Document Type : Original Articles
Authors
1
Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Amol University of Special Modern Technologies, Iran.
2
Department of Pathobiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Amol University of Special Modern Technologies, Iran.
3
Department of Nanobiotechnology, Faculty of Biotechnology, Amol University of Special Modern Technologies, Amol, Iran.
4
Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Urmia University, Urmia, Iran.
10.22092/ari.2026.370510.3818
Abstract
Introduction: Newcastle disease (ND), caused by the Newcastle disease virus (NDV), is a major viral threat to poultry, leading to high morbidity, mortality, and economic losses. Traditional prevention through biosecurity and vaccination is often insufficient, especially in areas with dense poultry populations. As a result, researchers are exploring alternative methods, such as natural antiviral compounds. The aim of present study was to assess the antiviral potential of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnONPs) synthesized using the aqueous extract of Origanum vulgare against NDV in embryonated chicken eggs. Materials & Methods: A total of ninety eggs were used and randomly divided into six experimental groups. Groups 1 to 4 received a combination of a velogenic strain of NDV and different concentrations (50, 100, 200, and 400 µg/ml) of the plant-based ZnONPs via the allantoic route. Group 5 was inoculated with the virus alone as a positive control, while group 6 received only sterile phosphate-buffered saline as a negative control. Embryo viability was monitored daily, and the allantoic fluids were harvested for hemagglutination assays to detect the presence of NDV. Data were analyzed using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) followed by Duncan's post hoc test to determine significant differences among treatment groups (p < 0.05). Results: The findings revealed that embryos treated with Origanum vulgare ZnONPs showed a markedly higher survival rate (20%, 60%, 80%, and 100% viability in 50, 100, 200, and 400 µg/ml treatments, respectively) compared with the positive control group. Additionally, virus titers in treated groups were significantly (p < 0.05) reduced (HA titer 10± 0.23 in the positive control group and HA titer 7 ± 0.20 in the 400 µg/ml group). Conclusion: The study strongly suggests that ZnONPs derived from Origanum vulgare extract possess promising antiviral activity against NDV in ovo, offering a potential complementary strategy for ND control.
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