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Exotic Newcastle Disease
Veterinary Services
January 2003
Exotic Newcastle disease (END) is a contagious and fatal viral disease
affecting all species of birds. Previously known as velogenic viscerotropic
Newcastle disease (VVND), END is probably one of the most infectious
diseases of poultry in the world. END is so virulent that many birds
die without showing any clinical signs. A death rate of almost 100 percent
can occur in unvaccinated poultry flocks. Exotic Newcastle can infect
and cause death even in vaccinated poultry.
Clinical Signs
END affects the respiratory, nervous, and
digestive systems. The incubation period for the
disease ranges from 2 to 15 days. An infected bird may exhibit the following
signs:
- Respiratory: sneezing, gasping for air, nasal discharge, coughing;
- Digestive: greenish, watery diarrhea;
- Nervous: depression, muscular tremors, drooping wings, twisting
of head and neck, circling, complete paralysis;
- Partial to complete drop in egg production;
- Production of thin-shelled eggs;
- Swelling of the tissues around the eyes and in the neck;
- Sudden death;
- Increased death loss in a flock.
How END Spreads
END is spread primarily through direct contact between healthy birds
and the bodily discharges of infected birds. The disease is transmitted
through infected birds' droppings and secretions from the nose, mouth,
and eyes. END spreads rapidly among birds kept in confinement, such
as commercially raised chickens.
High concentrations of the END virus are in birds' bodily discharges.
Therefore, the disease can be spread easily by mechanical means. Virus-bearing
material can be picked up on shoes and clothing and carried from an
infected flock to a healthy one. The disease is often spread by vaccination
and debeaking crews, manure haulers, rendering truck drivers, feed delivery
personnel, poultry buyers, egg service
people, and poultry farm owners and employees.
The END virus can survive for several weeks in a warm and humid environment
on birds' feathers, manure, and other materials. It can survive indefinitely
in frozen material. However, the virus is destroyed rapidly by dehydration
and by the ultraviolet rays in sunlight.
Smuggled pet birds, especially Amazon parrots from Latin America, pose
a great risk of introducing exotic Newcastle into U.S. poultry flocks.
Amazon parrots that are carriers of thedisease but do not show symptoms
are capable of shedding END virus for more than 400 days.
How Poultry Producers Can Help Control and Prevent END
The only way to eradicate END from commercial poultry is by rapidly
destroying all infected flocks and imposing strict quarantine and in-depth
surveillance programs. Poultry producers should strengthen biosecurity
practices to prevent the introduction of the disease to their flocks.
Biosecurity is also important to protect backyard and hobby flocks.
The following are tips on proper biosecurity practices:
- Permit only essential workers and vehicles on the premises.
- Provide clean clothing and disinfection facilities for employees.
- Clean and disinfect vehicles (including tires and undercarriages)
entering and leaving the
premises.
- Avoid visiting other poultry operations.
- Maintain an "all-in, all-out" philosophy of flock management
with a single age flock.
- Control the movement of all poultry and poultry products from
farm to farm.
- Do not "skim" mature birds from a flock for sale to
a live-poultry market.
- Clean and disinfect poultry houses between each lot of birds.
- Do not keep pet birds on the farm. Do not hire employees who own
pet birds.
- Exclude vaccination crews, catching crews, and other service personnel
who may have been in contact with other poultry operations within
24 hours.
- Protect flocks from wild birds that may try to nest in poultry houses
or feed with domesticated birds.
- Control movements associated with the disposal and handling of bird
carcasses, litter, and manure.
- Take diseased birds to a diagnostic laboratory for examination.
How Pet Bird and Backyard Poultry Enthusiasts Can Help Control
and Prevent END
END is also a threat to the caged-bird industry and poultry hobbyists.
Birds illegally smuggled into the United States are not quarantined
and tested by APHIS and therefore may carry the END virus. Owners of
pet birds should:
- Request certification from suppliers that birds are legally imported
or are of U.S. stock, are healthy prior to shipment, and will be transported
in new or thoroughly disinfected containers.
- Maintain records of all sales and shipments of flocks.
- Isolate all newly purchased birds for at least 30 days. Restrict
movement of personnel between new and old birds.
Amazon parrots are difficult to raise domestically. Anyone who is offering
to sell a large number of young parrots should be suspected of smuggling
or purchasing smuggled birds.
U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Role
To prevent END from being introduced into U.S. poultry flocks, USDA's
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) requires that all
imported birds (poultry, pet birds, birds exhibited at zoos, and ratites)
be tested and quarantined for diseases before
entering the country.
In addition to international import restrictions, APHIS has increased
surveillance efforts to detect END if it is accidentally introduced
into the United States. APHIS and State veterinarians trained to diagnose
foreign animal diseases regularly conduct field investigations of suspicious
disease conditions. This surveillance is enhanced by efforts from university
personnel, State animal health officials, USDA-accredited veterinarians,
and industry representatives.
If END were detected in domestic poultry or pet birds, APHIS would
work quickly with its State and industry counterparts to implement aggressive
measures, including quarantine, control, and cleanup, to prevent opportunities
for the disease to spread.
Reporting Suspicious Cases
Poultry or pet bird owners or veterinarians who suspect a bird may
have END should immediately contact State or Federal animal health authorities.
Additional Information
For more information, contact:
USDA, APHIS, Veterinary Services
Emergency Programs
4700 River Road, Unit 41
Riverdale, MD 20737-1231
Telephone (301) 734-8073
Fax (301) 734-7817
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination
in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national
origin, sex, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation,
or marital or family status. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all
programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for
communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape,
etc.) should contact USDA's TARGET Center at (202) 720–2600 (voice
and TDD).
To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office
of Civil Rights, Room 326–W, Whitten Building, 1400 Independence
Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250–9410 or call (202) 720–5964
(voice and TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
Click here for English printable version
(PDF). This Factsheet is also available in Spanish (HTML
or PDF), Vietnamese (PDF
or DOC) and Tagalog (PDF).
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