Newcastle Disease in the Pheasant Phasianus colchicus, in Britain.

Abstract

An epidemic of Newcastle disease in poultry started in Essex, England in August 1970. Confirmed outbreaks occurred in pheasants from October until the spring of 1971 with sporadic incidents until 1974. Losses on individual estates were estimated from between 5% and 50% of the total bag. The Essex 70 strain of virus was isolated from the pheasants and poultry. The source for the pheasants appeared to be nearby poultry establishments. In one incident during a quiescent period there was no known association with a poultry incident. Populations of pheasants were re-established within one or two years. A field vaccination programme has been devised and HI antibodies were detected in shot birds and in eggs.