Abstract

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Newcastle disease (ND) is a highly contagious viral disease of domestic poultry, caged, aviary and wild birds caused by the Newcastle disease virus (NDV). Sero prevalence of Newcastle disease virus was determined with 250 sera samples collected from unvaccinated local chickens marketed and slaughtered in Kaduna South Local Government Area, Kaduna State. Northern Nigeria using the Haemagglutination inhibition (HI) method. Of the 250 sera examined, 138 (55.5%) tested positive for NDV antibodies, with 112 negative. The result highlights the epizootic nature of the disease among local chickens in the area and concludes that the data is of economic importance since poultry local chickens are known to spread NDV to other avian species. Vaccination of local chicken is recommended when practicable

Keywords: Newcastle disease, virus, epizootic, local chickens, haemagglutination inhibition test.