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Animal Health Update #1, February 13, 2003 Many Arizona poultry owners and producers are aware of the outbreak of Exotic Newcastle Disease in backyard and commercial poultry operations in California and Nevada. This disease has now been found in western Arizona. This update is to provide information for extension agents and the public on Exotic Newcastle Disease. Newcastle Disease is caused by an RNA virus, which can be divided into three groups, mesogenic, lentogenic and the most important velogenic. Exotic Newcastle Disease (END) is the velogenic form of Newcastle Disease and has several other names; Velogenic Newcastle Disease, Asiatic Newcastle and Viscerotropic Velogenic Newcastle Disease. The velogenic isolates are exotic to the United States, are considered a foreign animal disease, and represent the current serious threat to the United State's poultry industry. END is most severe in chickens, peafowl, guineas, pheasant, quail, cockatiels, cockatoos and pigeons. Turkeys, Amazon parrots and conures develop a milder form of the disease. Macaws, lories, African gray parrots, finches and canaries are relatively resistant to clinical disease and may act as carriers. The onset of END is rapid, with clinical signs appearing an average of five days after exposure. In susceptible species morbidity (number infected) and mortality (number dying) may approach 100%. In highly susceptible species birds may not show any signs of infection but are simply found dead. Clinical signs include:
Birds are directly infected by breathing air or by ingesting food and water contaminated with the virus. Once introduced END is spread from farm to farm by boots, feed sacks, egg trays, flies, mice or people. Humans can be infected with END, but the disease is usually limited to a mild inflammation of the eye (pink eye). People infected with END should not have contact with any poultry or avian species. There have been no reports of humans infected with END by consuming poultry products. For non-commercial poultry owners the best protection is to prevent all contact with any birds, poultry equipment or individuals that may have hand direct contact with birds from the quarantine areas. The current quarantine covers all of southern California to Santa Barbara, the Las Vegas area of Nevada and western Arizona. All poultry owners must be actively involved in keeping this disease contained to the areas currently infected. The current outbreak is having a huge impact on United States trade with Canada, Mexico, the European Union, China, Japan and Poland. Arizona bird owners and poultry producers should be aware of the possible risk. If you have a question contact Veterinary Extension at (520) 621-2356 ext 19. If you wish to have sick or dead poultry examined contact the Arizona Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory at (520) 621-2356. The Veterinary Science web page has further information on cleaning and disinfecting, a table on information on types of disinfectants and links to other web sites. The address is: http://microvet.arizona.edu/AzVDL/info.html The information in this document has been reviewed by the Veterinary
Staff at AzVDL. The Arizona Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, telephone 520-621-2356
ext 18. updated February 13, 2003 |