Pathogenicity and Immunology of Newcastle Disease Virus (NVD) in Man

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Abstract
The capacity of Newcastle disease virus to produce an acute conjunctivitis in man was established by repeated virus isolations in many laboratories throughout the world. The isolation of this virus as well as of other hemagglutinating viruses from the blood stream of patients suffering from acute hemolytic anemia was reported but not confirmed. The immunolpgic diagnosis of this infection in man is beset with difficulties. These are of 3 types: (1) The presence of a heat stable component interfering in hemagglutination-inhibition tests; (2) a heat labile component capable of neutralizing NDV in embryonated eggs; (3) The presence of immunologic interactions between Newcastle disease virus and serum of patients convalescent from mumps or infectious mononucleosis. In addition, neutralization tests via the allantoic route should be carried out using heated, undiluted serum with varying virus since the antibody effect is rapidly lost on dilution of serum. Using techniques eliminating these sources of difficulties it was possible to demonstrate significant levels of neutralizing antibody in human serum obtained from 21 to 26 individuals working with this virus in the laboratory or in a commercial vaccine industry and in one of 26 controls. The highest neutralizing titers and the highest incidence of conjunctivitis were found in those exposed to aerosol preparations of NDV. Respiratory infections were not recognized in this group.