 
Newcastle disease is a worldwide problem and is caused by one of the most deadly of all viruses that spreads between birds. Exotic Newcastle virus, the most devastating form of the virus, has been eradicated in the U.S. and Canada. The milder forms of Newcastle are kept under control using vaccines.
The research team’s tooling process for enhancing disease resistance, published recently in the Journal of the International Alliance for Biological Standardization, is potentially a much better way of disease protection than vaccination, because it introduces permanent genetic resistance that is transmittable to a bird’s offspring, the researchers said. In contrast, many vaccines provide protection for a given period of time and must be re-administered periodically.
“With this technology, we can target specific regions used by the Newcastle disease virus that are critical for its survival,” said Stice, a Georgia Research Alliance Eminent Scholar and director of the Regenerative Bioscience Center. “Preventing these lethal viruses from replicating in individual chickens may in the end reduce the overall level of virus transmission from one chicken to the next.”
Multiple types of animals and disease could be targeted. This technology could also be applied to avian influenza and swine flu. “Ultimately, you could have birds that are both avian influenza resistant and Newcastle disease virus resistant,” said West, an assistant professor in the animal and dairy science department. “Theoretically, you may never have to vaccinate again.”
Organized distribution of vaccine products can also present problems, especially in countries where farmers may not have a refrigerator or other means to store the vaccines at the temperature needed to keep the vaccine alive. This is particularly true in rural areas where backyard flocks may be a farmer’s main source of income. 
Shipping disease-resistant chickens produced here in the U.S. could be the best possible solution for many countries, Stice said. “We’ve taken many years to prove that this technology is viable,” he continued, “and we’re now ready to expand our work to the next stage.”
The study, “Delayed Newcastle disease virus replication using RNA interference to target the nucleoprotein,” is available at 
www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1045105615000275

Newcastle disease confirmed in Nicaragua poultry

Newcastle disease has been confirmed in small poultry flock in El Progreso, Cárdenas, Nicaragua, according to the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE).
In response to the immediate notification of Newcastle disease sent by Costa Rica to the OIE and concerning the province of Guanacaste, the epidemiological surveillance service of the Institute for Animal Health and Protection (IPSA) initiated an epidemiological monitoring in border regions in the south of the country in the municipalities of Cárdenas and San Juan del Sur.
Sick poultry was found in El Progreso, with birds showing signs consistent with Newcastle disease. In this situation, movement control of poultry was implemented in the affected zone, OIE reported. On April 29, samples were taken and immediately sent to the IPSA National Veterinary Diagnosis Laboratory. The Newcastle disease diagnosis was confirmed and the susceptible population in the outbreak zone was culled.
Six birds in the flock had died as a result of contracting Newcastle disease.


Newcastle vaccination effort launched
On May 5, the Direction for Animal Health launched a vaccination campaign against the disease in 33 border communities in the municipalities of Cárdenas and San Juan del Sur. An estimated 12,975 poultry birds from 811 owners were vaccinated. Also, 33 talks were given to 812 poultry owners in both municipalities, the OIE reported. Currently, epidemiological surveillance continues in all affected communities in the affected municipality and the zone around the outbreak. Epidemiological surveillance staff members continue to monitor the zone.
According to the OIE, this is the country’s first confirmed case of Newcastle disease since February 2013.

Costa Rica has first Newcastle disease case since 1990

Newcastle disease has been confirmed in Costa Rica for the first time in 25 years, according to a report from the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE).
Tests conducted at the U.S. National Veterinary Services Laboratory on April 26 proved positive for Newcastle disease in a backyard flock of birds in a rural area near the northern edge of Costa Rica along the Pacific Ocean. The case was reported on April 22 after unusually high morbidity was reported in the flock. Of 84 birds in the flock, 71 were confirmed to have contracted the disease and 65 of those birds died. The remaining 19 birds are considered susceptible and will be depopulated.
A quarantine zone has been established, and movement control restrictions inside the country have been put in place. The affected property will be disinfected.
OIE, in its report, described the affected property in the Costa Rican province of Guanacaste as being in a very rural area with very bad access and means of communication. The land is surrounded by forest, where animals roam freely.
OIE stated that it will submit follow-up reports on the Costa Rica Newcastle disease outbreak -- the country’s first since 1990 – on a weekly basis.

ARS creating vaccine to fight ILTV, Newcastle disease

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  Freeimages.com/12sira34

  USDA scientists are developing a vaccine they hope can fight Newcastle disease and infectious laryngotracheitis.

  From WATTAgNet:
  Scientists at the USDA’s Agricultural Research Service (ARS) Southeast Poultry Research Laboratory in Athens, Georgia, are developing vaccines to help reduce virulent virus shedding and disease transmission from infected birds to healthy ones.
  Microbiologist Qingzhong Yu and his colleagues have created a novel vaccine that protects chickens against infectious laryngotracheitis virus (ILTV) and Newcastle disease virus (NDV). Both viruses cause sickness and death in domestic and commercial poultry, as well as in some wild birds throughout the world.
  "While current ILTV live-attenuated vaccines are effective, some of the viruses used to make them can regain virulence—causing chickens to become chronically ill," said Yu. "Other types of vaccines can protect birds from the disease's clinical signs, but barely reduce the virus shedding in their respiratory secretions after infection. Those vaccines are not that effective, because they do not reduce the risk of virulent ILTV transmission to uninfected birds."
  For more than 50 years, the NDV LaSota strain has been used as an NDV vaccine worldwide. "It is very stable and very effective, and there have been no reports of virulence increase," Yu said.
  In previous research, ARS scientists successfully used LaSota strain-based viruses to develop vaccines that protect birds against two other poultry viruses — metapneumovirus and infectious bronchitis virus. Now, in a recent study, Yu used reverse genetics technology, which allowed him to generate new vaccines by inserting a gene from the ILTV virus into the NDV LaSota strain.
  The new vaccines were stable and safe when tested in chickens of all ages. All vaccinated birds were protected against both ILTV and NDV, showing few or no clinical signs and no decrease in body-weight gain.
  These vaccines worked as well as current live-attenuated vaccines, Yu said. They can be safely and effectively administered by aerosol or drinking water to large chicken populations at a low cost.
  "There is a huge market for these types of vaccines because they can protect poultry from ILTV as well as NDV," Yu says. "Developing a commercial vaccine that provides better protection against disease would have a positive economic impact on the U.S. poultry industry and also make its products — meat and eggs—less expensive for consumers."
  ARS has filed for a patent on the vaccine invention, which has generated interest from companies that are considering using this research to develop commercial vaccines.

Newcastle disease outbreak in Romania resolved, reports OIE

A reported Newcastle disease outbreak that started in November 2014 in a flock of four-week-old broilers in Romania has been resolved, according to a report from the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE).
The Newcastle disease outbreak took place at a farm in Romania’s Ialomita County, and it was responsible for the deaths of 50,807 broilers. An additional 44,767 birds were listed as susceptible and have been destroyed as a control measure. Other control measures implemented by animal health officials included movement control inside the country, zoning and disinfection of the infected premises.
An epidemiological investigation was completed, but the results were not conclusive. OIE reported that due to some breaches in the biosecurity system at the location, the source of the Newcastle disease virus could have been wild sparrows that had access to the farm’s shelters by way of aeration holes.
The OIE reported that the disinfection procedures conducted at the poultry holding in Romania have now been completed. All restrictions have been lifted, and the poultry farm is now ready to be restocked.
Since OIE considers the Romanian Newcastle disease outbreak to be resolved, the organization stated that it will not submit any more reports on the outbreak.

Newcastle eradication in Colombia would cost US$250 million

Andrés Valencia, president of the National Federation of Poultry Producers of Colombia (Fenavi), told Caracol radio network that "the government has asked for a national plan to eradicate Newcastle disease. It is a plan that should be at least for 15 years. We have estimated the cost of the plan to execute the disease should be about US$250 million. We have asked the government to include the plan to eradicate Newcastle disease into the national development plan that is being discussed for the four-year period of 2014-2018, with the beginning of the new period of this re-elected government."
On the other hand, the Fenavi representative said that imports, especially from the United States, are between 35,000 and 40,000 metric tons. According to Valencia, that only accounts for 3 percent of domestic consumption, but he admits that this figure could change. "So far, the [free trade agreement] with the U.S. has not posed a threat to poultry producers in the country, but remember that this FTA is for life and market conditions are constantly evolving. Today, we can say that we are calm, but later we could not say the same. "
The spokesman added that the poultry industry expects to close with total sales in excess of COP8.5 billion (US$4,250 million). "With this, perhaps it is the largest agricultural sector in Colombia today. The evolution of prices has been favorable, especially for eggs. Egg prices have increased almost on par with inflation (projected at a 6 percent annual rate)." For the closing of 2014, chicken production in Colombia could register a growth of 4 percent with production at 1.3 million metric tons.

Newcastle disease outbreaks confirmed in St. Helena

Newcastle disease has been reported in St. Helena, the first occurrence of the disease in this South Atlantic island nation, according to the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE). Two outbreaks have been reported.
The first outbreak affected two groups of backyard laying chickens, plus a number of local wild chickens. Most were hens. In that outbreak, 53 birds died and an additional 75 were destroyed. The other outbreak occurred in a flock of backyard laying hens, with 30 cases. Fifteen of the affected birds died, while the other 15 were destroyed.
The source of the outbreaks has not yet been determined, but the OIE reported that imported poultry meat appears to be a likely source.
After laboratory tests conducted by the Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency, Weybridge, UK, came back positive for the presence of Newcastle disease, animal health officials implemented control measures. Those measures included quarantine, movement control inside the country and disinfection of the infected premises. Other birds in the area have been vaccinated in response to the Newcastle disease outbreaks. A total of 1,389 birds were treated, according to the OIE.
OIE considers the two outbreaks in St. Helena to be resolved, but will continue to submit follow-up reports concerning Newcastle disease in St. Helena.

Newcastle disease strikes Swedish layer farm

Newcastle disease has been reported at a layer farm in southern Sweden, where all 16,300 hens at the farm were destroyed. The origin of the outbreak, which was reported to the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) on July 4, is not known.
The farm, located in Motala in Ostergotland County, had a history of egg drop, according to the OIE.
Control measures, in addition to stamping out the entire susceptible population, included establishing a 3-kilometer protection zone and a 10-kilometer surveillance zone surrounding the infected farm. Movement control measures have also been enacted.
With no other apparent outbreaks in the area and the susceptible birds destroyed, the OIE considers the case resolved and will submit no further reports on the outbreak.

Newcastle outbreaks in eastern Colombia

Outbreaks of highly pathogenic Newcastle disease have occurred on poultry farms in five municipalities of Girón, Floridablanca and Piedecuesta in the eastern Colombian department of Santander. As part of active surveillance measures, the Colombian Agricultural Institute (ICA) is visiting the 121 surrounding poultry farms, where no new outbreaks have been discovered.
Alfonso Araújo Baute, technical director of epidemiological surveillance for the ICA, said they have identified 396 nearby properties with 7,702 backyard birds (native hens, ducks, turkeys and quail) and until the last week of May, 2,997 of these animals on 112 properties had been vaccinated against Newcastle, according to the newspaper Vanguardia Liberal.
The department of Santander has 1,094 commercial poultry farms with an installed capacity of 41 million birds. For some time, the National Federation of Poultry of Colombia (Fenavi) has denounced the health risks of smuggling chickens, eggs and live birds from Venezuela — an illegal act in Columbia because of unchecked biosecurity, which endangers human health and poultry income.
In 2008, the Congress of the Republic of Colombia declared of national interest and social health priority the creation of a program to preserve the health status by controlling and eradicating Newcastle disease from its country. In 2010, cases of high virulence Newcastle as close to the Venezuelan border as La Guajira and Atlántico departments were presented.
In contrast, in March last year, the Colombian government became the first in Latin America to grant to one of its poultry farms certification for being free from Newcastle disease. The ICA presented the award to six farms and two hatcheries of the company Avicol S.A., in the department of Tolima (central-west in Columbia, more than 650 miles from Santander).

Newcastle disease classification system improved by USDA researchers

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) scientists have given the Newcastle disease classification system a much-needed update, making it easier to identify virus types.
Exotic Newcastle disease, an extremely virulent form of the virus, is not found in poultry in the United States but is widespread in Asia, Africa, Mexico and many countries in South America. It affects chickens and other bird species, and is often fatal, killing about 80 to 100 percent of unvaccinated infected birds.
At the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) Southeast Poultry Research Laboratory (SEPRL) in Athens, Ga., microbiologist Claudio Afonso, veterinary medical officer Patti Miller and their colleagues examine genetic differences in Newcastle disease viruses from other countries, characterize them, make sure existing tests and vaccines are effective, and work on strategies to develop better vaccines. In addition, they evaluate systems used to classify virus isolates.
Afonso recently proposed a new classification system to group Newcastle isolates. Traditionally, two systems were being used simultaneously to classify isolates into lineages or genotypes. This caused confusion and sometimes incorrect classification of isolates.
The new single system, which is detailed in research published in "Infection, Genetics and Evolution," is reliable and consistent and can be used by any laboratory worldwide.
SEPRL scientists also evaluate the ability of current vaccines to protect against emerging Newcastle viruses and help the poultry industry test improved vaccines.
In other research, Miller is studying the role a bird's immunity plays in virus transmission, protection against disease and relationships between genotypes. Her recent finding, published in Developmental & Comparative Immunology, suggest that an earlier onset of immunity may be necessary for future vaccines to protect against transmission and spread of Newcastle disease.
ARS is USDA's principal intramural scientific research agency.

Newcastle outbreak in Papua New Guinea linked to Indonesian poultry or eggs

A Newcastle Disease outbreak initially reported in Papua New Guinea in May 2013 is believed to have been introduced through fresh or frozen chicken meat or eggs from Indonesia. The World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) reported the suspected source of Newcastle Disease in Papua New Guinea on January 2.
The Papua New Guinea Newcastle Disease outbreak was first reported by the OIE on May 3, 2013. The outbreak was confined to a single village in the Vanimo Green district of the Sanduan province.
Control measures used included stamping out, quarantine, movement control, screening, zoning and disinfection of the infected premises. No further control measures are expected.

Newcastle Disease outbreak in Cyprus resolved, OIE reports

An outbreak of Newcastle Disease in Cyprus has been resolved, the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) reported on November 6. The outbreak was initially reported on June 20.
The disease was confirmed in a backyard holding population, where 18 broilers and 9 laying hens were susceptible. Three chickens died of the disease, and the other 24 were destroyed.
The susceptible birds were quarantined, and movement control measures were implemented. The affected premises were disinfected.

Newcastle outbreak at Israel broiler farm under control

An outbreak of Newcastle disease in Israel has been resolved, the World Organisation for Animal Health reported. The outbreak occurred at a Mefallesim broiler farm, where 600 chickens were infected. An additional 164,000 birds at the farm were listed as susceptible and were destroyed.
The cases were submitted to the World Organisation for Animal Health on September 10, and the matter was considered resolved on September 13.
The area was quarantined and screening procedures were completed, and the property where the infections occurred is being disinfected. A weekly follow-up report will be issued, the World Organisation for Animal Health stated.

Poultry lab recertified to test for avian influenza, Newcastle

The West Virginia Department of Agriculture Animal Health Diagnostic Laboratory in Moorefield has been recertified as a member of the National Animal Health Laboratory Network for 2013 after successfully completing an in-depth review process. Laboratory personnel there are approved to run diagnostic tests for avian influenza and Newcastle Disease.
"It's absolutely critical that the Department of Agriculture can provide the best of laboratory services in as timely a fashion as possible," said West Virginia Commissioner of Agriculture Walt Helmick. "This certification shows that we are as good as anybody in the country when it comes to the services we provide at the Moorefield laboratory."
National Animal Health Laboratory Network is a cooperative effort among two U.S. Department of Agriculture agencies - the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service and the National Institute of Food and Agriculture - the American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians and state laboratories throughout the country. The laboratories focus on animal diseases and use common testing methods and software platforms to process diagnostic requests and share information.
National Animal Health Laboratory Network membership is contingent on a wide variety of factors, including laboratory facilities, equipment, procedures, security, record-keeping, quality system and expertise of personnel.
"The proficiency test is very difficult and must be taken annually. Each microbiologist runs predetermined samples, and they can only miss one out of 30 determinations. I'm extremely proud of them and of our poultry lab in general," said Dr. Jewell Plumley, head of the West Virginia Department of Agriculture's Animal Health Division. "Going through this process is truly making us a better laboratory."

Russia halts poultry imports from Czech Republic

The Rosselkhoznadzor, Russia’s Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance, has imposed temporary restrictions on import of poultry products from the Czech Republic.
The ban includes live poultry, hatching eggs, feathers, poultry meat and all kinds of poultry products, feeds and feed additives for poultry as well as used equipment for poultry management, slaughter and cutting due to the Newcastle disease outbreak in the Olomouc Region of the Czech Republic.
In early January, Belarus imposed a similar ban on Czech poultry products for the same reason.
Newcastle disease is a highly contagious bird disease affecting domestic and wild avian species. It causes mild conjunctivitis and influenza-like symptoms. The mortality rate among young birds is almost 100 percent, and the few birds who survive the disease do not grow well. The disease can be transmitted to humans.

Belarus restricts poultry imports from Czech Republic

Belarus has imposed temporary restrictions on the import of poultry from the Czech Republic. The Agriculture and Food Ministry of Belarus ministry said that according to the information provided by the World Organization for Animal Health, an incident of Newcastle disease was registered in the Czech Republic.
“To prevent the penetration of the diseases to the territory of Belarus, the country has introduced temporary restrictions on the import of live poultry, incubating eggs, poultry meat and all other kinds of processed poultry, feathers, fodder and food additives made from animals, including from poultry," said the ministry.
At the same time Belarus canceled all previously issued permits for import of live poultry, poultry products, eggs, feathers, fodder and food additives made from poultry.
Newcastle disease is a highly contagious bird disease affecting domestic and wild avian species. It causes mild conjunctivitis and influenza-like symptoms. The mortality rate among young birds is almost 100 percent, and the few birds who survive the disease do not grow well. The disease can be transmitted to humans.

Ceva combines poultry vaccines into single dose against three diseases

Ceva has combined two of its poultry vaccines into a single dose that will protect against Newcastle, Gumboro and Marek’s disease.
The company's Gumboro vaccine, Transmune IBD, and its Newcastle Disease vector vaccine, Vectormune ND (which also protects against Marek's Disease), can be mixed in diluent with a blue vaccine tracer and administered in the hatchery, either in ovo or subcutaneously at one day old, according to Ceva. "Vaccinating chicks against Gumboro and Newcastle disease has always been difficult for broiler producers because of the uncertainty around what day to administer," said Ceva.
The two vaccines used to come in packages in different sizes, but the company has standardized the packaging for ease of use. Transmune IBD and Vectormune ND are now available in uniform 1,000-, 2,000- and 4,000-dose vials.

Pakistan poultry sector faces losses due to Newcastle disease

Pakistan's poultry sector is facing a Rs 10 billion (US$106.5 million) loss for the February–May period due to the spread of Newcastle disease in the country, according to reports.
Roughly 44 million broiler chickens have died of the disease in that time period, said Dr. Waseem Rafiq, president of the Pakistan Veterinary Medical Association. There is a dire need, said Rafiq, to protect the chickens by increasing their immunity, and not just improving abilities at the diagnosis level. He is calling for proper training for farmers in the country, along with the introduction of modern technology to the poultry industry.

Pakistan Newcastle outbreaks blamed on poor poultry vaccines

The acute outbreaks of Newcastle disease on commercial poultry farms in Pakistan and Afghanistan over the last five months have been blamed on poor vaccines.
According to the Veterinary Research Institutes in Peshawar, Pakistan, while there may have been a change in the genetics of the field virus, the more likely explanation to birds’ poor response to vaccination is the quality of vaccines themselves, their storage and administration.
The Veterinary Research Institutes said that not only is the quality of vaccine supplied by registered manufacturers poor, there are also a number of non-authorized manufacturers supplying vaccines. Storage facilities at manufacturing and retail level are poor, as is vaccine administration. Additionally, there are reports that antivirals registered only for human use are being applied on poultry farms and this could have implications for viral resistance.

Italy’s Newcastle disease-free status unaffected by new outbreak

The re-emergence of Newcastle disease in Italy, after having been absent since 2009, will not change the country’s Newcastle disease-free status, according to the World Organisation for Animal Health. Italy’s chief veterinary officer reported the outbreak to the World Organisation for Animal Health at the beginning of March, noting that 18 cases had been identified in a susceptible population of 101 birds in the region of Tuscany. All birds either died or were destroyed. Italy has maintained its disease-free status and trade in poultry and poultry meat as the outbreak did not occur in birds included with the organization's definition of poultry.