The carrier rate of Newcastle disease virus in ducks in Owerri area of Imo State, Nigeria. – A. U. Opara
ABSTRACT
The carrier rate of Newcastle disease virus (NOV) in ducks was investigated in three Owerri Local Government Areas (LGAs) – Owerri municipality, Owerri North and Owerri West in Imo State, Nigeria between January and April 2006. Sixty apparently healthy ducks were tested in the area using a stock of 20 ducks from each LGA. Cloacal swabs were obtained from embryonated hen’s egg via the allantoic route and incubated for 96 hours at 37oC in a humidified incubator. Only one of the 60 ducks (D14) tested positive for NDV and it was detected in Owerri municipal council area. No positive results were recorded for Owerri North and Owerri West LGAs. The isolate that yielded positive result was from a white duck. From this study, the carrier rate NDV in ducks in Owerri area of Imo State is put at 1.6%.