Browsing by Author "Opinia, Paula Phionah"

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    Evaluating the level of antibodies against newcastle disease in vaccinated free-range chickens in Dokolo district.
    (Busitema University, 2026) Opinia, Paula Phionah
    Newcastle disease (NDV) is an important viral disease affecting poultry and remains a major constraint to free-range chicken production. This study assessed NDV antibody levels among reportedly vaccinated free-range chickens in Dokolo District, Uganda. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 100 poultry farmers, from whom one chicken was sampled per farm, giving a total of 100 serum samples. Data on farmer characteristics flock characteristics, vaccination practices, disease history and farm management practices were collected using a structured questionnaire administered through KoboCollect. Serum samples were tested for NDV antibodies using the ProFLOK ELISA assay, and data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and tests of association. The majority of participating farmers were female, and the chickens were predominantly indigenous birds kept under free-range management. The mean flock size was 25.35 ± 12.88 chickens. All farmers reported previous Newcastle disease outbreaks within the preceding year, while 85.0% reported chicken mortalities during outbreaks. Despite all sampled chickens being reportedly vaccinated, only 29 (29.0%) of the 100 serum samples had detectable NDV antibodies, while 71 (71.0%) had no detectable antibodies. Among the seropositive chickens, antibody titers ranged from 357 to 13,530, with a mean of 8,769.6 ± 4,585.1 and a median of 10,690 (IQR = 5,868). Six (20.7%) of the seropositive chickens had antibody titers below the protective threshold of 4,000. NDV seropositivity was significantly associated with sub-county (p = 0.002), the presence of greenish diarrhea during reported ND outbreaks (p = 0.036), and the source of drinking water (p = 0.015), while contact with wild birds showed a borderline association (p = 0.056). The results show that many chickens said to be vaccinated had low or no antibodies, meaning many birds in the area are not protected, and vaccination alone is not enough. Farmers need better training on vaccine storage and administration, and birds should be tested after vaccination to ensure they are protected