Serological investigation of Newcastle disease virus antibodies in non-chicken birds of Makurdi, Benue State, Nigeria

Newcastle disease virus is an important poultry disease worldwide, affecting almost all bird species with significant losses usually associated with chickens. Non-chicken bird species have a role to play in the ecology of Newcastle disease virus (NDV) as they are able to serve as reservoirs that can contribute to viral transmission across bird’s species. In this study, the hemagglutination Inhibition test was used to investigate the serostatus of antibodies to NDV in non-chicken birds in Makurdi metropolis. The overall serostatus of anti-NDV antibodies in these bird species was found to be 29.05%, with species-specific prevalence rates of 51.2%, 7.3%, 34.8%, 12%, and 0% in Turkeys, Pigeons, Ducks, Guinea fowl, and Doves respectively. This study has added to the existing understanding of the seroprevalence and role of non-chicken birds in the epidemiology of NDV, particularly in the Makurdi , and underscores the need for region-specific surveillance and intervention measures.