5. Occurrences of Newcastle Disease (ND) in Broiler Chicken at Bheramara Upazila, Kushtia District, Bangladesh

Abstract

Newcastle Disease is a viral disease that causes economic loss to farmers by reducing egg production and mortality both in backyard flocks and commercial farms. Therefore, this cross-sectional research was performed to estimate the occurrence, pathological conditions, and clinical features of ND in the smallscale commercial broiler farms in Bheramara Upazila of Kushtia District in Bangladesh during the period from 1st January 2019 to 30th April 2019. Sixty farms were selected randomly, among them 40 (66.67%) were found clinically suspected to ND. Age, vaccination, bio-security program, and provision of wild birds, native chickens, ducks, and crows in the farm premises exhibit a significant relation (p<0.05) with the occurrence of ND in the susceptible flocks. The proportionate occurrences of ND were estimated as 81.25% in 20-35 days, 47.62% at 10-19 days, and 57.14% at 1-9 days. Moreover, the proportionate occurrences of ND were lower in vaccinated farms (53.48%), whereas all the non-vaccinated farms were infected, and the differences were statistically significant. Similarly, the occurrences were higher (97.44%) in the farms with the provision of wild birds and backyard poultry assessed to 9.52% occurrences in farms without wild birds and native chickens. In the present study, the occurrence of the disease was observed at 20% in moderate and 100% in poor bio-secured farms. Chandgram Union is identified as the most enzootic area. To sum up, vaccination, biosecurity program, and provision of wild birds, native chickens, ducks, and crow’s adjunct to farm premises act as an exciting reason for the occurrence of ND in the study area.