Virulent Newcastle disease virus confirmed in a double-crested cormorant in New York

Additional supporting gross findings of splenic necrosis and subcutaneous edema were found on necropsy.

An adult double-crested cormorant tested positive for a highly pathogenic strain of Newcastle disease virus (NDV), referred to as virulent Newcastle disease virus (vNDV) or exotic Newcastle disease (END).

NDV, also referred to as avian orthoavulavirus 1 (AOAV-1) and historically known as avian paramyxovirus serotype 1 (APMV-1), is a pleomorphic, enveloped, negative-sense ssRNA virus in the family Paramyxoviridae.

4 The species comprises class I and class II viruses, and genetically diverse class II strains cause virulent disease in poultry.

While NDV is zoonotic, it only causes conjunctivitis in humans.

2,4 Virulence spans three pathotypes: the highly pathogenic, velogenic/virulent; the intermediate, mesogenic; and the low-virulence/asymptomatic, lentogenic.

Velogenic viruses cause acute, contagious disease in many kinds of poultry, wild and caged birds, characterized by severe lesions in the respiratory, gastrointestinal, reproductive, immune and central nervous systems.

2 Unlike other viruses in which pathogenicity is based on genotyping, with NDV, virulence is determined by the fusion (F) protein cleavage site.

1 NDV is shed primarily through respiratory secretions and feces of infected birds.

Indirect spread also occurs through fomites such as contaminated equipment, clothing, footwear and vehicles.

Wild birds can move virus over long distances through migration while introducing it to domestic poultry through shared environments, feed and water.

The report adds to ongoing university-led research relevant to veterinary medicine, animal health, and clinical decision-making.

university website: Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine