A comprehensive review of Newcastle disease in poultry: Pathogenesis, diagnosis, vaccination and control measures

Authors and affiliations

Waniya Menal Siddiqui^1* ORCID

1. ¹ Faculty of Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Science, Sindh Agriculture University, Tandojam, 70060, Pakistan

* Corresponding author: Waniya Menal Siddiqui

Newcastle disease (ND) remains one of the most consequential viral diseases of poultry because it combines rapid transmission, high mortality in susceptible flocks, major trade consequences and incomplete protection against infection despite widespread vaccination. This critical review synthesizes contemporary knowledge on ND pathogenesis, diagnosis, vaccination and control with emphasis on the interface between molecular virology and practical flock-level disease management. Virulent Newcastle disease virus (NDV), or avian orthoavulavirus 1, exhibits pathotype ranging from lentogenic to velogenic, with virulence strongly influenced by the fusion protein cleavage site and by host, management and immunologic context. The disease classically affects respiratory, digestive, neurologic, reproductive and immune systems, but field recognition is complicated by co-infections, vaccine reactions and variable signs across species and production systems. Laboratory confirmation is therefore essential. Current diagnostic best practice combines rapid molecular screening, virulence determination by F-gene cleavage-site analysis or validated virulent-specific real-time RT-PCR, virus isolation when epidemiologically necessary and sequencing-based surveillance to track genotype shifts. Vaccination remains central to control, but live and inactivated genotype II vaccines do not always prevent infection or shedding after challenge with divergent field strains, especially genotype VII lineages. Vector, recombinant, genotype-matched, mucosal and thermostable vaccines are promising, although implementation is constrained by cost, maternal antibody interference, cold-chain capacity and uneven coverage in backyard and smallholder systems. Durable control requires layered biosecurity, active surveillance, rational vaccination schedules, emergency response capacity, transparent compensation and regionally coordinated movement controls. The review concludes that ND control should move from vaccine-centered programs toward integrated risk-based systems that link genotype-informed surveillance, vaccine effectiveness monitoring and One Health-aware governance of poultry value chains.

Keywords: Newcastle disease; avian orthoavulavirus 1; poultry; pathogenesis; real-time RT-PCR; vaccination

Published:

2026-08-30

Volume and issue:

Volume 1, Issue 1

Article ID:

IJVBS-V1I1P103

Category:

Veterinary Medicine

Siddiqui WM. A comprehensive review of Newcastle disease in poultry: Pathogenesis, diagnosis, vaccination and control measures. Int J Vet Biol Sci. 2026;1(1):IJVBS-V1I1P103.

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