Main Entry: New·cas·tle disease

Pronunciation: \ˈn(y)ü-ˌkas-əl-, n(y)ü-ˈ\

Function: noun

: a contagious mild to fatal virus disease of birds and especially the domestic chicken that is caused by a paramyxovirus of the genus Rubulavirus (species Newcastle disease virus), that is marked by highly variable respiratory, digestive, and nervous clinical signs (as sneezing, coughing, diarrhea, incoordination, tremors, and twitching of the head) and that is especially destructive to young birds although all ages may be attacked—called also pseudoplague