Epizootology of Newcastle disease in Indian house crows

During an investigation into the role of Indian house crows (Corvus splendens splendens) in the epizootology of Newcastle disease, a total of 164 samples from 82 crows were examined. Fifteen isolations of Newcastle diseases virus were made from 10 birds and one of these was highly pathogenic to chicken. Haemagglutination inhibition (HI) tests showed that 38 per cent of these crows possessed antibody to Newcastle disease virus. Initiation and duration of virus excretion and development of HI antibodies were also studied by experimental infection. Virus excretion began on day 3, continued till day 5 and complete elimination occurred by day 6. HI antibody titre began to rise from the seventh day to peak by the twenty-first day and declined thereafter.