Evaluation of cross-protection against three topotypes of serotype O foot-and-mouth disease virus in pigs vaccinated with multi-epitope protein vaccine incorporated with poly(I:C)

Epitope-based vaccines are always questioned for their cross-protection against the antigenically variable foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV). In this study, we proved the cross-protection effect of a multi-epitope vaccine incorporated with poly(I:C) against three topotypes of O type FMDV. A total of 45 naïve pigs were vaccinated with different doses of multi-epitope protein vaccine incorporated with poly(I:C). At 28 days post-vaccination, 45 vaccinated and 6 unvaccinated control pigs (two pigs for each group) were challenged with three topotypes of virulent O type FMDV, namely, O/Mya/98 (Southeast Asia topotype), O/HN/CHA/93 (Cathay topotype) and O/Tibet/CHA/99 (PanAsia topotype) strains. All unvaccinated pigs developed generalised FMD clinical signs. Results showed that all pigs (n = 15) conferred complete protection against the O/Mya/98 and O/HN/CHA/93 FMDV strains, 11 of which were protected against the O/Tibet/CHA/99 FMDV strain. The 50% protective dose values of the vaccine against the O/Mya/98, O/HN/CHA/93 and O/Tibet/CHA/99 FMDV strains were 15.59, 15.59 and 7.05, respectively. Contact challenge experiment showed that transmission occurred from the donors to the unvaccinated but not to vaccinated pigs. These results showed that vaccination with multi-epitope protein vaccine incorporated with poly(I:C) can efficiently prevent FMD in pigs.     

Identification of a conformational epitope on the VP1 G-H Loop of type Asia1 foot-and-mouth disease virus defined by a protective monoclonal antibody

Although neutralizing antigenic sites of foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) can be defined by selection of monoclonal antibody (MAb) escape mutants, no conformational neutralizing epitope on the major antigenic site located on the G-H loop of type Asia1 FMDV has been precisely mapped. In this study, we generated a potent neutralizing MAb 3E11, which recognized a conformation-dependent epitope and neutralized FMDV Asia1/YS/CHA/05 in vitro. Importantly, a dose of 5.5 NT(50) of the MAb 3E11 completely protected suckling mice from a dose of 10 LD(50) of homologous virus challenge in vivo. Through a 12-mer random peptide phage display, synthetic peptide analysis and constructing a series of FMDV Asia1/YS/CHA/05 mutants using reverse genetic system, we finely mapped the neutralizing epitope as the 12-amino acid peptide (141)SXRGXLXXLXRR(152). These results provide additional insights into the virus-MAb interaction at the amino acid level and may help in the development of an epitope-based Asia1 FMDV vaccine.     

Genome analysis and development of infectious cDNA clone of a virulence-attenuated strain of foot-and-mouth disease virus type Asia 1 from China

The RNA genome sequence of the rabbit passage-attenuated strain of foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) Asia 1, ZB/CHA/58(att), was determined to be 8165 nt in length excluding the poly(C) tract in the 5′ UTR and the poly(A) tail at the 3′ end. ZB/CHA/58(att) was most similar to the vaccine strain Asia 1/YNBS/58 in genome sequence and there were no deletions or insertions within the deduced polyprotein between ZB/CHA/58(att) and YNBS/58, but there were a total of 25 substitutions at the amino acid level and an extra 19-nt stretch in the 5′ UTR was found in ZB/CHA/58(att). An infectious full-length cDNA clone of ZB/CHA/58(att) was developed. Infectious virus could be recovered in BHK-21 cells transfected with the synthetic viral RNA transcribed in vitro. The plaque morphology, growth kinetics and antigenic profile of the infectious clone-derived virus (termed tZB) were indistinguishable from those induced by the parental virus. Furthermore, the virulence properties of ZB/CHA/58(att) and tZB were found to be highly similar in the mouse model. The availability of genome sequence information and infectious cDNA clone of the FMDV ZB/CHA/58(att) lays a new ground for further investigation of FMDV virulence determinants and development of new potent vaccine to FMD.     

鸡马立克氏病三价活疫苗剂量配比和免疫剂量的研究

用马立克氏病病毒BJMDV-1株分别攻击由CVI988/B5、HCV2/B5和FC126/B5毒株组成的,剂量配比不相同的马立克氏病(MD)三价活疫苗免疫的鸡群,结果表明MD三价活疫苗中CVI988/B5、HCV2/B5及FC126/B5毒株的合适配比为2:1:2。按照此剂量配比制备的MD三价活疫苗,用RB1B超强毒株进行攻毒,当RB1B攻毒对照组MD阳性率为85.71%时,MD三价活疫苗的半数保护剂量(PD50)均数为111PFU/只,95%置信区间为585～53PFU/只的范围内,并确定MD三价活疫苗的免疫剂量为2500PFU/只。用该剂量对鸡进行MD三价活疫苗免疫,可使鸡体产生抗RB1B超强毒株攻击的坚强免疫力。     

Effects of challenge with a virulent genotype II strain of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus on piglets vaccinated with an attenuated genotype I strain vaccine

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) is endemic in most parts of Asia, where genotype I and II strains of diverse virulence may coexist. This study evaluated the outcome of infection with a highly virulent Asian genotype II PRRSV isolate in piglets vaccinated with a genotype I vaccine. Twenty-one 3-week-old piglets were divided in three groups: Pigs in group V (n=8) were vaccinated with an attenuated genotype I commercial PRRSV vaccine, while pigs in group U (n=8) and a control group (group C; n=5) were unvaccinated; 6 weeks later, pigs in groups V and U were challenged intranasally with a highly virulent strain of genotype II PRRSV (1×10(5) 50% tissue culture infectious doses/mL), while pigs in group C received a placebo. Over a period of 21 days after challenge, vaccinated pigs had significantly lower mortality (0/8 versus 2/8), fewer days of fever, a lower frequency of catarrhal bronchopneumonia, higher weight gains (13.4 versus 6.6 kg) and lower levels of viraemia compared to unvaccinated challenged pigs. Immunisation with a genotype I attenuated PRRSV vaccine provided partial protection against challenge with a highly virulent genotype II strain.     

口蹄疫疫苗的悬浮培养工艺研究

通过生物反应器中进行BHK21细胞悬浮培养并逐级放大,分别接种口蹄疫OJMS/2000株与Asia 1/JSL株,纯化灭活后制备50批疫苗,结果均符合《口蹄疫O型、亚洲Ⅰ型二价疫苗(OJMS株+ JSL株)制造及检验规程》（以下称规程）所规定的各项标准,病毒146S抗原含量比转瓶培养提高10倍以上、疫苗的不良反应得到进一步改善.     

悬浮培养在口蹄疫疫苗中的应用

通过生物反应器中进行BHK21细胞悬浮培养并逐级放大,分别接种口蹄疫OJMS/2000株与Asia 1/JSL株,纯化灭活后制备50批疫苗,结果均符合《口蹄疫O型、亚洲I型二价疫苗（OJMS株＋JSL株）制造及检验规程》（以下称规程）所规定的各项标准,病毒146S抗原含量比转瓶培养提高10倍以上、疫苗的不良反应得到进一步改善。     

Immunogenicity of infectious bursal disease viruses in chickens.

Cross-protective properties of infectious bursal disease viruses (IBDVs) were studied. Viruses represented different subtypes of serotype 1, including recently isolated viruses (variants), and a serotype 2 virus. Chickens were vaccinated at 3 weeks of age with inactivated vaccines containing 10(5), 10(6), 10(7), or 10(8) mean tissue-culture infectious dose of a given virus and challenged 2 weeks later using either 10(2) or 10(3.5) mean embryo infectious dose (EID50) of either a standard virus or a variant serotype 1 virus. Protection was evaluated at 5 and 10 days post-challenge, based on gross and microscopic lesions, body weight, and bursa/body-weight ratios. The serotype 2 virus did not confer protection on birds challenged with the serotype 1 viruses. Vaccines made of variant viruses at the low doses protected chickens challenged with the high or low doses of either the standard or the variant viruses. Vaccines made of the standard or variant strains at low doses protected against high or low challenge doses of the standard strain. Vaccines made of the high dose of any of the standard strains protected chickens against the variant virus when the low challenge dose (10(2) EID50) was used, but not when the high challenge dose (10(3.5) EID50) was used. The lowest dose of the standard viruses vaccines required to confer protection against the variant virus varied depending on the strain. Results indicated that protection depended on the strain and dose of both the vaccine and challenge viruses and that the variant strains and standard strains share a common protective antigen(s).     

A comparison of the onset of protection induced by Newcastle disease virus strain B1 and a fowl poxvirus recombinant Newcastle disease vaccine to a viscerotropic velogenic Newcastle disease virus challenge

Four-week-old specific-pathogen-free white rock chickens were immunized with either a commercial recombinant fowl poxvirus-vectored Newcastle disease vaccine (FPN) expressing the hemagglutinin-neuraminidase and fusion protein genes of Newcastle disease virus (NDV) strain B1 or live NDV B1. Vaccinates and controls were challenged by eyedrop and intranasal (E/I) route with a viscerotropic velogenic NDV at 14 days postvaccination to determine the time of clearance of challenge virus. In a subsequent experiment, chickens were challenged at 3, 6, or 10 days postvaccination to determine the onset of immunity. Chickens that received a recommended field dose (1x) or a 0.01x dose of FP-N subcutaneously (s.c.) and were seropositive by hemagglutination-inhibition test at 14 days postvaccination cleared the challenge virus by 14 days postchallenge. Clinical Newcastle disease and high challenge virus titers in tissues were seen only in seronegative FP-N 0.01x dose vaccinates and controls. In a comparison of vaccination with FP-N (1x, 10(4,9) median tissue culture infective dose) s.c., B1 (10(6) median egg infective dose [EID50]) s.c., or B1 (10(6) EID50) E/I, chickens vaccinated at 6 or 10 days before challenge with all vaccines were protected against clinical disease, but only those vaccinated with B1 E/I 10 days before challenge were protected against infection with the challenge virus. Vaccination at 3 days before challenge with B1 E/I provided early protection, but severe nervous signs developed later and reduced overall protection to 60%, whereas disease in chickens vaccinated with B1 s.c. and FP-N s.c. 3 days before challenge was similar to the challenge controls.     

Prevention of transplacental transmission of moderate-virulent classical swine fever virus after single or double vaccination with an E2 subunit vaccine

The use of a vaccine against classical swine fever virus (CSFV) during an outbreak of CSF should lead to a reduction in the horizontal or vertical transmission of CSFV. The reduction of vertical, i.e. transplacental, transmission of a moderate-virulent strain of CSFV from the sow to its offspring was studied in sows vaccinated once or twice with a CSFV E2 subunit vaccine. Two groups of nine sows were vaccinated with one PD95 dose of the E2 subunit vaccine, approximately four weeks before insemination. A third group of nine inseminated sows served as controls. One group of nine sows were vaccinated again at two weeks after insemination. At ten weeks after the primary vaccination, approximately six weeks after insemination, all 27 sows were challenged intranasally with 10(5) TCID50 of a moderate-virulent strain of CSFV, the Van Zoelen strain. The sows were euthanized at five weeks after challenge, and samples from the sows and fetuses were collected for detection of CSFV. All 27 sows were in gestation at the time of slaughter, CSFV was detected in the fetuses of all unvaccinated sows but it was not detected in any of the samples collected from fetuses of the double-vaccinated sows. Virus was however recovered from the fetuses of one out of nine sows vaccinated once. All the sows, except four double-vaccinated sows, developed CSFV Erns antibodies. Transplacental transmission of CSFV was reduced significantly (p <0.001) in all vaccinated sows. When the results from the experiment were extrapolated to a herd level, it could be concluded that, with 95% certainty, approximately 11% (single vaccination) or 0% (double vaccination), confidence intervals of 0.01-0.44 and 0.0-0.30 respectively, of the pregnant sows would still not be protected against vertical transmission of moderate-virulent CSFV. We conclude that vaccination with the CSFV E2 subunit vaccine can reduce the transmission of moderate-virulent strain of CSFV from the sow to its offspring significantly.     

口蹄疫双佐剂灭活疫苗的研究

在口蹄疫二价灭活疫苗（O型、AsiaⅠ型）常规使用法国SEPPIC公司206佐剂的基础上,设计了一种缓释作用更强的双佐剂成分疫苗。通过MTT法检测淋巴细胞增殖能力、液相阻断ELISA法检测口蹄疫抗体效价及攻毒试验测定PD50来评判该双佐剂疫苗与常规疫苗的效果差异。结果显示,双佐剂疫苗组细胞免疫水平（淋巴细胞刺激指数SI为1.235±0.060）比常规佐剂疫苗组（SI为1.115±0.035）和对照组（SI为1.010±0.045）高,与常规疫苗组相比差异显著（P＜0.05）,与空白对照组相比,差异极显著（P＜0.01）。双佐剂疫苗组O型和AsiaⅠ型抗体与常规佐剂疫苗组相比,全剂量组抗原量较充分,两组抗体水平差距不大;1/3剂量组和1/9剂量组由于抗原量较少和强缓释作用,导致抗体水平明显较低。攻毒保护结果为双佐剂疫苗组略高于常规佐剂疫苗组,前者每头份疫苗AsiaⅠ型为9.0 PD50,O型为11.84 PD50,后者每头份疫苗AsiaⅠ型为9.0 PD50,O型为9.0 PD50。由分析结果可见,双佐剂疫苗可引起较好的细胞免疫应答和缓释作用,达到好的攻毒保护效果。     

Ⅳ型禽腺病毒Fiber-2(knob)蛋白的表达及免疫效力评价

表达Ⅰ群Ⅳ型禽腺病毒(FAdV-4)Fiber-2(knob)蛋白,以制备Fiber-2(knob)蛋白亚单位疫苗并对其免疫效力进行评价。将FAdV-4 Fiber-2的knob基因克隆至原核表达载体pET28a,构建重组质粒pET28a-Fiber-2(knob)。将重组质粒转化至大肠杆菌BL-21(DE3),以异丙基硫代半乳糖苷(IPTG)诱导重组蛋白表达,采用镍离子亲和层析柱纯化,SDS-PAGE检测纯化后的目的蛋白。将蛋白抗原与佐剂1∶3乳化,分组免疫100,50,25,0 mg/0.5 L FAdV Fiber-2(knob)蛋白亚单位疫苗,攻毒剂量为10^4.5 ELD₅₀/只,免疫后24 d攻毒,比较不同免疫剂量攻毒保护效果。又制备4批蛋白含量为24 mg/0.5 L FAdV Fiber-2(knob)蛋白亚单位疫苗,比较不同批次间免疫效力差异。结果显示,成功构建pET28a-Fiber-2(knob)重组质粒,纯化后的蛋白纯度达到90%,质量浓度为3 269 mg/L。当攻毒剂量为10^4.5 ELD     

Protective efficacy of Marek's disease virus (MDV) CVI-988 CEF65 clone C against challenge infection with three very virulent MDV strains

Comparative 50% protective dose (PD50) assays were performed using a plaque-purified preparation of Marek's disease virus (MDV) strain CVI-988 at the 65th chicken embryo fibroblast (CEF) passage level (MDV CVI-988 CEF65 clone C) and three commercial MD vaccines: herpesvirus of turkeys (HVT) FC126, MDV CVI-988 CEF35, and a bivalent vaccine composed of HVT FC126 and MDV SB-1. In addition, comparative PD50 assays were performed in groups of chickens with maternal antibody to each of the three vaccines. Three representatives of the newly emerged biovariant very virulent (vv) MDV strains-RB/1B, Tun, and Md5-were employed as challenge virus. The experiments made feasible the differentiation between virulent MDV and vvMDV strains, within serotype 1. Vaccination with CVI-988 clone C vaccine resulted in PD50 estimates of about 5 plaque-forming units (PFUs) against challenge infection with each of the three vvMDV strains. The PD50 estimate of CVI-988 clone C vaccine was 12-fold below the PD50 of HVT FC126. The protective synergism of bivalent vaccine, composed of HVT and SB-1, was confirmed by groups given the lowest vaccine doses. The bivalent vaccine, however, resulted in incomplete protection in groups given the highest vaccine doses. Homologous maternal antibodies to serotype 1 caused a fivefold increase in the PD50 estimate of CVI-988 clone C. Heterologous maternal antibodies against HVT did not interfere with efficacy of CVI-988 clone C vaccination. However, the combination of maternal antibodies against both HVT and SB-1 (serotypes 2 and 3) showed a strong adverse effect on CVI-988 clone C vaccine.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Leukocyte subsets and specific antibodies in pigs vaccinated with a classical swine fever subunit (E2) vaccine and the attenuated ORF virus strain D1701

Total white blood cell (WBC) counts and percentages of CD4a+, CD8a+, CD5a+, CD45RA+, CD45RC+, wCD21+ and SWC3a+ cells in the peripheral blood of pigs were analysed in this study. Blood samples were collected before and on days 4, 10, 21 and 28 after vaccination. Group 1 pigs were vaccinated with a subunit E2 vaccine (gp E2 32 microg/dose), and Group 2 received a subunit vaccine combined with an attenuated ORF virus strain D1701 10(6.45) TCID50/dose. Control pigs received a placebo. The total WBC count and percentage of particular cell types were within the normal range in vaccinated and control pigs. Although the mechanism of attenuated ORF virus activity is not clear, changes were observed in CD4a+, CD5a+, CD8a+, CD45RA+ and CD45RC+ cells in pigs that received the combination of a subunit vaccine and ORF virus. However, the percentage of wCD21+ and SWC3a+ did not differ significantly from that recorded in pigs given only the subunit vaccine. At days 4 and 10 the number of pigs positive to E2 antibodies was higher in the group that received the subunit vaccine and ORF virus than in pigs vaccinated with the subunit vaccine only. A higher percentage of memory cells (CD45RC+) as well as Th and Tc lymphocytes in pigs that received the ORF virus and the subunit vaccine could be ascribed to a nonspecific influence of the ORF virus on the development (through cognate interactions between T and B cells) and the duration (presumed according to the finding of the clonal expression of memory cells) of humoral immunity (assessed by a higher number of seropositive pigs in this group). This seems likely since the proportion of these cells was found to be lower in the pigs that received E2 vaccine only.     

A new inactivated BVDV genotype I and II vaccine. An immunisation and challenge study with BVDV genotype I

An inactivated vaccine containing BVDV I and II strains (PT810; BVDV I, and 890; BVDV II) and using different adjuvants and antigen dosages was tested in a cattle challenge model. Groups of six healthy, seronegative cattle were vaccinated twice with a low dose (10(6.6) TCID(50) PT810 and 10(7.2) TCID(50) 890) vaccine with the adjuvant Bay R1005 or a high dose (10(7.8) TCID(50) PT810 and 10(8. 2) TCID(50) 890) vaccine with two different adjuvants (Bay R1005 or Polygen). Thirty-eight days after the second vaccination, immunised animals (n=18) and non-vaccinated control animals (n=3) were challenged intranasally with 10(6) TCID(50) BVDV strain PT810. For a period of 16 days, virus was isolated from blood leukocytes and nasal swabs, and neutralising antibody titres were determined.The induction of antibodies following immunisation was strongly dependent on the antigen dosage in the vaccine. The high dose formulation induced high serum neutralising antibody titres against both genotypes of up to 32000 after the second immunisation. Animals with neutralising antibody titres >512 (n=14) did not show any marked leukopenia after challenge and only very little or no virus could be isolated from blood leukocytes and/or nasal swabs when compared to control cattle. Furthermore, some of these animals did not show any boost of neutralising or even NS3-specific antibodies, which renders viral replication unlikely and thus would prevent infection of the fetus. Both adjuvants (Bay R1005 or Polygen) were similarly efficient and induced nearly identical antibody responses. In contrast, four of the six low dosage vaccinates had a marked leukopenia and viraemia as well as detectable nasal virus shedding for several days.We conclude that the selected strains and the system of vaccine preparation with high BVDV antigen dosages and highly efficient new adjuvants provide an effective means of protection against BVDV I infections. Investigations to demonstrate the protection against BVDV II infections, the duration of immunity and the ability of fetal protection by using the high dose vaccine in a fetal challenge model will follow.     

Immunogenicity in Aujeszky's disease virus structural glycoprotein gVI (gp50) in swine.

Aujeszky's disease virus (ADV) envelope glycoprotein gVI (gp50) was purified from virus-infected Vero cells by ion-exchange and immunoaffinity chromatography and its usefulness as a subunit vaccine was evaluated in active and passive immunization studies. Four-week-old piglets were immunized intramuscularly (IM) with purified gVI twice two weeks apart and challenged intranasally (IN) 10 days after the second immunization with 30 LD50 (10(8)PFU) of a virulent strain of ADV. Pigs, vaccinated with 100 micrograms of purified gVI, produced virus neutralizing antibodies and did not develop clinical signs after challenge exposure. The challenge virus was not isolated from nasal swabs and tonsils of gVI-vaccinated pigs, whereas non-vaccinated control pigs developed illness after challenge exposure with the same virulent ADV strain which was later recovered from their nasal swabs and tonsils. Pregnant sows vaccinated twice with purified gVI (IM) at a three week interval produced virus neutralizing antibodies in colostrum. Four-day-old sucking piglets born of vaccinated sows were passively protected by colostral antibodies against intranasal challenge with a lethal dose of virulent ADV. Sera from gVI-vaccinated pigs were distinguished from experimentally infected swine sera by their differential reactivity in enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using four major viral glycoproteins (excluding gVI) as antigen purified by the use of lentil-lectin.     

伪狂犬病病毒鄂A株TK-/gE-/gI-基因缺失疫苗的安全性和保护力研究

对PrV Ea TK^-/gE^-/gI^-基因缺失疫苗的安全性和保护力进行了系统的研究。试验表明，该基因缺失疫苗10^5.0TCID50和10^6.0TCID50病毒剂量对妊娠母猪、新生仔猪和育肥猪均是安全的，并可保护妊娠母猪抵抗10^7.1 TCID50强毒的攻击。新生仔猪免疫30d后，gE鉴刖ELISA试验表明，PrV Ea TK^-/gE^-/gI^-免疫猪不产生针对gE的抗体。育肥猪在二次免疫后中和抗体水平显著升高。以10^5.0 TCID50和10^6.0 TCID50疫苗病毒接种家兔、猫和奶山羊等非靶动物，结果非靶动物未出现精神异常或死亡现象，说明该基因缺失疫苗具有极高的生物安全性。     

牛传染性鼻气管炎病毒LNM株致弱疫苗免疫效力的研究

为检测牛传染性鼻气管炎病毒(IBRV)抗体在免疫牛体内的产生及其消长规律,评价IBRV LNM株致弱疫苗的保护效力,并确定免疫持续期,本实验对免疫试验组牛每头颈部肌肉接种制备的IBRV LNM株致弱疫苗104.5 TCID50/mL,监测血清抗体效价,进行免疫期的确定。在疫苗免疫后的6个月、9个月和12个月分别抽取3头免疫组和两头对照组牛采用IBRV-LN01/08强毒株进行攻毒试验,每头牛的攻毒剂量为107.0 TCID50/mL。结果显示疫苗免疫后12个月时,中和抗体效价仍维持在1∶11以上。攻毒结果显示3个时间点强毒攻击后,疫苗对免疫牛均具有良好的保护力。研究表明IBRV弱毒疫苗可有效地保护免疫牛抵抗IBRV强毒株的攻毒,其免疫持续期最少为12个月。     

Efficacy of avian influenza oil-emulsion vaccines in chickens of various ages

An experimental avian influenza (AI) oil-emulsion vaccine was formulated with 1 part inactivated A/turkey/Wisconsin/68 (H5N9) AI virus emulsified in 4 parts oil. Broilers were vaccinated subcutaneously (SC) either at 1 or 3 days old or at 4 or 5 wks old. Commercial white leghorn (WL) layers were vaccinated SC at 12 and 20 wks old or at only 20 wks old. Maximum geometric mean hemagglutination-inhibition titers postvaccination (PV) were 1:86-1:320 for broilers, 1:597 for twice-vaccinated layers, and 1:422 for once-vaccinated layers. Ninety to 100% of vaccinated broilers were protected against death and morbidity when challenged with highly pathogenic A/chicken/Penn/83 (H5N2) AI virus 4 weeks PV, and all were protected when challenged 8 wks PV. All controls and most vaccinates were infected by challenge virus, and 90-100% of controls died or exhibited clinical signs. Vaccinated commercial pullets were protected against morbidity, death, and egg-production decline at either peak of lay (25 wks old) or at 55 wks old. All unvaccinated controls became morbid or died, and egg production ceased 72 hours after challenge. The 0.5-ml vaccine dose was determined to contain 251 and 528 mean protective doses (PD50S) in 4-wk-old and 1-year-old SPF WL chickens, respectively, challenged 4 wks PV.     

Serological response of chickens to oral vaccination with Newcastle disease virus

Conventional Newcastle disease vaccines are not suitable for application to village chickens in tropical countries of Asia. Trials with food-based vaccines are being initiated and the following experiments were performed to evaluate oral vaccination with Newcastle disease virus. Experimental chickens were vaccinated orally with the avirulent V4 strain of Newcastle disease virus and haemagglutination-inhibition antibody responses were measured. V4 virus was introduced into the crop by tube and total faecal output was collected daily and assayed for Newcastle disease virus. Virus was recovered on Days 5 and 6 after vaccination from most chickens that had received 10(7.4) and 10(6.4) 50% egg-infectious doses (EID50) of virus. There was no recovery of virus from birds receiving a lower dose of vaccine. Groups of chickens kept in cages with wire floors were given various doses of vaccine into the crop. Higher antibody titres were achieved with higher doses of virus. This dose responsiveness was not observed when various doses of vaccine were presented on food pellets and the groups of chickens were kept on concrete floors. Similar antibody responses were then seen with nominal doses of 10(5.2) and 10(8.2) EID50 per bird, possibly as a result of excretion and re-ingestion of the vaccine virus. Spread of the vaccine virus was demonstrated when control chickens and chickens receiving 10(7.7) EID50 of V4 virus on food pellets were housed together on a concrete floor. Similar antibody titres were achieved in both vaccinated and in-contact chickens.