Exotic Newcastle Disease (END)

What is END?

END is a contagious and fatal viral disease affecting all species of birds. END is probably one of the most infectious diseases of poultry in the world. END is so deadly that many birds die without showing any signs of disease. A death rate of almost 100 percent can occur in unvaccinated poultry flocks. Exotic Newcastle can infect and cause death even in vaccinated birds.

What Are the 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 show the following signs:

* Sneezing, gasping for air, nasal discharge, coughing;
* Greenish, watery diarrhea;
* 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 Does END Spread?

END is spread mainly 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 the disease but do not show symptoms are capable of shedding END virus for more than 400 days.

What Can You Do to Prevent END?

The END virus can be picked up on shoes and clothing and moved from an area with sick birds to an area with healthy ones. Moving birds from one place to another can also spread diseases, especially because some birds can carry disease without looking sick. By making biosecurity a part of your daily routine, you can decrease the chance of END showing up in your birds.

Call your veterinarian or local extension agent to examine all of your sick birds or birds that die suddenly, especially if you have been around other people’s birds or brought new birds home.

END is also a threat to pet birds. Birds that are illegally brought into the United States may spread the END virus because they are not quarantined and tested by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). All bird owners should take the following precautions to avoid a disease outbreak:

* Ask bird suppliers for copies of paperwork that proves their birds are imported into the United States legally or are from U.S. stock, were healthy before being shipped, and were transported in new or thoroughly disinfected containers.
* Keep records of all sales, shipments, and movements of birds.
* Separate all newly purchased birds from older ones for at least 30 days. Examine the new bird, checking it for any sign of disease or illness before introducing it into your flock.