Newcastle disease virus antigens and strain variations.

Study of antigenic differences among strains of Newcastle disease virus is complicated by the presence in most field isolates and strains of several genetically distinct plaque populations, and by differences in avidity (reactions to antibody) among Newcastle disease viruses. Kinetic neutralization tests were used to demonstrate antigenic differences among 3 plaque clones of velogenic viscerotropic Newcastle disease viruses recently isolated from 3 avian species. The 3 viruses could be distinguished on the basis of plaque structure and hemagglutinin and neuraminidase activity. Antigenic differences among these viruses distinguished them from older, well characterized Newcastle disease viruses.