Abstract

Avian Influenza and Newcastle disease are the two most important diseases of poultry and are globally considered as threats to public health and economy. There is little information published about these diseases in peacocks and other common backyard poultry in Guatemala. Therefore, an exploratory serosurvey was conducted to determine the presence of circulating antibodies to Avian Influenza (AI) and Newcastle Disease (ND) viruses in a semi-captive population of peacocks in southwestern Guatemala. Additionally, the circulation of antibodies to these pathogens in backyard chickens, ducks, and turkeys from a neighboring community was explored. Blood samples were obtained from 48 peacocks, 30 chickens, 6 ducks, and 4 turkeys. The samples were processed in the Regional Reference Laboratory for Animal Health, at the Veterinary Medicine Faculty, University of San Carlos of Guatemala, located in Guatemala City. Antibodies against AI virus were investigated by Agar Gel Immunodiffusion, and antibodies against ND virus were examined using Hemagglutination Inhibition. No antibodies against AI virus were detected. Most of the samples (97.7%) were negative for antibodies against ND virus, except for two turkeys that carried low antibody titers. The findings of the present study indicate that no virulent strains of AI or ND viruses were circulating in the investigated site.