Poultry

Commercial Layer-type Chickens and Newcastle Disease Virus Infection:Toward Genetic Selection of More Resilient Chickens

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Abstract

Exotic Newcastle Disease Virus(NDV)causes major losses due to extremely quickmortalityin chickensafter exposure to the virus. In places where this virusis not effectively controlled through vaccination and biosecurity, people rely heavily on poultry to provideprotein and income.Losses from NDV contributeto worldwide hunger and poverty. It may be possible to use genetic selection to produce chickens thatnot onlyhave a stronger immune response in the face of NDV challengebut also respond better to vaccination. In order for genetic selection to be successful,two major elements are required: differences in immune response between chickens and genetic control of these differences. This study clearly demonstrates the existence of both these factors.These findings provide strong possibility for the ability of genetic selection to produce chickens that are more resistant to NDV and thereby lessen the burdens of hunger and poverty.

How to Cite:

Rowland, K., Zhou, H., Gallardo, R., Kelly, T., Dekkers, J. C. & Lamont, S. J., (2017) “Commercial Layer-type Chickens and Newcastle Disease Virus Infection:Toward Genetic Selection of More Resilient Chickens”, Iowa State University Animal Industry Report 14(1). doi: https://doi.org/10.31274/ans_air-180814-356