Emergence of Genotype VIIg of Velogenic Newcastle Disease Virus in Iran, 2018: The First Report

Newcastle disease virus (NDV) is a prototype member of avian paramyxovirus serotype 1 (APMV-1), which causes severe and contagious disease in the commercial poultry and wild birds. In this study, we report the results of phylogenetic analyses of recent NDVs isolated from Markazi province of Iran during a recent outbreak in the commercial broiler with respiratory signs and digestive system lesions. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that isolate was clustered within class II NDV, in sub-genotype VII-g. This NDV isolates shared high homology with the prevalent genotype NDV strains that circulate in China and Taiwan (95.39%-84.89%).   Overall, our results confirmed the presence of genotype VII-g in Iran (The first report) and indicated that different genotypes of NDV could circulate simultaneously among poultry (VII-d & VII-i). The phylogenetic characterization of these isolates helps to characterize the evolution of NDV and may help with the development of vaccines specific to our regional necessities.