2025, Vol. 5, Issue 2, Part A
Histopathological lesions and partial F gene sequencing of Newcastle disease virus in pigeons
Author(s): Ammar Ashik Mohsin Al-Jubouri and Hayder Abd Al-Emier Almremdhy
Abstract: This investigation aimed to study histopathological changes, molecular, and phylogenetic approaches to unveil both the virulence and genetic identity of circulating viral strains of Newcastle Disease Virus (NDV) in pigeons in Babil province. Histopathological evaluations revealed hallmark lesions of velogenic NDV strains, including submeningeal edema and cerebral vascular congestion, hepatic amyloidosis with thrombus formation, hyperplasia of respiratory epithelium, depletion of splenic lymphoid follicles with amyloid-like material, and severe enteric damage marked by villous atrophy and glandular loss. These lesions underscore the virus's systemic pathogenic potential and tissue tropism. At the molecular level, RT-PCR amplification of a 767 bp segment of the F gene confirmed NDV infection in all sampled pigeons. Subsequent sequencing and genetic analysis revealed remarkable homology (99.5-99.8%) between the Iraqi field isolates (NDV.IQ.2-6) and reference strains from Iraq and Turkey. This study strongly advocates for the integration of histopathology with molecular diagnostics as a robust platform for NDV characterization and outbreak investigation. It offers pivotal insights into viral evolution, epidemiology, and pathogenicity, and lays the groundwork for developing targeted control strategies. Future directions should explore the pathobiology of chronic NDV infection, particularly amyloidogenesis, and assess the ecological role of wild birds in sustaining and disseminating NDV within and beyond national borders.
DOI: 10.22271/letters.2025.v5.i2a.133
Pages: 23-32 | Views: 448 | Downloads: 196
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How to cite this article:
Ammar Ashik Mohsin Al-Jubouri, Hayder Abd Al-Emier Almremdhy. Histopathological lesions and partial F gene sequencing of Newcastle disease virus in pigeons. Zool Entomol Lett 2025;5(2):23-32. DOI: 10.22271/letters.2025.v5.i2a.133
