Incidence of Newcastle Disease Virus in Apparently Healthy Domestic and Wild Birds: A Concern for Newcastle Disease Control in Nigeria

The greatest impact of Newcastle disease (ND) is in the over 65% developing nation's poultry population that is made of village or backyard poultry and which lacks practically based sustainable biosecurity measures. This cross-sectional study was conducted from November 2015 to July 2016 by testing cloacal and tracheal swabs to detect whether domestic poultry and wild birds were exposed to ND in two states of Nigeria. Commercial and rural backyard poultry, captive wild birds (CWB) and free flying wild birds (FFWB) were sampled in this study. Molecular detection using polymerase chain reaction gave an overall 18% and an equivalent 8.5% ND detection rates in poultry and wild birds in Bauchi and Gombe States respectively. Newcastle disease virus was detected at significant levels in apparently healthy domestic and wild birds. Strategies for effective ND control measures should duly consider ND routine and sustainable surveillance in domestic and wild birds held in households, commercial farms and live bird markets.