The aim of the project at VARC is to study Newcastle disease (ND) and differential avian diagnosis, including the improvement of diagnostic tools for the detection of avian respiratory viruses, assessment of the efficacy of ND vaccination and epidemiological surveillance of circulating ND strains .

This project primarily seeks at improving diagnosis and increasing expertise in regard to the Newcastle disease virus (NDV) in the light of our status of national reference laboratory for this virus, by developing better virological and serological diagnostic tools. These tools will be developed to broaden our knowledge on molecular epidemiology, circulation among wild birds and seroprevalence in the Belgian poultry population.

The ultimate objectives of this research will be to reinforce the system for the surveillance of Newcastle disease against the context of a compulsory vaccination strategy so as to define the risks of the introduction, low-level circulation or emergence of new strains that are potentially pathogenic for poultry.

Consequently the research being proposed aims at anticipating future requests from third countries for further guarantees about the country's Newcastle disease-free status by creating a specific surveillance system and developing new monitoring tools (molecular and DIVA tests).

Further Reading

-

Find out more information on Newcastle disease by clicking here.