Newcastle Disease: Signs, Symptoms, Prevention & Treatments

Newcastle disease is a highly contagious, virulent, severe, fatal disease that can run through a flock quite quickly. Vaccination is the key to preventing Newcastle disease, oregano sprinkled on feed can help prevent it,  wood ash and lime can too but once a flock gets it generally spreads through the entire flock with  a 100% mortality rate.

Symptoms of Newcastle disease in chickens

Newcastle disease in birds is characterized by a sudden onset of clinical signs which include hoarse chirps (in chicks), watery discharge from nostrils, discharge from eyes, rales-a labored breathing (gasping) sound, coughing, sneezing, shaking head, facial or wattles swelling,  bluish discoloration of face, paralysis, trembling, slowed growth rate, general diarrhea to green watery diarrhea, conjunctivitis, prostration, and twisting of the neck (G. D. Butcher, a. 2019).
See more symptoms, prevention, and treatments below 

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Newcastle Disease Synonyms: pneumoencephalitis-Species Affected

Newcastle disease was almost non existent for many years but many backyard chicken owners are now facing this monstrous disease because they have not vaccinated their birds against it. 
The highly contagious and lethal form of Newcastle disease is known as viscerotropic (attacks the internal organs) velogenic Newcastle disease, VVND, exotic Newcastle disease, or Asiatic Newcastle disease. VVND is not present in the United States poultry industry at this time.
​Species affected: Newcastle disease affects all birds of all ages. Humans and other mammals are also susceptible to Newcastle. In such species, it causes a mild conjunctivitis. Newcastle disease is most commonly found in free range chickens who are more likely to be exposed.

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Three Forms of Newcastle Disease

Three forms of Newcastle disease

1. Mildly pathogenic (lentogenic)
2. Moderately pathogenic (mesogenic)
3. Highly pathogenic (velogenic). ​

Mortality ranges from 10 to 80 percent depending on the pathogenicity. (see Table 1 ,http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ps044#TABLE_1​).

How the Newcastle Virus is Transmitted-How Chickens Get Newcastle disease

Idealistically, free ranging chickens is a wonderful idea and the birds love it but the risk of predator attacks and many diseases is the price to pay for free range birds and the price can get very high if you are in commercial broiler production or the egg industry.
Transmission: The Newcastle virus can be transmitted short distances by the airborne route or introduced to chickens by:
Contaminated shoes
Contaminated caretakers clothing, hands, gloves, etc.
Contaminated feed deliverers
Contaminated visitors
Contaminated tires on vehicles (do not allow vehicles near your chicken coops)
Contaminated dirty equipment, feed sacks, crates
Contaminated wild birds who have access to chickens food, water, or coop.
​Newcastle virus can be passed in the egg, but Newcastle-infected embryos die before hatching. In live birds, the virus is shed in body fluids, secretions, excreta, and breath.

Newcastle Virus Treatment & Prevention

Treatment: There is no specific treatment for Newcastle disease. Antibiotics can be given for 3-5 days to prevent secondary bacterial infections (particularly E. coli ). For chicks, increasing the brooding temperature 5°F may help reduce losses.

Prevention: Prevention programs should include vaccination, good sanitation, and implementation of a comprehensive biosecurity program. 

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Newcastle Vaccine Prevents Newcastle Disease

Newcastle Vaccine. 5000 doses. Jeffers Pet.

​Newcastle Disease Chicken Vaccine is recommended for the vaccination of healthy chickens 14 days or older to aid in the prevention of Newcastle Disease. 5000 doses.
Newcastle Disease Vaccine contains the LaSota Strain and is recommended for the vaccination of healthy chickens 14 days or older by drinking water administration or by aerosol spray.
Spray vaccination is recommended for revaccination of healthy chickens 2 weeks of age or older.

Get Newcastle Vaccine

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How newcastle disease in Chickens can be prevented with the avinew vaccine

This animated video clearly explains how Newcastle disease is contracted and how the Avinew Vaccine can protect your chickens. Go to Avinew Vaccine

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Can Humans Get Newcastle disease from their chickens?

"Human infection with Newcastle disease is uncommon, but people exposed to infected birds may experience headaches, flu-like symptoms and conjunctivitis for 1-2 days. There is absolutely no risk to human health from eating poultry or poultry products" (Agriculture and Food. 2019).

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Best Buys on Newcastle Disease Virus Information

Wood Ash and Lime Can Be Used to Treat Newcastle Disease

Studies show that using fresh wood ash or slaked lime can reduce or eliminate Avian Influenza and Newcastle Disease:
Find out more...

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Images of Newcastle Disease

There are some very graphic images of Newcastle Disease from the Center for Food Security and Public Health: ​Here is the link to graphic images of Newcastle disease: http://www.cfsph.iastate.edu/DiseaseInfo/disease-images.php?name=newcastle-disease&lang=en

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Respiratory Disease in Chickens: Signs, Symptoms, & Treatments

See more respiratory diseases in chickens signs, symptoms, and treatments. Click here to see respiratory disease in chickens signs, symptoms and treatments

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WRy Neck Disease

Wry neck disease is caused by a vitamin deficiency, has similar symptoms to Newcastle disease. Wry neck causes a chickens head to twist around and in most cases is curable. Unlike Newcastle disease which can run thru and kill your entire flock of chickens. Go to Wry Neck Disease

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Chicken Illness and Disease: Signs, Symptoms & Treatments

If your chicken is sick you will find our chicken sickness pages highly useful for signs, symptoms,  treatment and prevention Click here to view Chicken illness signs, symptoms, and treatments

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References:

1. Common Poultry Diseases. Retrieved Mar. 3, 2016 from ​http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ps044
   
2. G. D. Butcher, a. (2019). PS47/PS044: Common Poultry Diseases . Edis.ifas.ufl.edu. Retrieved 21 January 2019, from http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ps044#TABLE_1
   
3. ​Newcastle disease | Agriculture and Food. (2019). Agric.wa.gov.au. Retrieved 21 January 2019, from https://www.agric.wa.gov.au/livestock-biosecurity/newcastle-disease
4. Newcastle Disease « Disease Images « CFSPH. (2019). Cfsph.iastate.edu. Retrieved 6 April 2019, from http://www.cfsph.iastate.edu/DiseaseInfo/disease-images.php?name=newcastle-disease&lang=en