Newcastle disease virus antibodies in apparently healthy commercial layers in Abeokuta, Ogun state, Nigeria

Abstract

Several authors have worked on Newcastle Disease (ND) with respect to the incidence, prevalence and epizootiology of the disease and the antibody status in non-vaccinated birds in Nigeria. However, current information on the antibodies of the Newcastle Disease virus in apparently healthy commercial poultry birds with known vaccination records in Abeokuta Metropolis is scanty. This study was conducted, using Heamagglutination Inhibition assay (HI) technique, to detect Newcastle Disease virus (NDV) antibodies in routinely vaccinated commercial poultry birds in the 3 Local Government Areas (LGAs) of Abeokuta that form the Abeokuta metropolis. Haemagglutinating NDV antibodies were detected in the apparently healthy layers thus indicating a widely circulating NDV in areas. A potency test of the vaccines used on the farms was determined using Heamagglutination test and their values ranged between 2 and 2 . The sero-prevalence of NDVantibodies in the 3 LGAs showed there was no significant difference (p >0.05). Of the 120 sera tested, 82 (68.33%) had detectable NDV antibodies but only 81.67% had HI protective titre of > 2 and 18.33% had low seroconversionwith titre 2 or less.