Outbreak of Newcastle disease with colibacillosis in seven-week-old pullets: Diagnosis and management

Newcastle disease (ND) is a fatal viral disease that affects a wide variety of avian species and is considered an impediment to the development, survival and productivity of the poultry industry. Escherichia coli is a Gram-negative, non-spore-forming, enteric rod that often complicates viral infections in poultry. This case report described the diagnosis and management of an outbreak of suspected Newcastle disease and colibacillosis in 7-week-old pullets in a commercial poultry farm in Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria. The clinical case was diagnosed and treated based on results of clinical history and diagnostic work-up including high mortality, coughing, nasal discharge, pale comb, distended ureters, peritonitis and diffused petechial haemorrhage on the intestinal mucosa, low protective antibody titre (1:1 (0 Log2), and isolation of Escherichia coli from sampled organs. Based on these results, the case was diagnosed as Newcastle disease (ND) with colibacillosis. The remaining birds that showed signs of weakness and respiratory distress were treated with a recommended dose of Penprovit ® (Penicillin + Streptomycin + Vitamins) at 100g/100 litres of drinking water X 1/52 (+3 days). Polidine ® (Iodine solution) was also administered (1mL/2 litres of drinking water X1/52). Ten days post-treatment, peak mortality dropped from 70 to zero. These results demonstrate that a combination of diagnostic work plans, including clinical history, postmortem examination, microbial culture, and antibiotic susceptibility testing, as well as haemagglutination inhibition test (HI), is reliable for the diagnosis and treatment of natural concurrent infections associated with Newcastle disease and colibacillosis.