Susceptibility of quails to experimental infection with virulent strains of paramyxovirus-1 velogenic viscerotropic (Newcastle disease virus, wNDV, and pigeon paramyxovirus-1, PPMV-1) was studied. Mortality was: 100%, 70%, 50% in intramuscularly, and intranasaly infected quails and contact exposed chickens, respectively, upon infection with wNDV, and the virus was readily reisolated from the internal organs of infected quails. On the other hand, quails showed high resistance to infection with the virulent PPMV-1 and codd not transmit the infection to contact pigeons in the same cage. Vaccination of quails with NDV vaccine (LaSota strain) resulted in good serological response and absolute protection against challenge with wNDV 3 weeks pos-vaccination.