Evaluating the impact of avian paramyxovirus type 1 infection in poultry at live bird markets in Nigeria
Defining hurdles to sustainable agriculture.
12 February 2025, BMC Veterinary Research
Summary
Poultry production and food security in Nigeria
In low-middle income countries such as Nigeria, poultry production plays a crucial role in maintaining food security, providing an income supplement to salary-earners and as a main income source for the unemployed. Based on data from 2017, the estimated poultry population in Nigeria was about 180 million birds, with much of production being concentrated within the south-western part of the country.
Newcastle disease as a threat to sustainable agriculture
With the rise of poultry production within the country, the threat of avian diseases increases. Newcastle disease (ND), a highly contagious, frequently fatal viral infection affecting domestic poultry and wild birds is of particular concern. ND infection impairs poultry productivity and represents a significant burden to sustainable agriculture in Nigeria.
Investigating APMV-1 circulation in live bird markets
This cross-sectional study investigated the active circulation and seroprevalence of Newcastle Disease caused by virulent forms of avian paramyxovirus type-1 (APMV-1) in poultry at live bird markets (LBMs) across Nigeria. The study involved sampling at LBMs across 3 states: Kano, Oyo and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), and characterising the socio-demographics of stall owners and the biosecurity measures they implement.
Key findings
A total of 1086 swabs and tissue samples were collected in the field. Of the 18 markets across the three states, 10 (56%) had at least one market stall positive for APMV-1. The survey also highlighted significant disparity between vendor understanding of AMPV-1 transmission, proper biosecurity practices and awareness of available vaccination regimes.
Biosecurity awareness and vaccination practices
The survey revealed significant gaps in vendor knowledge regarding APMV-1 transmission, implementation of appropriate biosecurity measures and awareness of available vaccination programmes. These findings highlight important barriers to effective disease prevention and control at market level.
Implications for poultry health and livelihoods
This study demonstrated that APMV-1 continues to circulate in LBMs in Nigeria. LBM traders, poultry producers, and related industry and policy stakeholders should be aware of the occurrence of APMV-1 and how ND may negatively impact upon poultry production and the livelihoods of poultry farmers and LBM traders.
Figure 1. (adapted from text) Number of APMV-1 positive market stalls and markets for each metropolitan area (based on PCR data). Swabs and tissue samples were pooled by type for each stall. Stalls were recorded as positive where a positive result was obtained for at least one sample type and markets were recorded as positive if APMV-1 was detected in fowl from at least one stall.