Newcastle disease
Activities in 2009
Newcastle disease
Dr Christian Grund
Südufer 10; 17493 Greifswald –Insel Riems, Germany
Tel.: (++49 38351) 7196, Fax: (++49 38351) 7275
E-mail address: ,
Summary of general activities related to the disease
1. Test(s) in use/or available for the specified disease at your laboratory
Test / For / Specificity / TotalEmbryonated chicken eggs / Virusisolation / Broad / 270
Hemagglutination inhibition assay / Typing / Serotype, mab type / 60
Real time RT PCR / Amplification and characterization of NDV nucleic acid / Group (NP-segment), Serotype specific / 50
Real time RT PCR / Amplification of NDV nucleic acids / Group (M-segment) / 150
Real time RT PCR / Molecular pathotyping of NDV / F-segment, i.e. lentogen or virulent (mesogen, velogen) / 150
Nucleotide sequencing / Molecular pathotyping of NDV, phylogenetic analysis / F-segment / 60
ICPI / Clinical pathotyping of NDV / Broad / 36
2. Production and distribution of diagnostic reagents
Reference NDV isolates, recent isolates and other Avian Paramyxovirus Serotypes are kept in the laboratory's collection.
For use as positive controls and for typing of NDV isolates, antigen for HI, RNA as well as sera specifically raised against selected strains and isolates is produced. Material is available for distribution.
National deliveries of reference material: total 9 (antigens: 2; virus: 2; sera: 3; RNA: 3)
No international delivery was requested.
Activities specifically related to the mandate
of OIE Reference Laboratories
3. International harmonisation and standardisation of methods for diagnostic testing or the production and testing of vaccines
The laboratory successfully participated in the European proficiency testing as organized by the Community Reference Lab at Weybridge.
The NRL NDV at the FLI itself organizes and conducts proficiency testing for molecular and classical detection of NDV as well as sero - diagnosis for more than 20 governmental and a varying number of private regional laboratories in Germany. In addition the NRL NDV is cooperating with the federal institute for sera and vaccines, in order to give assistance in characterization of NDV vaccine strains.
4. Preparation and supply of international reference standards for diagnostic tests or vaccines
No standard reference materials was requested
5. Research and development of new procedures for diagnosis and control
Enzyme mediated serological Tests for evaluation of humorale immune response of waterfowl.
Waterfowl sera display often a high non specific reactivity when tested in the standard serological assay, the hemaggluntination inhibition test (HI). Analyses in conjunction with a ND-vaccination study of ducks (Cairina moschata) and geese (Anser anser) proofed that indirect NDV–ELISA was adequate for detecting NDV–specific antibodies. ELISA and HI were evaluated by Western Blot analysis resulting in relative diagnostic sensitivity and specificity of 100.0% and 91.7% for the ELISA, compared to 91.1% and 97.2% for the HI test. The data demonstrate that enzyme mediated test systems are a valuable tool to verify questionable HI-results and are a suitable alternative to the HI test in monitoring of the immune response of waterfowl after vaccination (Häuslaingner, Avian Pathol 2009).
6. Collection, analysis and dissemination of epizootiological data relevant to international disease control
Pigeons (Columba livia) are considered susceptible to NDV and a specific variant, so called pigeon type Paramyxovirus -1 (PPMV-1) is frequently detected in pigeons like racing pigeons or show pigeons all over the world. To clarify the epidemiological relevance of wild pigeons a study on virus infection and APMV-serostatus was conducted in wood pigeons (Columba palumbus) in Germany. By realtime RT-PCR in none of 241 kidney samples from hunted pigeons collected over a time period of 16 month yielded virus-specific RNA. Analysis of heart blood of pigeons by ELISA and Western Blot indicated a seroprevalence between 5 % to 40 % at a confidence interval of 95%. These data clearly demonstrate, that wood pigeons come into contact with APMV-1. As this species is prevalent in rural areas in Europe and cover large distances in migratory movements, wood pigeons have to be taken into account as possible vector in cases of ND outbreaks (manuscript in preparation).
7. Provision of consultant expertise to OIE or to OIE Members
As part of the O.I.E. Twinning project with Egypt Dr. Grund has an in depth exchange on NDV-diagnostic with visiting scientists from National Laboratory for Veterinary Quality Control on Poultry Production (NLQP), Institute for Animal Health Research (ARI), Cairo, Egypt.
Dr. Grund participated in the revison of the O.I.E. Chapter 2.3.14. NEWCASTLE DISEASE (Editor Claudio L Afonso).
8. Provision of scientific and technical training to personnel from other OIE Members
The OIE twinning project between the National Laboratory for Veterinary Quality Control on Poultry Production (NLQP), Institute for Animal Health Research (ARI), Cairo, Egypt, and the Friedrich-Loeffler-Institute (FLI), Isle of Riems, Germany was ongoing. The program is focused on collaboration for AI and ND diagnosis. This year a total of seven scientists were visiting the laboratory for training purposes. The training courses covered classical diagnostic methods, production of reference materials and pathogenicity testing.
Training was provided to Dr. Fufa Dawo Bari, a scientists from the university of Adis Abeba, Ethiopia. He started in 2008 and continued his training until September 5th 2009. Beside classical virological and serological methods he was be trained on molecular techniques.
9. Provision of diagnostic testing facilities to other OIE Members
The NRL NDV provided assistance for NDV–diagnostic for laboratories from Dubai. All tests were of confirmatory nature and for characterizing obtained NDV isolates from the past. None yielded in reportable diagnosis.
10. Organisation of international scientific meetings on behalf of OIE or other international bodies
None
11. Participation in international scientific collaborative studies
None
12. Publication and dissemination of information relevant to the work of OIE (including list of scientific publications, internet publishing activities, presentations at international conferences)
¡ Scientific publications in peer-reviewed journals
Häuslaigner R, Sonnenburg J, Kothlow S, Kaspers B, Staubach C, Grund C. Evaluation of an indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay to study the specific humoral immune response of Muscovy ducks (Cairina moschata) and domestic geese (Anser anser var. domestica) after vaccination against Newcastle disease virus.Avian Pathol. 2009 Apr;38(2):89-95
13. Inscription of diagnostic kits on the OIE Register
i) Did you participate in expert panels for the validation of candidate kits for inscription on the OIE Register? If yes, for which kits?
No
ii) Did you submit to the OIE candidate kits for inscription on the OIE Register? If yes, for which kits?
______
Annual reports of OIE Reference Laboratories and Collaborating Centres, 2009 3