Veterinary Science & Technology

Investigation of Newcastle Disease Virus Using Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction in Selected Districts of Eastern Shewa, Ethiopia

Abstract

Yemsrach Miressa, Yoseph Cherinet*, Abrha Bsrat and Fanos Tadesse

In Ethiopia Newcastle disease virus is the most important cause of loss in village-dwelling as well as commercially raised chickens. The disease occurs almost at any time of a year throughout the country including East Shewa Zone. A cross sectional study was therefore conducted from December 2014 to May 2015 to determine the prevalence of Newcastle disease in market and village chicken in selected districts of East Shewa zone of Ethiopia. Molecular diagnostic technique, Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) was employed to detect the viruses during the study. A total of 300 swab samples was collected using simple random sampling technique in Adama and Bishoftu Districts. An overall prevalence of 26.7% (40/300) was recorded during this study from the collected swab samples using real time PCR. The result of this study indicated that village chicken flock are endemically infected with Newcastle disease virus which could pose a threat to commercial poultry farms. Attention should therefore be given for regular monitoring of Newcastle disease virus in village chickens and wild birds and measures to prevent this infection should be taken.