The effect of XIVb strain of Newcastle disease virus on the haematology of Muscovy ducks and local chickens

Anseriform species such as Muscovy ducks, Mallard ducks and geese are commonly known to be susceptible to some of Newcastle disease virus (NDV) strains, while resistant to others. This study was designed to determine and compare the effect of XIVb strain of NDV on the haematological parameters of Muscovy ducks in relation to the local chickens.Methods: Forty experimental birds consisting of twenty Muscovy ducklings and twenty local chicks at five weeks of age were divided into four groups of 10 subjects each, designated as infected chickens (IC), control chickens (CC), infected ducklings (ID) and control ducklings (CD) and were inoculated orally with 107.8/ 0.1ml /bird as the embryo lethal dose (ELD50/ml) of the strain obtained from the National Veterinary Research Institute, Vom. The means of haematological parameters were used to determine the response of the birds in each group and were compared to their controls (at days 0, 3, 7, 10, 14, 21, 28, and 35).Results: The result showed reduction in some of the haematological parameters, such as RBC and PCV, MCV, HB concentration, MCH and leukocyte count of both the IC and ID. RBC was (1.71±0.26×1012/l) and (2.77±0.20×1012/l) in the IC and ID against their control groups (3.69±0.31×1012/l) and (3.71±0.31×1012/l) on day 7PI, respectively. The IC also showed significant (p < 0.05) lymphopenia on days 7, 10 and 21 than the CC while the ID showed significant (p < 0.05) lymphocytosis on days 14, 21, 28 and 35 than the CD.Significance: The haematological parameters of the local chickens are more affected when infected with XIVb strain of NDV than that of the Muscovy ducks.