Comparative study of conventional and molecular epidemiology of Newcastle disease in wild and domestic birds in the Rift Valley region of Ethiopia

Newcastle Disease (ND) remains a significant threat to the health and productivity of poultry. This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of ND in domestic and wild chickens. A total of 150 both domestic and wild birds were sampled from Bishoftu, Hawassa, and Batu. Serum samples were analyzed for ND antibodies using serological assays, while 60 pooled swab samples were subjected to RT-PCR for NDV detection. The overall seroprevalence of ND was found to be 12.7%, with Bishoftu exhibiting the highest prevalence at 20%, followed by Hawassa at 12% and Batu at 6%. No statistically significant differences were noted based on sex (p > 0.05) or age (p > 0.05). RT-PCR detected NDV in 16.7% of the swab samples, with a higher prevalence observed in cloacal swabs (20%) compared to tracheal swabs (13.3%). Risk analysis indicated a significantly increased odds ratio (OR) of 4.2 for ND infection in Bishoftu relative to Batu. Additionally, males were found to be 1.8 times more likely to be infected than females, although age did not significantly affect the risk of infection. These findings highlight the regional variability in ND prevalence, with Bishoftu showing the highest rates. Both serological and molecular analyses demonstrate a notable presence of NDV, particularly in cloacal swabs.