Selection of thermostable Newcastle disease virus progeny from reference and vaccine strains.

In a study of low-virulence Newcastle disease virus (NDV) isolates from poultry, 38% of the isolates had a more thermostable hemagglutinin than the lentogenic reference strains B1 and La Sota or live vaccines derived from those strains. Whether those strains with a more thermostable hemagglutinin are truly indigenous or whether they could have originated from vaccines used in the flocks was unknown. Seven monovalent NDV vaccines of B1 or La Sota type and reference B1 and La Sota strains were heat treated at 56 C to select variants more thermostable than the parent virus. Four thermal treatment cycles were completed, and virus propagated from the second and fourth heat treatments was assayed for changes in thermostability and antigenicity. The hemagglutinin thermostability of all vaccine and reference strain variants increased from the initial < or =10 min to > or =120 min after four treatments. Antigenic changes evaluated by hemagglutination inhibition against NDV monoclonal antibodies identified changes in only the heat-treated La Sota strains. The results demonstrate that the field isolates with a more thermostable hemagglutinin could have been derived by selection from the heterogenous NDV populations in vaccine strains and that minor antigenic changes may be a result of that selection.     

Molecular epidemiological investigation of Newcastle disease virus from domestic ducks in Korea

To expand the epidemiological understanding of Newcastle disease virus (NDV) found in domestic ducks in Korea, 14 NDV isolates from apparently healthy domestic ducks were biologically and genetically characterized. Thirteen and 1 isolates of NDV were categorized into lentogenic and velogenic viruses, respectively, based on in vivo pathogenicity tests. Twelve lentogenic viruses showed HA activity to horse RBCs, while 1 lentogenic virus and the velogenic virus were negative. Lentogenic viruses (n=13) had sequence motifs of (112)ERQERL(117) (n=1) or (112)GRQGRL(117) (n=12) at the F0 cleavage site, while the velogenic virus (n=1) had a sequence motif of (112)RRQKRF(117) at the same site. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that at least three distinct genotypes may exist in domestic ducks in Korea; one class I genotype (genotype 2), and two class II (genotypes I and VII) genotypes. The class I virus was most closely related to strains of genotype 2 which were isolated in birds from the USA, Germany and Denmark. Twelve lentogenic class II viruses were grouped together in genotype I, and were then divided into at least three clusters, namely Aomori-like, Ulster2C-like, and V4-like. The velogenic class II virus was assigned to genotype VII which represents viruses responsible for recent epidemics in many Asian countries including Korea. The epidemiological importance of domestic duck isolates of NDV in Korea is discussed.     

Cellular and humoral response of in ovo-bursectomized chickens to experimental challenge with velogenic Newcastle disease virus

Humorally deficient, in ovo-bursectomized (Bx) and sham-Bx chickens were vaccinated twice, 1 month apart, with Newcastle disease virus (NDV) Roakin strain and challenged with a velogenic viscerotropic NDV strain via the oronasal route. Hemagglutination-inhibition and seroneutralization tests showed that Bx chickens had reduced antibody-mediated immunity to virus infection. In contrast, they had significantly higher cell-mediated immunity (CMI) before challenge, as estimated simultaneously by determination of blastogenic capacity of peripheral blood lymphocytes induced by phytohemagglutinin and by specific antigen stimulation. After virus challenge, there was transitory inhibition of CMI based on marked reductions in levels of stimulation indices, and this impairment in CMI was supported by persistence of virus in Bx chickens for longer periods. Bx chickens resisted challenge, even though antibody titers were well below those considered predictive of resistance to challenge, suggesting that CMI provides a degree of resistance to velogenic NDV.     

THE RESPONSE OF AUSTRALIAN CHICKENS NATURALLY INFECTED WITH AVIRULENT NEWCASTLE DISEASE VIRUS TO CHALLENGE WITH VELOGENIC NEWCASTLE DISEASE VIRUS

SUMMARY Sixty-eight breeder chickens, 4 to 12 months of age, were taken from Australian flocks that had been naturally infected with avirulent Newcastle disease virus (NDV) and transported by air to Malaysia. Nearly all the breeders had haemagglutination inhibition antibodies to NDV, at titres of from 2 to 128. Thirty-two were inoculated intranasally with an Asian, velogenic, viscerotropic strain of NDV and all survived this challenge. Thirty-six were exposed to contact infection with the same velogenic NDV and 2 died of Newcastle disease within 14 days. The levels of haemagglutination inhibition antibodies against NDV increased in the surviving breeders after challenge, reaching 2048 or greater in a few birds. Velogenic NDV was isolated from a cloacal swab from one clinically normal breeder 10 days after challenge by contact. Cloacal swabs taken 7 to 10 days after challenge from another 23 breeders yielded no NDV. Twenty-four broilers, 7 weeks of age, were also transported from Australia to Malaysia. All lacked detectable haemagglutination inhibition antibody to NDV and they were from a flock with no detectable antibody to NDV. Twelve were challenged with velogenic NDV intranasally and 12 were subjected to contact challenge. All broilers died of Newcastle disease within 13 days.     

Vaccination of chickens with a recombinant fowlpox virus containing the hemagglutinin-neuraminidase gene of Newcastle disease virus under the control of the fowlpox virus thymidine kinase promoter.

When chickens were vaccinated with a recombinant fowlpox virus (FPV) containing the Newcastle disease virus (NDV) hemagglutinin-neuraminidase (HN) cDNA under the control of the thymidine kinase (TK) promoter and inserted into the FPV TK gene, the FPV antibody response to the recombinant virus was similar to the response to vaccination with standard FPV, and the recombinant virus protected chickens against challenge with virulent FPV. While the presence of the NDV HN cDNA was demonstrated in the recombinant virus, which was stable on serial passage, expression of HN was not detected by hemagglutination, Western blot analysis or immunoprecipitation of infected cell lysate. Chickens vaccinated with the recombinant virus failed to mount an NDV hemagglutination-inhibition antibody response, and they did not resist challenge with velogenic NDV. It was concluded that the TK promoter was too weak to drive the HN gene, but that the insertion into the FPV TK gene did not reduce the immunogenicity of the virus.     

The interaction between Newcastle disease virus and Escherichia coli endotoxin in chickens.

The interaction between Newcastle disease virus (NDV) and Escherichia coli endotoxin was studied in cell cultures, embryonated chicken eggs, and 8-wk-old chickens. These interactions were evaluated according to the induction of specific or nonspecific resistance in the host system and the virus titer produced in both chicken embryos and chickens. The endotoxin of E. coli induced a decrease in the size of the bursa of Fabricius in live chickens. Escherichia coli endotoxin given intravenously induced plasma antiviral activity in chickens that was interpreted to be interferon, as detected in a vesicular stomatitis virus plaque reduction assay. Endotoxin failed to produced toxic effects in the chicken embryo fibroblasts (CEFs) or to result in any antiviral effect because no change was noted in the number of NDV plaques formed in CEF cultures. When endotoxin was given 3 days before NDV exposure in chickens, the virus titers were significantly (P < 0.05) decreased from a peak of 10(2) to 10(0.18), 10(2.5) to 10(0.18), and 10(2.5) to 0 in the spleens, lungs, and kidneys, respectively, at 72 hr post-NDV inoculation. When endotoxin was given 24 hr after NDV inoculation, the NDV titer significantly (P < 0.05) increased from 10(2.0) to 10(3.5), 10(2.5) to 10(6.5), 10(2.5) to 10(4.5), 0 to 10(2.5) in the spleen, lungs, kidneys, and liver, respectively, at 72 hr after NDV inoculation. In chicken sera, hemagglutination inhibition (HI) titer to NDV was significantly (P < 0.05) enhanced from 1164 to 3127 when endotoxin was given prior to virus inoculation. However, there was a decrease in HI to NDV from 1164 to 727 without a significant difference in chicken sera when NDV was given prior to endotoxin inoculation.     

3株鸽源新城疫病毒的分子特征及对鸽的致病性

2011-2013年在新城疫流行病学调查中分离到3株鸽源新城疫病毒(SDS,SD01和SD02),为了进一步了解其生物学特性和遗传进化规律,对3株病毒进行了测序和生物活性分析,并对分离株SDS对鸽的致病性进行了评价.结果表明,毒株SDS基因组全长为15 192 bp,基因排列方式为3'-NP-P-M-F-HN-L-5'...     

Immunosuppression and histopathological changes in the bursa of fabricius associated with infectious bursal disease vaccination in chicken

The effect of the infectious bursal disease (IBD) live virus vaccine on the immune response of chicken was evaluated by the assessment of antibody response following vaccination as well as resistance to challenge with virulent virus. Birds were vaccinated at various ages and later challenged with a heterologous vaccine (NDV) or wild-type IBD virus. The BF was examined for histological changes at regular intervals. Antibody levels to NDV were monitored.

Significantly higher mortality rates were observed in birds vaccinated with IBD vaccine than unvaccinated birds (P < 0.01) following challenge, BF from vaccinated birds showed marked lymphocyte depletion and cellular infiltration with mononuclear cells.

Intraocular NDV (NDV-i/o) vaccine given at day old largely prevented the immunodepressive effect of IBD vaccination on NDV vaccine. Groups that received IBD vaccine on day 14 but no NDV i/o suffered higher mortality (41.2%) and showed lower antibody response than those vaccinated on day 1 (0%) or controls which did not receive IBDV (11.8%).     

Characterization of a lentogenic Newcastle disease virus isolated from broiler chickens in Japan

Newcastle disease virus (NDV), named MET95, was isolated from a non-vaccinated broiler flock in Japan in 1995. The MET95 strain was determined to be a lentogenic NDV. The strain has the properties of eluting rapidly at 4 C and has low thermostability in hemagglutinating activity with chicken erythrocytes. In these studies, no difference could be found between the MET95 strain and the Hitcher B1 vaccine strain. However, the chickens inoculated with the MET95 strain, as well as chickens that they were in contact with, had a much higher hemagglutination-inhibition antibody response than those inoculated with the B1 strain. Accordingly, the MET95 strain is thought to be a promising candidate as a live ND vaccine strain. In Japan, this is the first report on the isolation of lentogenic NDV from chickens since the paper on the Ishii strain isolated in 1966.     

Pathogenic properties of Newcastle disease virus isolates in the Sudan.

Six Newcastle disease virus (NDV) isolates were obtained from disease outbreaks on different poultry farms in the Sudan between 1988 and 1991. The pathogenic properties of these isolates were studied in comparison to those of strain Herts 33/56. All the isolates were similar in that they killed chicken embryos quickly, in mean death time (MDT) and embryo lethal dose 50 per cent (ELD50), had higher intracerebral pathogenicity indices (ICPI), and produced viscerotropic lesions in the infected chickens. The field isolates had the characteristics of the velogenic viscerotopic strains of NDV. The pathogenesis of infection caused by one of the isolates was studied. The virus was first detected in different organs and in oral and cloacal swabs on the third day after infection.     

Protective immunity against Newcastle disease: the role of antibodies specific to Newcastle disease virus polypeptides

Studies were performed to determine if passive immunization with hyperimmune sera generated to specific Newcastle disease virus (NDV) proteins conferred protection against virus challenge. Six groups of 3-wk-old chickens were passively immunized with antiserum against either hemagglutinin-neuraminidase/fusion, (HN/F) protein, nucleoprotein/phosphoprotein (NP/P), Matrix (M) protein, a mixture of all NDV proteins (ALL), intact ultraviolet-inactivated NDV (UVNDV), or negative sera. Blood samples were collected 2 days postimmunization, and the birds were challenged with Texas GB strain of NDV. Antibody titers were detected from those recipient birds that had received the antisera against the HN/F, ALL, or UVNDV by a hemagglutination inhibition test, an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and a virus neutralization test. Antibodies were detected only by the ELISA from the birds that had received antisera against NP/P and M protein. Antibody titers in the recipient birds dropped by two dilutions (log2) after 2 days postinjection. Birds passively immunized with antisera against HN/F, ALL, and UVNDV were protected from challenge, whereas chickens passively immunized with antisera against NP/P and M protein and specific-pathogen-free sera developed clinical signs of Newcastle disease. The challenge virus was recovered from the tracheas of all passively immunized groups. The presence of neutralizing antibodies to NDV provided protection from clinical disease but was unable to prevent virus shedding from the trachea.     

Genome sequence of the thermostable Newcastle disease virus (strain I-2) reveals a possible phenotypic locus

The complete genome sequence of the Australian I-2 heat-tolerant Newcastle disease virus (NDV) vaccine (master seed stocks) was determined and compared to the sequence of the parent virus from which it had been derived after exposure of the parent stock at 56 degrees C for 30 min. Nucleotide changes were observed at a number of positions with synonymous mutations being greater than those observed for non-synonymous mutations. Sequence data for the HN gene of a parental culture of V4 and two heat-tolerant variants of V4 were obtained. These were compared with the data for the I-2 viruses and with published sequences for parental V4 and for a number of ND vaccine strains. Sequence analyses did not reveal the ARG(303) deletion in the HN protein, previously claimed to be responsible for the thermostable phenotype. No consistent changes were detected that would indicate involvement of the HN protein in heat resistance. The majority of alterations were observed in the L protein of the virus and it is proposed that these alterations were responsible for the heat-tolerant phenotype of the I-2 NDV vaccine.     

鸡胚中新城疫强毒的分离、鉴定与生物学特性研究

将来自有产蛋下降表现的一个肉用型父母代种鸡群的种蛋在实验室内孵化,每日观察鸡胚死亡情况。在孵化的24个鸡胚中有2个在孵化后8~9 d死亡,尿囊液有血凝性。在HI试验中,NDV单因子血清呈现26的HI滴度,对H9和H5亚型AIV单因子血清不呈血凝抑制活性,由此确定为新城疫病毒(Newcastle disease virus,NDV),分别命名为Tengz060104和Tengz060107。对该2个NDV分离株的生物学毒力指标进行测定,Tengz060104株的MDTI、CPI和IVPI分别为56.4 h、1.88和2.67,Tengz060107株的MDTI、CPI和IVPI分别为40.8 h、1.88和2.79。在6周龄SPF鸡攻毒后产生典型的ND症状的病变。表明来自鸡胚的2个分离株属强毒力、速发型NDV毒株。交叉HI中Tengz060104和Tengz060107相互间的同源性为100%,而与经典NDV毒株F48E8的同源性比较分别是66.7%和57.7%。从鸡胚中分离到新城疫强毒株在国内尚未见报道。     

Protection of chickens from Newcastle and Marek's diseases with a recombinant herpesvirus of turkeys vaccine expressing the Newcastle disease virus fusion protein.

Recombinant strains of herpesvirus of turkeys (HVT) were constructed that contain either the fusion protein gene or the hemagglutinin-neuraminidase gene of Newcastle disease virus (NDV) inserted into a nonessential gene of HVT. Expression of the NDV antigens was regulated from a strong promoter element derived from the Rous sarcoma virus long terminal repeat. Recombinant HVT strains were stable and fully infectious in cell culture and in chickens. Chickens receiving a single intra-abdominal inoculation at 1 day of age with recombinant HVT expressing the NDV fusion protein had an immunological response and were protected (> 90%) against lethal intramuscular challenge at 28 days of age with the neurotropic velogenic NDV strain Texas GB. Recombinant HVT expressing the NDV hemagglutinin-neuraminidase provided partial protection (47%) against the same challenge. Chickens vaccinated with recombinant HVT vaccines had low levels of protection against NDV replication in the trachea when challenged ocularly. Recombinant HVT vaccines and the parent HVT strain provided similar levels of protection to chickens challenged with the very virulent RB1B strain of Marek's disease virus, indicating that insertion of foreign sequences into the HVT genome did not compromise the ability of HVT to protect against Marek's disease.     

Unexpected newcastle disease virus in day old commercial chicks and breeder hen

Newcastle disease virus (NDV) specific antigen in the gut contents and NDV specific antibody in blood circulation were seen in day old chicks belonging to nine different commercial hatcheries of Tamil Nadu, India. Antigen disappeared by 4th week and antibody by 6th week of age. Fourteen NDV isolates obtained from the gut contents of day old chicks of different commercial hatcheries, one NDV isolate from dead in shell eggs and one NDV isolate from breeder hen were characterized and grouped under velogenic, mesogenic and lentogenic pathotypes. Four isolates were grouped under F and another four isolates were grouped under E based on reaction with monoclonal antibodies (Mabs) but found to be velogenic based on pathogenicity tests. In one particular flock velogenie NDV was isolated from breeder hen, dead in shell embryos and day old chicks and they all belong to Mabs group E. Vertical transmission of velogenic, mesogenic and lentogenic NDVs and role of NDVs in the gut contents have been discussed.     

Protective immunity against Newcastle disease: the role of cell-mediated immunity

The role of cell-mediated immunity (CMI) in protection of birds from Newcastle disease was investigated by two different strategies in which only Newcastle disease virus (NDV)-specific CMI was conveyed without neutralizing antibodies. In the first strategy, selected 3-wk-old specific-pathogen-free (SPF) birds were vaccinated with either live NDV (LNDV), ultraviolet-inactivated NDV (UVNDV), sodium dodecyl sulfate-treated NDV (SDSNDV), or phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) (negative control) by the subcutaneous route. Birds were booster vaccinated 2 wk later and challenged with the velogenic Texas GB strain of NDV 1 wk after booster. All vaccinated birds had specific CMI responses to NDV as measured by a blastogenesis microassay. NDV neutralizing (VN) and hemagglutination inhibition (HI) antibody responses were detected in birds vaccinated with LNDV and UVNDV. However, birds vaccinated with SDSNDV developed antibodies that were detected by western blot analysis but not by the VN or HI test. Protection from challenge was observed only in those birds that had VN or HI antibody response. That is, birds with demonstrable CMI and VN or HI antibody response were protected, whereas birds with demonstrable CMI but no VN or HI antibody response were not protected. In the second strategy, birds from SPF embryos were treated in ovo with cyclophosphamide (CY) to deplete immune cells. The birds were monitored and, at 2 wk of age, were selected for the presence of T-cell activity and the absence of B-cell activity. Birds that had a significant T-cell response, but not a B-cell response, were vaccinated with either LNDV, UVNDV, or PBS at 3 wk of age along with the corresponding CY-untreated control birds. The birds were booster vaccinated at 5 wk of age and were challenged with Texas GB strain of NDV at 6 wk of age. All birds vaccinated with LNDV or UVNDV had a specific CMI response to NDV, VN or HI NDV antibodies were detected in all CY-nontreated vaccinated birds and some of the CY-treated vaccinated birds that were found to have regenerated their B-cell function at 1 wk postbooster. The challenge results clearly revealed that CY-treated birds that had NDV-specific CMI and VN or HI antibody responses to LNDV or UVNDV were protected, as were the CY-nontreated vaccinated birds. However, birds that had NDV-specific CMI response but did not have VN or HI antibodies were not protected from challenge. The results from both strategies indicate that specific CMI to NDV by itself is not protective against virulent NDV challenge. The presence of VN or HI antibodies is necessary in providing protection from Newcastle disease.     

SIMULATED NATURAL INFECTION OF CHICKENS WITH AUSTRALIAN LENTOGENIC NEWCASTLE DISEASE VIRUS AND SUBSEQUENT CHALLENGE WITH VIRULENT VIRUS

A total of 291 eight-week-old chickens were exposed to chickens infected with either of two Australian lentogenic strains (V4 and AVL NDV-1) of Newcastle disease virus (NDV). At 3 weeks after exposure, all chickens exposed to V4 infected chickens had developed haemagglutination-inhibition (HI) antibody. All chickens exposed to AVL NDV-1 virus infected chickens had developed HI antibody 5 weeks later. This sudden late appearance of HI antibody, to titres higher than those observed with V4 chickens, was explained by V4 virus being introduced to the AVL NDV-1 group of chickens. When groups of these chickens were challenged with Roakin virus (mesogenic NDV) at 3 weeks and Fontana 1083 virus (viscerotropic velogenic NDV) and Texas GB virus (neutrotropic NDV) at 3, 5, 10 and 21 weeks only three chickens developed clinical illness one of which died. These chickens were one AVL NDV-1 chicken contact challenged with Fontana 1083 virus at 3 weeks, one V4 chicken oronasally challenged with Texas GB virus at 5 weeks and one V4 chicken challenged oronasally with Fontana 1083 virus at 10 weeks. Susceptible non-vaccinated chickens died soon after challenge. Challenge by oronasal infection with 10(7.0) ELD50 of virus or contact with susceptible infected chickens enabled virulent virus to be isolated from most chickens and was accompanied by a large anamnestic increase in serum HI antibody.     

Vaccination against Newcastle disease with a recombinant baculovirus hemagglutinin-neuraminidase subunit vaccine

Vaccination of chickens with an oil-emulsion vaccine containing a recombinant baculovirus that expressed the hemagglutinin-neuraminidase (HN) of Newcastle disease virus (NDV)-induced hemagglutination-inhibition (HI) and virus-neutralizing antibodies against NDV. HI antibody titers obtained in response to vaccination with the live recombinant virus were higher than those obtained when the recombinant was inactivated with beta-propiolactone, and the titers were lower than those obtained in response to the same HN concentrations in live or beta-propiolactone-inactivated NDV strain B1. The serological response to the recombinant baculovirus was differentiated from the response to NDV by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in which purified NDV nucleoprotein was used as antigen. Chickens vaccinated with the live recombinant or with inactivated NDV resisted an oculonasal challenge with the neurotropic velogenic Texas GB strain of NDV, which was lethal in unvaccinated controls. It was concluded that the HN protein of NDV expressed as a subunit by a recombinant baculovirus was protective against Newcastle disease.     

一株新疆野鸟源新城疫病毒的分离鉴定、F基因克隆及遗传进化分析

为了解新疆野鸟新城疫病毒（Newcastle disease virus,NDV）感染情况,分析其分子特征和基因变异特点,防止新城疫的暴发和蔓延,本试验用9日龄SPF鸡胚进行病毒的分离传代,HA、HI试验和RT-PCR方法对位于"东非-西亚迁徙线"福海县的野鸟进行了NDV检测,分离到1株野鸟源NDV,并命名为NDV/Pintail/CH（XJ）/01/2016。结果表明,该NDV分离株F基因ORF长1 662 bp,编码553个氨基酸,F基因碱性裂解位点序列为¹¹²G-R-Q-G-R-L¹¹⁷,符合弱毒株特征;遗传进化分析显示,NDV/Pintail/CH（XJ）/01/2016与乌克兰鸽源分离株Doneck/3/968、比利时鸭源分离株Simeonovgrad核苷酸同源性均为99.7%,属于NDV ClassⅡ基因Ⅱ型。而上述3株病毒均与疫苗毒La Sota具有较高同源性（99.5%~99.8%）。本研究结果为家禽NDV外流进入自然环境提供了论据。     

新城疫病毒西藏分离株的生物学特性鉴定及遗传进化分析

从西藏病死藏鸡中分离到具有血凝活性的病毒、经血凝抑制试验、电镜观察、PCR扩增和测序鉴定为新城疫病病毒(NDV),通过动物致病性试验证明该病毒对鸡具有致病性;分离毒株毒力测定结果显示,MDT为120h,EID50为10-8.44、IVPI为0.5、ICPI为0.6,均符合NDV弱毒株特征。血凝解脱及血凝素热稳定性试验显示:各分离株的血凝解脱时间短,血凝素热稳定性较差,符合NDV弱毒株的特征。F基因的序列测定遗传进化分析表明,西藏分离毒株之间的核苷酸序列具有99%的同源性,与疫苗株LaSota的同源性为90%;与国内标准强毒株F48E8同源性为81%。推导其氨基酸序列分析表明,各分离株的F蛋白的裂解位点氨基酸112 G-K-Q-G-R-L117,具有NDV弱毒株特征,与毒力测定结果相符。本研究首次报道了NDV西藏分离毒株遗传进化情况和生物学特性情况,为进一步研究高海拔、缺氧环境下NDV生物学特性变化研究奠定了基础。