Newcastle Disease and Avian Influenza A Virus in Migratory Birds in Wetland of Boushehr-Iran

Wild birds are considered to be the natural reservoir of Newcastle Disease Virus (NDV) and Avian Influenza virus (AI) and are often suspected to be involved in outbreaks in domesticated birds. The objective of the present study was to determine ND and AI infection in migratory birds in the south of Iran in order to detect the possible source of these viruses to domestic poultry. A total of 443 fecal specimens (fresh dropping and cloacal swabs) were collected from migratory and wild resident birds in the Bushehr wetlands from October 2009 to June 2010. AI virus was isolated from 3 out of 443 samples processed for virus isolation and confirmed by reverse transcriptase chain reaction (RT-PCR). NDVs were isolated from 22 (fresh fecal) samples and were identified as avian paramyxomyxovirus-1 by the results obtained from the HI test with NDV-specific antibodies and RT-PCR-method. Mortality related to NDV was reported in some chicken flocks in the south of Iran. These results, as well as other data from the literature indicate that wild birds play a minor role as a potential disseminator of NDVs and AIVS. This study is the first report of NDV and AIV isolation from migratory and resident birds in the wetlands of Boushehr-Iran. In addition, our findings support the notion that wild aquatic and migratory birds may function as a reservoir for AIV and NDV in the south of Iran.