Animal and Plant 

Health Inspection 

Service

Veterinary Services

Center for Veterinary 

Biologics

CENTER FOR VETERINARY BIOLOGICS NOTICE NO. 19-09

TO: Veterinary Services Leadership Team 

Directors, Center for Veterinary Biologics 

Biologics Licensees, Permittees, and Applicants

1920 Dayton Avenue

PO Box 844

Ames, IA 50010

FROM: Byron E. Rippke

Director

(515) 337-6100 SUBJECT: Availability of Newcastle Disease Isolate and Sequence Information

I. PURPOSE

The purpose of this notice is to notify interested parties of the availability of 

genomic sequence from the U.S. virulent Newcastle disease (vNDV) virus isolated 

from backyard chickens in California in May 2018. The notice is also to inform 

interested parties that a vNDV isolate will be available for purchase from the 

National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL) by mid-September, 2019.

II. BACKGROUND

NVSL confirmed vNDV in a backyard exhibition chicken flock following 

presentation of sick birds to a veterinary clinic in Los Angeles County, 

California, on May 17, 2018. The outbreak is ongoing, with chickens remaining 

the predominant species affected; other species affected include quail, peafowl, 

and turkeys, as well as ducks, geese, parakeets, and pigeons. The California 2018 

Newcastle disease virus is genotype Vb and is related to historic viruses from 

Central America and the U.S. (California 2002-2003).

Further information on the California 2018-2019 findings is available at: 

https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/ourfocus/animalhealth/animal-diseaseinformation/avian/virulent-newcastle/vnd

III. ACTION

Veterinary Services has released vNDV genomic sequences, and is making the

index vNDV virus, courtesy of the California Department of Food and Agriculture 

and the California Animal Health and Food Safety Laboratory, available to 

facilities to encourage disease research and development to benefit the U.S. poultry 

industry. The complete genomic sequences for selected vNDV viruses have been 

submitted to GenBank and are available under accessions MK040373-MK040383.

An Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer
CENTER FOR VETERINARY BIOLOGICS NOTICE NO. 19-09

Page 2

Available isolate:

• chicken/California/D1806566/2018 – courtesy of the California Department 

of Food and Agriculture and the California Animal Health and Food Safety 

Laboratory

Biologics firms that wish to obtain samples of these isolates for research purposes should:

A. Contact the NVSL Diagnostic Virology Laboratory at (515) 337-7551 for 

guidance regarding the appropriate forms and payments to submit.

B. Submit the completed forms and the payment associated with the order by one of the 

following methods:

1. Mail: NVSL User Fees, Box 844, Ames, Iowa 50010

2. Email: NVSL_concerns@aphis.usda.gov.

The NVSL will inform customers when the virus is ready to ship.

C. Note that the vNDV isolate must be transferred in compliance with the Select 

Agent Regulations. No Material Transfer Agreement will be required. This isolate is 

a not pre-tested Master Seed; it is being made available for research and 

development. The availability of this isolate does not infer any impending change in 

vaccination policy.

IV. IMPLEMENTATION/ APPLICABILITY

The vNDV sequence is posted in this announcement, and the referenced reagent will 

be made available upon request.