Redeat Belaineh
National Animal Health Diagnostic and Investigation Center (NAHDIC)
Ethiopia
Title: Characterization of Newcastle disease virus and poultry-handling practices in live poultry markets, Ethiopia
Biography
Biography: Redeat Belaineh
Abstract
Newcastle disease represents the most severe poultry disease responsible for marked economic losses in Ethiopia. To provide a molecular characterization of Newcastle disease viruses circulating in our country, and classified, our phylogenetic analysis of the 260 fragment of the fusion gene of all the 29 sequenced isolates. A cross sectional survey was conducted at five selected live poultry market sites in Addis Ababa. In addition, baseline data on the live poultry market system were acquired through a detailed questionnaire submitted to poultry traders. We identified 44/146 positive samples, 65.9% of which was virulent strains belonging to sub-genotype VIf. The very poor biosecurity practices, which have resulted from responses of the participants, suggest that they might have had a heavy impact in the spread of the disease. This study provides important information on the epidemiology and control of NDV in Ethiopia and highlights the importance of implementing surveillance and biosecurity practices in live poultry markets.