title: Newcastle disease in Nigeria: epizootiology and current knowledge of circulating genotypes.
abstract: Over the years, Newcastle disease (ND) has defied all available control measures. The disease has remained at the forefront of infectious diseases afflicting poultry production after avian influenza. Despite the continuous global use of million doses of ND vaccine annually, the causative pathogen, avian paramyxovirus type 1 also known as Newcastle disease virus (NDV) has continued to evolve causing, even more, a threat not only to the unvaccinated but the vaccinated flocks inclusive. The disease has been well studied in the developed countries where the virus is found in circulation. However, limited information exists on the epizootiology and circulating genotypes of the virus in developing countries where the majority of the flocks are raised on the extensive management system. Identification of virulent NDV in apparently healthy free-range ducks in this system calls for concern and pragmatic approach to investigate factor(s) that favour the virus inhabiting the ducks without clinical manifestation of the disease. Recently, novel genotypes (XIV, XVII, and XVIII) with peculiarity to West and Central African countries have been discovered and due to lack or poor surveillance system possibility of hitherto unreported genotypes are likely. This review elucidates and discusses available literature on the diversity of the circulating NDV genotypes across the West Africa countries and the epizootiology (molecular) of the disease in Nigeria with the view of identifying gaps in knowledge that can assist in the development of effective vaccines and control strategies to combat the peril of the disease.
authors.affiliation: Regional Laboratory for Animal Influenzas and Transboundary Animal Diseases, Virology Division, National Veterinary Research Institute, Vom, Nigeria ; Department of Virology, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Oyo State Nigeria.
authors.forename: Ismaila
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Shittu
authors.affiliation: Regional Laboratory for Animal Influenzas and Transboundary Animal Diseases, Virology Division, National Veterinary Research Institute, Vom, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Tony M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Joannis
authors.affiliation: Department of Virology, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Oyo State Nigeria.
authors.forename: Georgina N
authors.initials: GN
authors.lastname: Odaibo
authors.affiliation: Department of Virology, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Oyo State Nigeria.
authors.forename: Olufemi D
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-2977-9578
authors.initials: OD
authors.lastname: Olaleye
keywords: Epizootiology; Genotypes; Newcastle disease; Nigeria; West Africa