NEWCASTLE DISEASE IN VILLAGE CHICKENS IN THE COLOMBIAN COFFEE AREA

Objetive. To Evaluate the circulation of Newcastle virus disease (NVD) in village chickens from seven municipalities in the Colombian coffee area. Materials and Methods. 465 rural properties were surveyed to assess the biosecurity managements of village chickens in the Armenia, Circasia, Quimbaya, Montenegro, Filandia, Tebaida and Calarcá municipalities of the Quindio Department. 662 sera samples were analyzed by ELISA for detecting IgG antibodies against the NVD virus. Results. Seroprevalence of NVD in poultry was of 30.7% (203/662) which corresponded to 38.5% of the rural properties. No association was found between the species and the seroreactivity (p=0.21) nor between the distribution of antibody and age groups (p>0.05). The village chicken farms are managed extensively, housed in the same backyards different species and ages in 64.3% (299/465), with ages ranging between three months and five years. Poor management practices of poultry litter and mortality were identified; without finding statistically significant association between these variables and the presence of antibodies against NVD. Conclusions. It is necessary the establishment of adequate programs of vaccination for backyard birds, active surveillance, and observation of suspected cases and education of the owners of the village chickens as measures of disease control.