Journal Article Ppublish
PubMed: 40453867 DOI: 10.5455/OVJ.2025.v15.i4.37
Newcastle disease virus in Egyptian domestic poultry, 2019-2021: Molecular characterization, phylogenetic analysis, and coinfection with avian influenza A virus.
Open Vet J 15(4):1848-1857
Authors: Ahmed El Taweel, Mohamed El Sayes, Asmaa Maatouq, Mokhtar Gomaa, Yassmin Moatasim, Omnia Kutkat, Pamela P McKenzie, Ahmed Kandeil, Richard J Webby, Mohamed Ahmed Ali, Ghazi Kayali, Rabeh El-Shesheny
Affiliations
- Center of Scientific Excellence for Influenza Virus, National Research Centre, Giza, Egypt.
- Poultry Diseases Department, National Research Centre, Giza, Egypt.
- Department of Infectious Diseases, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA.
- Human Link, Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
Abstract
Background
Newcastle disease virus (NDV) is a major viral disease of poultry that causes outbreaks in chickens in Egypt.
Aim
The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and molecular characteristics of NDV and its cocirculation with avian influenza virus (AIV) in Egyptian domestic poultry.
Methods
Samples collected from January 2019 to February 2021 from different flock types of vaccinated and nonvaccinated domestic birds in seven governorates in Egypt were tested for NDV. A total of 6,268 swab samples from healthy, sick, and recently dead domestic poultry that showed typical clinical signs of NDV or AIV were collected. NDV was successfully isolated from swabs via inoculation of specific pathogen-free embryonated chicken eggs. Hemagglutination assay (HA) was performed followed by RT-PCR of positive HA samples. Genotyping of these isolates was performed by sequencing the full fusion (F) gene.
Results
NDV was detected by RT-PCR in 1.45% (91/6268) of samples. This percentage differed significantly according to sample type, site, species, and habitat. Sixty-three (69.23%) samples were positive for NDV and 28 (30.77%) were coinfected with AIVs. This percentage differed significantly based on the AIV subtype, with 26.37% (24/91) being H9N2-positive samples and 4.40% (4/91) being H5N8-positive samples. Results indicated that NDV isolates exhibited the characteristic cleavage site motif ( 112RRQKRF 117) of the velogenic strains of NDV. Phylogenetic analysis of the full F gene clustered with isolates in Group I of genotype VII from Egyptian and Jordanian strains.
Conclusion
This study highlights the need for continued surveillance of NDV genotype VII to investigate the evolution of NDV in Egypt.
MeSH
Genes, Newcastle Disease, Vaccines, Poultry, Coinfection, Influenza In Birds, Influenza A Virus, Veterinary Medicine, Influenza, Human, Viruses, Genotype, Newcastle Disease Virus, Virus Diseases