Avian paramyxovirus information for veterinarians

Avian paramyxoviruses (all serotypes except virulent Newcastle disease) are restricted matter.

Virulent Newcastle disease (avian paramyxovirus type 1) in poultry is prohibited matter.

Under Queensland legislation, if you suspect avian paramyxovirus (including virulent Newcastle disease) in any bird, you must report it to:

Overview of disease

Avian paramyxoviruses (APMV), particularly avian paramyxovirus type 1 (APMV-1), are associated with highly contagious and infectious viral diseases.

These diseases can affect all avian species, including:

  • poultry
  • cage birds
  • wild birds.

There are at least 20 known APMV serotypes that can infect different bird species.

Wild birds:

  • serve as reservoirs for several APMV serotypes.
  • do not appear to develop significant pathology.

Poultry infected with these serotypes may experience:

  • decreased egg production
  • and
  • respiratory problems.

Avirulent APMV-1 (and other APMV strains) are considered widespread in Australian native birds.

Some APMV strains are believed to be present in wild waterfowl populations in all states.

In Queensland:

When to suspect

Poultry

Suspect APMV-1 or Newcastle disease (ND) when you observe:

  • sudden, unexplained increases in illness or deaths in a flock
  • rapid flock-level spread of disease with sharp drops in feed intake or egg production.

Suspicion should be higher when:

  • ND vaccination status is incomplete, overdue or unknown
  • birds have recently been introduced or returned from shows, sales or live-bird markets
  • wild birds, feral pigeons or backyard poultry have close access to sheds or feed.

Pigeons

Suspect APMV-1 when you observe:

  • many birds in a loft becoming sick or dying over a few days
  • similar events occurring in linked lofts, clubs or race teams.

Suspicion should be higher when:

  • new birds have recently been introduced or returned from races, shows or sales
  • hygiene, cleaning or disinfection has been difficult to maintain.

Immediate actions

Notify authorities

If you suspect or become aware of clinical APMV-1 (including ND) in any bird, you must report it as soon as practicable to:

If you own, treat or manage birds, you have a general biosecurity obligation to take all reasonable and practical measures to prevent or minimise the effects of biosecurity risks such as APMV-1. This means you are legally required to reduce the risk of APMV-1 and limit its spread when dealing with possible carriers.

Secure the site

  • Isolate clinically affected birds from healthy stock.
  • Stop movement of birds, eggs, manure, litter and equipment on and off the property.
  • Prevent contact between suspect flocks and other poultry, pigeons or aviary birds.
  • Suspend all non-essential bird movements, including shows, races and sales.

Clinical signs

Poultry (ND)

Velogenic (virulent) forms:

  • sudden death within 2 days (survivors may develop tremors, torticollis, wing/leg paralysis)
  • mortality rate up to 90%
  • rapid epizootic onset
  • marked depression
  • inappetence
  • recumbency
  • coughing
  • gasping
  • serous/mucoid nasal discharge
  • facial oedema
  • cyanosis of comb/wattles
  • green (biliverdin) diarrhoea
  • dehydration
  • collapse.

Mesogenic forms:

  • mortality rate of 10%
  • coughing
  • sneezing
  • nasal discharge
  • depression
  • weight loss
  • reduced egg production (for up to 3 weeks).

Lentogenic forms:

  • rare mortality
  • subclinical (or only mild respiratory signs)
  • occasionally, mild tracheitis, inappetence, and a transient reduction in oviposition.

Pigeons (APMV-1)

Look for:

  • sudden death, within 3 days of onset
  • lethargy and reluctance to fly
  • vomiting or regurgitation
  • diarrhoea
  • weight loss and poor body condition
  • neurological signs (head tremors, circling, torticollis)
  • laboured respiration
  • nasal/ocular discharge.

Clinical expression can vary within a loft. Some birds may show mainly gastrointestinal signs, while others may show predominantly neurological signs.

Differential diagnoses

Treat all possible APMV cases as suspect until they are definitively ruled out.

Consider:

  • avian influenza (high and low pathogenicity)
  • infectious bronchitis
  • infectious laryngotracheitis
  • other viral respiratory infections (for example, avian metapneumovirus)
  • mycoplasma infections and colibacillosis
  • other bacterial enteritis and septicemia
  • parasitic enteritis and systemic parasitism
  • nutritional or toxic causes (feed or water contamination, environmental toxins)
  • mixed infections in multi-species or poorly managed flocks.

In pigeons specifically, also consider:

  • salmonellosis
  • trichomoniasis
  • pigeon herpesvirus infection
  • other causes of neurological disease and wasting.

Risk factors

Risk factors for APMV-1 include:

  • incomplete, incorrect, or absent ND vaccination.
  • multi-age flocks, mixed-species cohabitation, or introduction of birds from multiple sources without quarantine or health screening.
  • attendance at shows, sales, live-bird markets, or other events with communal bird housing.
  • poor biosecurity, such as inadequate shed hygiene, litter management, or disinfection.
  • wild birds, feral pigeons, or backyard poultry accessing sheds, feed, or water points.
  • sharing of equipment (crates, vehicles, catching gear, baskets, or fittings) between properties or lofts without effective cleaning and disinfection.
  • movement of birds for racing, showing, or trading between lofts and regions.
  • insufficient loft cleaning and disinfection.

Human health and safety

APMV-1 is zoonotic. Human infection is rare and mild.

Advise owners, staff and handlers to:

  • Avoid handling sick or dead birds without appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE).
  • Wear gloves, protective clothing, eye protection and, where indicated, respiratory protection when handling suspect birds or contaminated material.
  • Wash hands and exposed skin thoroughly after contact with birds, carcasses, litter or equipment.
  • Avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth while working with birds.
  • Seek prompt medical advice if they develop eye irritation or flu-like symptoms following potential exposure.

Refer clients and staff with health concerns to their general practitioner or Queensland Health for specific advice.

Sampling and diagnostic testing

Laboratory testing is required to confirm the diagnosis.

The Biosecurity Sciences Laboratory (BSL) tests for APMV-1 and ND.

Poultry

For suspect APMV-1 (especially if virulent ND cannot be excluded):

  • Bird selection
    • Choose freshly dead birds and acutely affected live birds.
    • If the disease is widespread, sample across age groups and sheds.
  • Sample types
    • Oropharyngeal/tracheal and cloacal swabs.
    • Tissues: trachea, lung, proventriculus, intestine, brain, spleen (other organs as advised).
  • Testing
    • Request APMV-1 (ND virus) detection by PCR and/or virus isolation.
    • Request pathotyping or genotyping to differentiate virulent from avirulent strains.
    • Request ancillary tests (for example, influenza A) according to national protocols and laboratory guidance.

Follow current program guidelines for eligibility and sampling.

Pigeons

For suspect APMV-1:

  • Bird selection
    • Choose acutely affected or freshly dead birds.
    • Include birds exhibiting neurological or gastrointestinal signs.
  • Sample types
    • Oropharyngeal, tracheal, and cloacal swabs.
    • Tissues: brain, intestine, spleen, and kidney (if post-mortem is performed).
  • Testing
    • Request APMV-1 detection.
    • Request characterisation to differentiate pigeon APMV-1 from virulent ND and vaccine strains.
    • Request additional tests for likely differentials (for example, Salmonella, parasites) based on clinical findings.

Packaging and transport

  • Follow BSL submission requirements and notify them prior to dispatch.
  • Ensure packaging and labelling comply with International Air Transport Association (IATA) and regulatory requirements.
  • Do not send sharps—dispose of on-site.

Refer to the BSL veterinary laboratory users' guide.

Control

For suspect or confirmed APMV-1:

  • Maintain movement restrictions until advised by Biosecurity Queensland.
  • Separate affected/sick and unaffected birds.
  • Remove and dispose of carcasses promptly and bio-safely, minimising disturbance, and follow authority directions.
  • Clean sheds, lofts, equipment, and high-contact areas thoroughly, removing all organic matter before disinfecting.
  • Assign staff to check and feed healthy groups first, then to suspect or affected groups.
  • Enforce strict PPE and biosecurity protocols for all staff and visitors.

Prevention

To reduce risk, advise bird owners to:

  • strengthen biosecurity (controlled access, hygiene, equipment management).
  • limit mixing of different species and age groups.
  • minimise contact with wild birds and feral pigeons.
  • buy birds from reputable sources with known health and vaccination status.
  • quarantine new birds and monitor health before introduction.
  • investigate unusual mortality or flock-level disease early.

Liaison and documentation

  • Record clinical findings, history, sampling, and preliminary diagnosis.
  • Liaise with Biosecurity Queensland and diagnostic laboratories.
  • Advise owners on current and potential regulatory controls (for example, movement restrictions, depopulation, surveillance).
  • Provide written advice for farm or loft biosecurity plans.

Vaccination

Veterinarians should:

  • stress that vaccination complements, but does not replace, robust biosecurity.
  • advise that vaccination
    • does not guarantee protection
    • does not provide immediate immunity
    • may offer an uncertain duration of protection in pigeons.
  • provide a practical vaccination protocol tailored to the flock (for example, primary inactivated ND vaccine series in healthy birds, with boosters as indicated by risk and evidence).

Discuss safety, including:

  • possible local or systemic reactions (especially with inactivated vaccines)
  • management of accidental self-inoculation (immediate first aid and medical review)
  • correct storage, mixing, and administration of vaccine.

Poultry (ND vaccination)

Vaccination against ND is mandatory for all commercial layer chicken flocks under the National Newcastle disease management plan (NNDMP) as required by the Biosecurity Act 2014.

Short-lived flocks (commercial broiler flocks) may have reduced requirements (or no vaccination), but are recommended to enrol in the Newcastle disease surveillance plan for unvaccinated broilers (PDF, 468KB).

Vaccine types

Live ND vaccines (V4 strain):

  • avirulent strain used to start immunity
  • supplied as freeze-dried tablets (multi-dose vials)
  • keep frozen until use, then reconstitute just before administration
  • given by eye-drop, individual oral dose, or in drinking water (after withholding water)
  • medicated water must be consumed within a few hours.

Killed (inactivated) ND vaccines (for example, La Sota strain):

  • stronger, longer-lasting immunity compared to live vaccines alone
  • supplied as multi-dose bottles
  • store refrigerated at 4–8 °C, do not freeze
  • given by intramuscular injection into the breast muscle.

Vaccination programs

Vaccination reduces the risk and impact of ND but may not fully prevent infection or virus shedding. Biosecurity and surveillance are still essential.

Veterinarians should:

  • confirm flock vaccination status and schedule.
  • verify product type and storage.
  • advise on administration in accordance with NNDMP and Queensland requirements.

Refer to the standard operating procedures (appendix 1 of the NNDMP) for more information.

Pigeons (APMV-1 vaccination)

No vaccine is registered in Australia for APMV-1 in pigeons.

Poultry killed (inactivated) ND vaccines may be used off-label in pigeons with written veterinary direction and where the birds are under their care.

Use of the killed ND vaccines (2 vaccinations, 4 weeks apart) has been shown to be a safe and effective vaccination program against AMPV-1 in pigeons.

An annual booster is recommended.

Also consider...