Experimental infection of rosellas (Platycercus eximius) with velogenic viscerotropic Newcastle disease virus (VVNDV).

Plaque-purified and non-plaque-purified velogenic viscerotropic Newcastle disease viruses (VVNDVs) were inoculated into golden-mantled rosellas (Platycercus eximius). VVNDV produced acute clinical disease in this species: all birds died within 6 days postexposure. There was no difference between the two inoculation groups in clinical signs. Seven tissues and five tissue swabs were collected from each of 15 birds. The VVNDV concentration in each specimen was titrated, and the concentrations were compared. The lung and trachea had the highest concentrations of virus in both the tissue suspensions and the swab suspensions. The average virus concentrations of the lung were 10(5.9) 50% embryo lethal doses (ELD50) per 0.1 ml for the tissue suspension and 10(4.9) for the swab. The average virus concentrations of the trachea were 10(5.6) ELD50 per 0.1 ml of tissue suspension and 10(4.6) for the swab.