Influence of Newcastle disease virus on the severity of Pasteurella anatipestifer infection in turkeys

This study was designed to examine whether vaccine or virulent strains of Newcastle disease virus (NDV) would potentiate the disease caused by Pasteurella anatipestifer infection in turkeys. The studies were conducted in turkeys of two age groups. There were three experiments. In two experiments four-week-old turkeys were exposed either to vaccine or virulent strains of NDV after experimental P anatipestifer infection. In the third experiment 14-week-old turkeys were first exposed to virulent NDV and superimposed with P anatipestifer infection. In experiment 1, one bird died where P anatipestifer was given in combination with the vaccine strain of NDV. However, there was no difference in the clinical signs, gross lesions and histopathology compared with turkeys given P anatipestifer alone. In experiment 3 where turkeys received a virulent strain of NDV in combination with P anatipestifer, birds became dyspnoeic and showed signs of illness. There was a difference in the course of the disease, gross lesions and histopathology when compared with turkeys that received P anatipestifer only.