Blood-stained feathers around the head and neck may be observed. The disease spreads slowly through a flock, and mortality is high. Once the disease is diagnosed, there is no treatment for affected birds. Fortunately, an effective vaccine can be administered. Vaccination can prevent infection in uninfected birds during an outbreak, and can be given to prevent the disease in new stock.
Diagnosis usually is made by microscopic examination of the trachea by a veterinary pathologist.
Newcastle virus is a virus that can infect most species of birds. Method of Spread Sick birds shed the virus in respiratory secretions and fecal matter. In most instances the respiratory infection is quite mild in all but very young birds. However, egg layers usually show a moderate to severe egg production drop. It may take two to four weeks for egg production to come back to near normal levels.