Research Journal for Veterinary Practitioners 1(1) 1–4 http://www.nexusacademicpublishers.com/journal/13 Rehman et al (2013). Surveillance of Poultry Diseases in Punjab 1 Research Article Habib-ur-Rehman *1 , Naseem Fawad 1 , Ghulam Abbas 1 , Ghazala Naheed 1 , Bushra Siddique 1 , Farhan Afzal 1 , Jawad Munawar 1 , Mian Aurangzeb 1 , Muhammad Atif 1 , Imtiaz-ul-Haq 2 , Jamila Shafi 3 , Muhammad Sabir Farooq 4 , Zahid Ali Tahir 5 , Muhammad Qamar 6 , Abid Hussain 7 , Muhammad Saleem 8 , Muhammad Tahir Naseem 9 , Muhammad Javed 10 1 Poultry Research Institute, Rawalpindi-Pakistan; 2 Poultry Disease Diagnostic Laboratory-Jhelum; 3 Poultry Disease Diagnostic Laboratory-Samundri; 4 Poultry Disease Diagnostic Laboratory-Gujar Khan; 5 Poultry Disease Diagnostic Laboratory- Kamalia; 6 Poultry Disease Diagnostic Laboratory- Bahawal Nagar; 7 Poultry Disease Diagnostic Laboratory-Ghakkar; 8 Poultry Disease Diagnostic Laboratory-Jhang; 9 Poultry Disease Diagnostic Laboratory-Arifwala; 10 Deputy District livestock officer Sargodha. * Corresponding author: habib.rehman71@hotmail.com ARTICLE HISTORY ABSTRACT Received: 2013-03-21 Revised: 2013-04-25 Accepted: 2013-04-25 Prevalence of poultry diseases in Punjab province of Pakistan was investigated by analyzing data from 8 regional and one central disease diagnostic laboratory of the directorate of Poultry Research Institute, Rawalpindi. The post mortem- examinations were conducted during June 2011 to July 2012 and data is presented quarterwise starting from July 2011. For important diseases like Newcastle (ND), avian influenza (AI), salmonellosis, mycoplasmosis postmortem findings were supported by laboratory investigations in certain cases. Avian Influenza and Newcastle disease viruses were cultrured on embroynated eggs from tissue samples of the suspected cases and then confirmed by using specific antisera. Serum samples were also processed for haemaglutination inhibition (HI) test to monitor antibody titers against ND and AI. Salmonella were isolated on differential media and identified by either biochemical tests or through PCR. In day old chicks or chicks of fewer than 10 days, serum was tested with known antigen of Mycoplasma gallisepticum, M. synoviae and Salmonella pullorum/gallinarum for vertical transimission testing. Mycoplasmosis or salmonellosis in adult birds was either identified by culturing on specific medium or using serum plate agglutination tests. Coccidiosis and mycotoxicosis were at peak from July to September (14.4% & 8.9% respectively). Prevalence of ND increased significantly (P=0.005) from 5.9% in quarter 1 to 15% in quarter 4. Gumboro Disease persisted at 5.9% with no significant difference (P≤0.05) among quarters. High pathogenic AI was not reported during the year whereas low pathogenic AI remained around 1% level with a mean of 0.8%. Mean prevalence of hydropericardium syndrome (2.5%), Mycoplasma gallisepticum infection (8.7%), pullorum disease (2.7%), cholera (1.4%), typhoid (7.1%), colibacillosis (10.1%), coryza (4.4%), endo-parasitism (3.0%), ecto-parasitism (0.7%), coccidiosis (13.1%), mycotoxicosis (6.1%) and others (17.6%) was no significantly different among four quarters of the study year (P≤0.05). All copyrights reserved to Nexus® academic publishers Key Words: Poultry diseases, Prevalence, Punjab ARTICLE CITATION: Rehman H, Fawad N, Abbas G, Naheed G, Siddique B, Afzal F, Munawar J, Aurangzeb M, Atif M, Haq I, Shafi J, Farooq MS, Tahir ZA, Qamar M, Hussain A, Saleem M, Naseem MT, Javed M (2013). Surveillance of poultry diseases in Punjab province, Pakistan; special reference to Newcastle disease. Res. J. Vet. Practitioners. 1 (1): 1 – 4. INTRODUCTION Punjab is the largest province with reference to human as well as poultry population in Pakistan. Commercial poultry developed here successfully by virtue of agricultural base and availability of cheap labour. During fiscal year 2010-11, 709.5 million poultry were raised in Punjab which included 631.97 million broilers, 27.75 million layer, 12.55 million breeder and 37.23 million backyard poultry (Punjab Poultry Statistical Report 2011-12). The poultry industry at present comprises of open farm houses of 1000 birds rearing capacity to environmentally controlled houses of 20.000 to 30.000 birds. Both systems run side by side, and different diseases break out time to time. Presence of different variants of infectious bronchitis virus identified through sero-surveillance in the major poultry producing areas of Punjab and neighboring province of KPK in the North West region of Punjab/Pakistan was found to be an important cause of mortality and morbidity (Ahmed et al., 2007). Occurrence of bacterial, viral and other nutritional/environmental diseases in relation to seasons has been reported by Yunus et al. (2008) in the Chakwal district of Punjab. Ahmed et al. (2012) surveyed important poultry diseases in neighboring high altitude areas of Azad Kashmir. Presence of avian influenza virus in wild birds living around commercial poultry areas is also a serious concern (Khawaja et al., 2005). Many studies provide important information about consistent presence of variety of diseases in the standing poultry population along with surge of different viral outbreaks from time to time (Brown, 2010; Alam et al., 2012). Since poultry diseases impose severe economic and production losses, it is important to remain updated about prevailing health issues of poultry in the areas of concern. The Surveillance of Poultry Diseases in Punjab Province, Pakistan; Special Reference to Newcastle Disease