Newcastle Disease in Birds 2025 🐦🦠 | Vet Guide by Dr Duncan Houston BVSc

Newcastle Disease (ND) is a highly contagious viral illness affecting domestic and pet birds worldwide. It causes severe respiratory, neurological, and gastrointestinal signs, and can devastate flocks rapidly. This 2025 expert guide explains the disease, detection, prevention, and how to protect your birds.

1. 🦠 Etiology & Transmission

• Caused by avian paramyxovirus‑1 (NDV), with strains ranging from mild (lentogenic) to highly virulent (velogenic) :contentReference[oaicite:3]{index=3}.
• Spread through air, secretions, droppings, contaminated equipment, clothing, and people :contentReference[oaicite:4]{index=4}.
• The virus can persist weeks in moist environments or indefinitely if frozen, but is inactivated by sunlight and disinfectants :contentReference[oaicite:5]{index=5}.

2. 🚩 Clinical Signs

• Respiratory: sneezing, nasal/eye discharge, gasping, coughing, tail bobbing :contentReference[oaicite:6]{index=6}.
• Digestive: greenish/watery diarrhea, reduced appetite :contentReference[oaicite:7]{index=7}.
• Nervous: tremors, ataxia, twisted neck (torticollis), paralysis, circling :contentReference[oaicite:8]{index=8}.
• Other: swelling around eyes/neck, sudden death in severe cases:contentReference[oaicite:9]{index=9}.
• Production issues in layers: egg drop, deformed shells :contentReference[oaicite:10]{index=10}.

3. 📋 Susceptible Species

• All bird species may be infected; chickens and pet birds often show severe disease :contentReference[oaicite:11]{index=11}.
• Ducks, geese, and pigeons can carry the virus with mild or no symptoms :contentReference[oaicite:12]{index=12}.
• Wild bird contact raises risks; some pet parrots can shed virus asymptomatically :contentReference[oaicite:13]{index=13}.

4. 🔬 Diagnosis

• Clinical suspicion plus lab tests: RT‑PCR of cloacal/oropharyngeal swabs, virus isolation :contentReference[oaicite:14]{index=14}.
• Serology (HI, ELISA) useful for monitoring & vaccine response :contentReference[oaicite:15]{index=15}.
• Lesions include tracheitis, pneumonia, enteritis, head edema seen post-mortem :contentReference[oaicite:16]{index=16}.

5. ❌ Treatment & Control

• No specific antiviral—care is supportive only; antibiotics may help prevent secondary infections :contentReference[oaicite:17]{index=17}.
• Highly virulent outbreaks often require culling and strict control measures :contentReference[oaicite:18]{index=18}.
• Report suspected cases to authorities—ND is a reportable disease :contentReference[oaicite:19]{index=19}.

6. 🛡️ Prevention & Biosecurity

• Vaccinate with lentogenic live or inactivated NDV under vet guidance :contentReference[oaicite:20]{index=20}.
• Strict biosecurity: quarantining new birds, disinfecting premises, limiting wild bird contact :contentReference[oaicite:21]{index=21}.
• Minimize traffic onto bird areas; sanitize clothing, footwear & equipment :contentReference[oaicite:22]{index=22}.

7. 🧭 Prognosis & Public Health

• Prognosis varies: mild strains cause recovery; virulent strains can cause 100% mortality :contentReference[oaicite:23]{index=23}.
• Humans seldom affected—may get mild conjunctivitis/fever; PPE prevents spread :contentReference[oaicite:24]{index=24}.
• No concern for poultry consumption; virus inactivated by cooking :contentReference[oaicite:25]{index=25}.

8. ✅ Owner Action Plan

9. 🧡 Final Thoughts

Newcastle Disease is a serious, reportable threat with no cure—but early detection, strong biosecurity, vaccination, and supportive care can protect your birds. Consult your avian vet for tailored prevention and response plans. 🐦💪

— Dr Duncan Houston BVSc

👉 For quarantine protocols, sampling kits, or vaccination scheduling tools, visit AskAVet.com or download the Ask A Vet app. We’re here to help you keep your flock safe. 📱✨