Prevalence and prevention of Newcastle disease in Kyrgyzstan

Newcastle disease represents one of the key transboundary infections of importance for the veterinary service of Kyrgyzstan. According to the Ministry of Agriculture of the Kyrgyz Republic and international organisations (OIE/WOAH), the disease has been reported in different regions of the country, especially in the southern regions where poultry farming is common among private households.Newcastle disease is widespread on all continents, except Australia, and has a significant negative impact on the development of the poultry industry, causing major economic losses. In the Kyrgyz Republic, cases of the disease were recorded in 2015 and 2016, among others. Despite the fact that the causative agent of the disease is well studied and the clinical course of the infection is known, the issue of complete elimination of the disease remains unresolved. The aim of this review article is to systematise and summarise the available literature, including historical data, epizootological data, molecular and genetic characteristics of the pathogen, as well as modern approaches to the diagnosis, prevention and control of Newcastle disease. Special attention is paid to the epizootic situation in the Kyrgyz Republic.