Evaluation of avian influenza and Newcastle disease virus detection kit using field samples from domestic and Semi-domestic birds

The study was undertaken to evaluate sensitivity and specificity of rapid Avian Influenza (AI) and Newcastle Disease virus (NDV) combo antigen kits from field samples of domestic (broiler and layer chicken, native chicken) and semi-domestic (duck, goose, pigeon and quail) birds of Bangladesh. Samples were collected from naturally infected AI suspected domestic and semi-domestic birds of five different outbreak areas in Bangladesh. From each area two birds were selected for sampling, and from each bird three types of samples (tracheal, cloacal and oro-nasal swabs) were collected. A total of 210 field samples from a total of 70 birds were collected and tested using AI and NDV combo antigen rapid diagnostic kits in the study. All three different samples from a bird showed similar pattern of reaction. Out of 210 samples, 15 samples (5 birds), 63 samples (21 birds) and 27 samples (9 birds) were positive for AIV, NDV and both for AIV and NDV, respectively; whereas the remaining birds were negative for either AIV or NDV in this screening test. Among the five AIV positive, a layer chicken from wet market in Mymensingh, Netrokona, Gibandha and Kurigram and a native chicken from wet market in Kurigram area was positive to AIV. The semi-domestic birds are either positive to NDV or free from both AIV and NDV. This study revealed that the AIV and NDV rapid diagnostic kits could be effectively use to diagnose the respective virus in trachea, oro-nasal and cloacal samples simultaneously. AIV-NDV combo Ag test result clearly indicates that the test kit designed for AIV and NDV could diagnose the disease rapidly with less effort and higher scientific know how which could be used for the detection of AIV and NDV using field samples in large scale