Isolation and Identification of Newcastle Disease and Avian Influenza Viruses in Commercial Chickens From Marga and Penebel Districts of Bali

Abstract

Newcastle Disease and Avian Influenza subtype H5N1 are highly contagious poultry diseases that cause substantial economic losses in the poultry farming industry. This study was aimed to identify the infections of Newcastle Disease and Avian Influenza viruses in commercial chickens in Marga and Penebel Districts, Tabanan Regency, Bali Province, by observing clinical signs, anatomical pathology changes and performing hemagglutination (HA) and hemagglutination inhibition (HI) tests. The research involved 16 broiler chickens samples showing suspected signs of Newcastle Disease and Avian Influenza H5N1 infections. The methods included field clinical examination (observation), pathological examination (necropsy) to assess anatomical pathology, virus isolation using embryonated chicken eggs, and serological testing (HA and HI tests). The findings indicated that  chickens infected with Newcastle Disease and Avian Influenza generally exhibited greenish-white diarrhoea, respiratory disorders such as rales, coughing, and difficulty in breathing, as well as neurological signs including torticollis and incoordination. Anatomical pathology findings revealed haemorrhages in the lungs, intestines, and cecal tonsils, petechiae on the proventriculus, and brain congestion. Of the 16 broiler chicken samples, ten tested positive in the haemagglutination test, while five were confirmed by haemagglutination inhibition as infected by Newcastle Disease and or Avian Influenza H5N1.  The research results concluded that the combination of clinical examination, pathological examination (necropsy) and HA and HI laboratory tests was effective in determining a definitive diagnosis of ND and AI.