Newcastle Disease Virus in Poultry: Current Status and Control Prospects

Since its first appearance in Java Island, Indonesia, in 1926, Newcastle disease has significantly impacted the global poultry industry, leading to substantial economic losses. The disease has rapidly spread worldwide, becoming endemic in many countries where agriculture is the primary source of national income. The present study aimed to present a comprehensive review of the recent literature on the Newcastle disease virus to contribute to understanding the virus and its control measures in poultry and provide an updated perspective on current knowledge. All strains of the Newcastle disease virus are classified under a single serotype; however, they are grouped into two classes and have been found to have emerging genetic diversity. Although various molecular diagnostic protocols have been developed, many have limitations. Nucleotide variability in the F gene of the Newcastle disease virus seems to explain the false-negative results provided by different real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction protocols. Vaccination combined with biosecurity measures has been shown to limit the devastating effect of the Newcastle disease virus. However, the current vaccines are not effective enough to prevent viral shedding and infection of vaccinated animals. The efficacy of the vaccine strains utilized for decades is being scrutinized, raising questions about their effectiveness over time. The development of reverse genetics offers promising prospects for exploring new generations of attenuated vaccines capable of protecting poultry against clinical diseases and infections, such as Newcastle disease.