Abstract:
This study investigated the blood biochemistry responses of cockerels experimentally infected with a velogenic Newcastle disease virus (NDV) strain, KUDU 113. One hundred Isa white cockerels were used for the study. The cockerels were obtained at day-old and randomly divided into groups A-vaccinated and infected, Bunvaccinated and infected and C-unvaccinated and uninfected (control) consisting of 30, 30 and 40 birds respectively. Group A was vaccinated against NDV with La Sotavaccine at three weeks of age while Groups B and C were not vaccinated. After six weeks, each bird in groups A and B were inoculated intramuscularly (im) with the velogenic NDV while the control group was not inoculated. Blood samples were randomly collected through the jugular vein from five birds in each group, allowed to clot at room temperature, centrifuged and serum harvested. Blood biochemistry determinations were carried out on days 0, 3, 6, 9, 12, 15 and 21 post-inoculation (pi).Parameters determined included serum alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase and alkaline phosphatase activities, total serum proteins, albumin, globulin, total bilirubin, blood glucose level, total cholesterol, total calcium, blood urea nitrogen and uric acidData generated were analyzed using ANOVA and Student’s t-test. Results showed decreased (p<0.05) total protein, albumin, globulin and total calcium levels and increased (p<0.05) plasma glucose and total cholesterol levels in groups A and B when comparedwith the unvaccinated uninfected control.Hypoproteinemia, hypoalbuminemia and hypocalcemia together with increased globulin, blood glucose and total cholesterol levels may be early signs of velogenic NDV infection in chickens. The absence of any negativeeffects on total proteins and calcium concentration in vaccinated infected when compared to the unvaccinated infected birds underscores the importance of vaccination not only in prevention of mortality due to velogenic NDV but also reduction of pathologiceffects on vaccinated infected birds.
