SURVEILLANCE AND MOLECULAR EPIDEMIOLOGY OF ESPECIALLY DANGEROUS RESPIRATORY VIRUSES IN COMMERCIAL AND BACKYARD POULTRY AND MIGRATORY WATERFOWL IN INDIA

Samples were collected from various avian species across Kerala, Haryana and Odisha, India between 2018-2020. All samples were tested for the presence of NDV (Newcastle disease virus) using RT-PCR based on the matrix gene (M) of the virus. Samples positive for the M gene were further tested with F gene primers to determine the pathotype of NDV. In addition, pools from all samples (five samples to a pool) from the three centers were tested for avian influenza virus (AIV) followed by testing of individual samples from positive pools.