A Pigeon-Derived Sub-Genotype XXI.1.2 Newcastle Disease Virus from Bangladesh Induces High Mortality in Chickens

A Bangladeshi pigeon derived NDV virus clustered in sub-genotype in XXI 1.2 has studied, a comprehensive phylogenetic analysis and complete fusion protein gene sequencing was performed. The biological properties of the virus was studied after experimental inoculation in SPF 5 week old sonali chicken. The in vivo test of MDT shows 40.8 h with a pathogenicity index of 1.51 which resembles viscerotropic chicken virus not ideal for pigeon derived ND viruses. The histopathological lesions include congestion in thymus, lungs, necrosis in spleen, severe lymphoid tissue depletion in bursa, substantial mortality and neurological signs including proliferation of glial cells were reported, these lesions confirms velogenic nature for chickens. Therefore, these findings suggest that not all pigeon derived NDV are of low or moderate virulence for chickens, hence further molecular pathogenicity and biological properties study is required for pigeon derived NDV. 

(MMR)