Serological and molecular detection of Newcastle disease virus from captive raptors in a Wildlife Rescue Center in the Philippines

Issue Date

12-2016

Abstract

Relatively little is known about the distribution of Newcastle Disease Virus (NDV) among raptors in the Philippines. Serological and molecular detection of NDV were performed in apparently healthy and clinically-ill captive raptors from a wildlife rescue center. Results showed that out of 42 raptors, 16 (38.11%) were positive for NDV antibodies, which include five Brahminy Kites, five White-bellied Sea Eagles, one Changeable Hawk-eagle, one Philippine Hawk-eagle, one Crested Serpent Eagle, one Black Kite, one Crested Goshawk and one Philippine Eagle. Hemagglutination-inhibition (HI) NDV antibody titers were 27 to 210 with a geometric mean titer (GMT) of 29. Except for minor physical injuries and non-specific lesions, all raptors did not show clinical signs of Newcastle Disease (ND) at the time of examination. Molecular detection through nested reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (nRT-PCR) using pooled oropharyngeal and cloacal swabs showed that all raptors were negative. The presence of unusually high antibody titers, the absence of clinical signs and the negative nRT-PCR results may suggest that the raptors were exposed to virulent NDV but may have already recovered from clinical disease. The study showed that apparently healthy and clinically ill captive raptors may be infected with NDVs and that they may play important roles in the epidemiology of ND in the field.

Source or Periodical Title

Philippine Journal of Veterinary Medicine

ISSN

0031-7705

Volume

53

Issue

2

Page

96-102

Document Type

Article

Physical Description

tables

Language

English

Subject

Hemagglutination inhibition, Newcastle disease, Philippines, Raptors, RT-PCR

Digital Copy

yes

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