Transmissibility of Australian strains of Newcastle disease virus.

The transmission of Newcastle disease virus strains from infected to direct-, indirect-, and aerosol-contact groups of chickens was studied. Chickens 7, 21, and 63 days old were used in separate trials. Chicken age and virus strain were found to be important in spread of the virus. Strain V4 spread quickly to all contact groups and was classed as highly transmissible, whereas strain JA failed to infect all contact chickens of each age group, thus spreading less efficiently than strain V4. The viruses spread more readily among the 2 older groups. The significance of the transmissibility of Newcastle disease virus vaccine is briefly discussed.