Newcastle disease is one of the most dangerous viral infectious diseases in poultry flocks, capable of spreading rapidly and causing a sharp drop in egg production or mass mortality. To better understand the transmission mechanism, recognizable signs, and practical prevention and control strategies to help you proactively protect your flock, please refer to the content shared by Vemedim below.
Causes of Newcastle disease
Newcastle disease (also known as chicken pest or pseudo-fowl plague) is an extremely dangerous infectious disease caused by a virus, which can cause an entire flock of chickens to die in large numbers within a short time. This disease often appears suddenly, spreads rapidly like “wildfire,” and causes severe losses to poultry farms, especially when it is not detected and handled early.
Newcastle disease is caused by Newcastle disease virus (NDV) - an RNA virus belonging to the Paramyxoviridae family. This virus can cause disease in most poultry species such as chickens, ducks, Muscovy ducks, geese, and quail, but chickens are the most susceptible. In particular, NDV has very high resistance in the environment and can survive for a long time in feces, water, feed, or litter. It can survive for weeks in cool, humid environments, making outbreak control much more difficult.
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Symptoms of Newcastle disease in chickens
When the virus enters the chicken’s body, it mainly attacks the respiratory tract, digestive system, and central nervous system. The incubation period usually lasts 3-5 days, but in some cases it may be as short as 2 days or longer than a week. Depending on the virulence of the virus, the disease may progress in three main forms: peracute, acute, and chronic. Specifically:
Peracute form
At this stage, the disease often appears first in the outbreak, progresses extremely quickly, and causes chickens to die within just a few hours. Farmers may notice the following signs:
- Chickens are lethargic, ruffled, and stand apart from the flock.
- Spreads rapidly, with mortality reaching 100% within just a few hours.
- Coughing, difficulty breathing, bloody feces, head tilted to one side.
- Comb and wattles are swollen and cyanotic due to lack of oxygen.
- Clear neurological signs: staggering, missing feed when pecking, loss of balance.
- Severe drop in egg production, soft-shelled or shell-less eggs.
- High fever of 42.5-43°C.
Lesions are mainly concentrated in the digestive tract, with hemorrhagic streaks along the intestinal tract, stomach, and mesenteric lymph nodes. In addition, the tracheal and nasal mucosa contain inflammatory exudate and tiny pinpoint hemorrhages.
Acute form
This is the most common form in Newcastle outbreaks. When the disease breaks out, the spread is extremely rapid, making it difficult for farmers to control. Typical signs include:
- High fever, loss of appetite, severe drop in egg production, thin-shelled eggs.
- Head tilt, convulsions, circling, pecking without hitting the feed.
- Loose green diarrhea with a foul odor, accompanied by wheezing coughs.
- High mortality, which can reach 80-100% if not treated promptly.
Chronic form
The chronic form usually appears at the end of an outbreak or in chickens that survive the acute form. Chickens at this stage show the following signs:
- Prolonged neurological disorders, due to virus-induced damage to the cerebellum.
- Chickens walk unsteadily, tilt their heads, miss feed when pecking, and eventually starve to death.
- Laying hens have reduced egg production, with small and misshapen eggs.
- The disease lasts for many days, even weeks.
Chickens that survive Newcastle disease are often stunted, eat poorly, have weak resistance, and are almost no longer of economic value.
Treatment of Newcastle disease in chickens
If detected early, treatment can help reduce mortality by 5-20%, depending on the time of intervention. Steps to take when the disease is detected:
- Immediately isolate chickens showing signs of disease.
- Use Newcastle antibodies for the whole flock (as directed by a veterinarian). After 24-48 hours, mortality will decrease significantly.
- Use supportive and restorative products: electrolytes, multivitamins, digestive enzymes such as Vemedim Senarex, Vemedim Vime Tax T, and IMMU booster.
- Spray disinfectant Vemedim BKC (GSGC) throughout the coop 1-2 times a day for the first 3-5 days.
- Keep the coop warm and well-ventilated, avoiding drafts and dampness.
It should be noted that there is no drug that directly kills the virus, so all treatment measures are only intended to boost resistance, prevent secondary infections, and support recovery.
Prevention of Newcastle disease in chickens
Because the causative virus spreads easily and is difficult to eliminate, prevention is always the most effective and economical solution. Poultry farmers need to combine coop sanitation, epidemiological management, and vaccination on schedule.
- Regularly disinfect the coop, equipment, and surrounding areas.
- Spread lime powder or use probiotics in the litter to reduce moisture and toxic gases.
- Clean feeders and drinkers daily.
- Strictly control access to the farm, limiting contact with strangers and wild poultry.
- Isolate newly introduced chickens for at least 10 days before mixing them with the main flock.
- Vaccination or eye/nasal drops are proactive measures that help create lasting immunity for the flock.
- Supplement supportive products to boost resistance (vitamins, electrolytes, B-complex, digestive enzymes, etc.) when the weather changes, chickens are stressed, etc., to enhance natural immunity.
Newcastle disease is one of the most dangerous diseases and causes the greatest losses in the chicken farming industry. Early detection, timely treatment, and strict adherence to prevention procedures and regular vaccination are the keys to protecting the flock, minimizing losses, and maintaining sustainable farming efficiency. If you need support, please contact Vemedim for advice!
