Journal of Animal Research: v.5 n.1, p. 1-5. April. 2015

DOI Number: 10.5958/2277-940X.2015.00001.7

Seroprevalence of Newcastle Disease, Chicken Infectious Anemia and Avian

Influenza in Indigenous Chickens in Grenada, West Indies

Ravindra Nath Sharma 1 , Alma Bréjeon 2 , Salomé Bruyant 2 , Keshaw Tiwari 1 , Alfred Chikweto 1 and

Muhammad Iqbal Bhaiyat 1

1 Department of Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, St. George’s University, Grenada, WEST INDIES

2 Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire De Toulouse, Toulouse, FRANCE

Corresponding author: Ravindra Nath Sharma; Email: rsharma@sgu.edu

Received: 16 March, 2015

Accepted: 28 March, 2015

ABSTRACT

This study was conducted to determine the seroprevalence of antibodies against Newcastle disease virus (NDV), Chicken

infectious anemia virus (CIAV) and Avian influenza virus (AIV) in indigenous chickens in Grenada, West Indies. Indigenous

chickens are kept for eggs and meat for either domestic consumption or local sale. These birds are usually kept in the backyard

of the house with little or no shelter. The mean size of the flock per household was 14 birds (range 5-40 birds). Blood was

collected from 368 birds from all the six parishes of Grenada and serum samples were tested for antibodies against NDV, CIAV

and AIV using commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kits. The seroprevalence of antibodies against NDV,

CIA and AI was 66.3% (95% CI; 61.5% to 71.1%), 59.5% (95% CI; 54.4% to 64.5%) and 10.3% (95% CI; 7.2% to 13.4%),

respectively. Since indigenous chickens in Grenada are not vaccinated against poultry pathogens, these results indicate exposure

of chickens to NDV, AIV and CIAV Indigenous chickens are thus among the risk factors acting as vectors of pathogens that can

threaten commercial poultry and other avian species in Grenada

Keywords : Grenada, Indigenous chickens, Serology, NDV, CIAV, AIV.

Generally, the income of Grenadians is very marginal and

are numerous reports on diseases affecting backyard

so,toraisefamilyincome,manyhouseholds(approximately

chickens in many developing countries. However, there is

30%) rear indigenous chickens in their backyard with little

paucity of literature on diseases of backyard chickens in the

or no financial investment. Chickens are fed on kitchen

Caribbean region including Grenada. The first serological

waste and harvest residues. They are given shelter during

survey of various avian pathogens on 91 backyard chickens

the night and set free during the day. Flocks comprise

in Grenada (Sharma et al . 2006) revealed seropositivity for

cocks, hens, and chicks with flock sizes ranging between

Newcastle disease virus (99%), Infectious bronchitis virus

5 and 40. In 2012, the total backyard chicken population

(77%), Mycoplasma gallisepticum (86%), Pastuerella

in Grenada was estimated to be approximately 25, 688

multocida (35%), and Salmonella enteritidis (45%).

birds (Dr. Louison, Chief Veterinary Officer, Ministry of

Arathy et al. (2011) reported that out of 143 serum samples

Agriculture, Lands, Forestry, Fisheries and Environment,

from backyard chickens in Grenada, tested by ELISA, 27

Grenada: Personal communication).

(18.8%) were positive for antibodies against AIV. In the

Because of the role of backyard chickens in the

present study, we investigated the seroprevalence of three

epidemiology of many bacterial and viral diseases, there

important viral diseases (ND, AI and CIA) in backyard

chickens of Grenada.