Here is some good news for farmers about the Newcastle Disease Virus (NDV). The much dreaded virus also known as ‘Ranikhate Disease Virus’. It is a highly contagious viral pathogen known to cause mass mortality in poultries and thus triggering major economic losses to farmers of the sector.
A joint team of researchers from Dravidian University (DU) and Sri Venkateswara University (SVU) has found that the dietary antioxidant, Vitamin E, can offer protection against NDV-induced pathogenic symptoms in chickens. An increase in its dosage has also shown promise in its treatment.
Principal Investigator Lokanatha Valluru, a DU professor, the Co-Principal Investigator W. Rajendra (SVU Vice-Chancellor) and Researcher Kadiam C. Venkata Subbaiah conducted tests on NDV-affected birds in poultry farms of Chittoor district.
It was observed that the birds had lower Vitamin E levels in their vital organs. “All birds were euthanised and the neuronal and hepatic damage was evaluated bio-chemically. The tests showed that NDV caused the aforesaid damage through overwhelming protein oxidation and nitration,” they said. The finding has been published in the latest issue of the International Journal of Biochemistry and Cell biology and Antiviral Research.
While suggesting external supplementation of Vitamin E to protect the birds from NDV infection, the researchers saw an imperative need to develop alternative therapeutics for the disease as the existing prophylactic vaccines and antiviral could not prevent it due to emergence of new resistant strains. “There is also no specific treatment for the disease,” Prof. Lokanatha said.
DST grant
The Department of Science and Technology (DST) has granted Rs.45 lakh to principal investigator Dr. Valluru for developing antiviral molecules against NDV pathogenic key proteins. The molecules will be developed by using bioinformatics tools, cell culture and animal studies. The group of researchers is also considering patenting the findings related to their therapeutic efficacy and the best lead molecules.
The researchers see an imperative need to develop alternative therapeutics for the disease as the existing prophylactic vaccines and antiviral cannot prevent it due to emergence of new resistant strains
