Epidemiology of Newcastle Disease in Rural Areas of Mali

Abstract

The Newcastle disease constitutes one of the main constraints to poultry farming development at the village level in Mali, causing high mortality. This study was carried out between 1996 and 2000 with the aim to contribute to the epidemiological characteristics of the disease in rural areas of Mali and to propose a suitable plan for prevention. The four study sites were selected in the agroclimatic regions of Mali: North Sudanian, South Sudanian, Sahelian and Niger River inland delta. An observer in charge of monitoring the clinical and epidemiological aspects of the disease was based on each site. For each outbreak, samples were collected and sent to the Central Veterinary Laboratory of Bamako for analysis. The mean prevalence rate was 32.9% with a variation between 12.1% in the South Sudanian zone and 38.8% in the Sahelian zone. The majority of the outbreaks (63%) occurred in the cold dry season, as opposed to the rainy season during which 15% of the cases were recorded. The main avian species affected were the chicken, fowl and turkey. Morbidity rates varied between 8-100%, mortality rates between 5.7-82%, and lethality rates between 10-100%. The three peaks of the disease occurred in January, May and November. The highest number of Newcastle disease cases were recorded in 1998.

Keywords

• Volaille
• Poulet
• Pintade
• Dindon
• Maladie de Newcastle
• Mali