Construction and evaluation of a delta cya delta crp Salmonella typhimurium strain expressing avian pathogenic Escherichia coli O78 LPS as a vaccine to prevent airsacculitis in chickens.

Avian pathogenic strains of Escherichia coli cause a number of extraintestinal diseases in poultry, including airsacculitis and colisepticemia. Expression of O78 lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is frequently associated with pathogenic isolates. Salmonella, a common poultry contaminant, is a major public health concern. The purpose of this work was to develop an E. coli vaccine for poultry with the use of an attenuated Salmonella typhimurium carrier that would benefit both the bird and the consumer. Orally administered attenuated S. typhimurium delta cya delta crp strains have been shown to provide excellent protection against wild-type Salmonella challenge in chickens. This work describes the construction of a delta cya delta crp derivative of an avian pathogenic S. typhimurium that expresses both the homologous group B determinants (O1,4,5,12) and the heterologous E. coli O78 LPS O antigens. This was accomplished by inserting the E. coli rfb region, which encodes the genes required for O78 expression, into the chromosomal cya gene of S. typhimurium, creating a defined deletion/insertion mutation. A delta crp mutation was introduced in a subsequent step. Expression of both O antigens was stable in vitro and in vivo. Vaccination of white leghorn chicks at day of hatch and 14 days with the recombinant vaccine strain induced serum immune responses against both S. typhimurium and E. coli LPS and protected the birds against subsequent challenge with an avian pathogenic E. coli O78 strain. Introduction of a mutation in rfc, which encodes the O antigen polymerase, reduced the chain length of the S. typhimurium LPS without affecting the expression of O78. The rfc mutation further enhanced the ability of the vaccine strain to protect chickens against E. coli challenge.     

Immunogenicity of an Escherichia coli multivalent pilus vaccine in chickens

Immunogenicity of an oil-emulsified Escherichia coli multivalent pilus vaccine was evaluated in 4-week-old chickens. The vaccine contained 180 micrograms of pilus protein from each of serotypes O1 and O78 and 170 micrograms of pilus protein from serotype O2. Chickens were vaccinated twice subcutaneously at 4 and 6 weeks old and challenged via the posterior thoracic air sac with E. coli serotype O1, O2, or O78 2 weeks after the last vaccination. Unvaccinated challenged chickens suffered 8% to 26% mortality; no vaccinated chickens died. Vaccinated chickens had very mild gross lesions in the air sacs, livers, and pericardial sacs and eliminated E. coli more efficiently than the unvaccinated challenged chickens. The results showed that a multivalent pilus vaccine protects chickens against active respiratory infection.     

Immunogenicity of an oil-emulsified Escherichia coli bacterin against heterologous challenge

Immunogenicity of an oil-emulsified Escherichia coli bacterin against heterologous challenge was investigated. In Expts. 1 and 2, chickens were vaccinated with E. coli serotype O1 bacterin and challenged with E. coli serotype O2 (Expt. 1) and O78 (Expt. 2). Positive control chickens were not vaccinated but challenged with E. coli serotype O2 or O78; unvaccinated unchallenged chickens served as negative controls. When challenged with E. coli serotype O2, unvaccinated chickens showed a higher morbidity than vaccinated chickens. There was no mortality in either group. Although average gross lesion scores were generally higher in the unvaccinated chickens, they were not significantly different (P greater than or equal to 0.05) from those in the vaccinated chickens. In Expt. 2, morbidity was slightly higher in the unvaccinated challenged chickens. No mortality occurred in either group. There was no significant difference (P greater than or equal to 0.05) between vaccinated and unvaccinated chickens in average gross lesion scores. In general, E. coli recovery was higher in the unvaccinated challenged chickens, being highest in the air sacs followed by the liver, heart blood, and pericardial sacs. There was no morbidity, mortality, or gross lesions in the unvaccinated unchallenged chickens. No E. coli was recovered from the tissues cultured. The results of these laboratory trials revealed that an oilemulsified monovalent E. coli bacterin did not protect chickens against other E. coli serotypes associated with colibacillosis.     

禽大肠杆菌病免疫保护机理的研究

以禽病原性大肠杆菌O18、O78分离株制成超声波裂解铝佐剂灭活苗免疫14日龄鸡，以相同或不同外膜蛋白型（Outer membrane protein pattern,OMP型）的O18、O78分离株攻毒。结果表明：O78血清相同和不同OMP型分离株间能获得最大保护；O18血清型相同OMP型分离株间获得最大保护，而不同OMP型分离株间不能保护；上述两个血清型的分离株间不论OMP型是否相同，均缺乏保护。以间接ELISA试验、间接血凝试验分别测定了试验鸡临攻毒前针对大肠杆菌OMPs和脂多糖(Lipopolysaccharide,LPS）的抗体。结果表明：免疫组鸡血清上述两种抗体明显高于攻毒对照组；在免疫组，存活鸡临攻毒前血清中上述两种抗体滴度恒高于死亡鸡，但除3个组外，多数组差异不显著。攻毒对照组这一关系不稳定。结果说明：禽大肠杆菌疫苗的免疫保护，主要与O血清型有关，部分与OMP型有关，如O18分离株，免疫保护性抗原含OMPs,LPS等多个抗原表位。     

Resistance of broiler chickens to Escherichia coli respiratory tract infection induced by passively transferred egg-yolk antibodies

Egg-yolk antibodies induced by immunizing hens with selected Escherichia coli antigens were evaluated for their ability to protect broiler chickens against respiratory/septicemic disease caused by avian pathogenic E. coli (APEC). Seven groups of broiler breeder hens were vaccinated three times, 1 week apart with live E. coli, killed E. coli, E. coli antigens [lipopolysaccharide (LPS), type 1 pilus adhesin (FimH), P pilus adhesin (PapG), aerobactin outer membrane receptor (IutA)] or phosphate buffered saline (PBS). An O78 APEC strain was used for preparation of all the antigens. Egg yolk immunoglobulins (IgY) were purified from eggs of each group and antibody activity in serum and purified IgY was determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). IgY (100mg) was injected intramuscularly into 11-day-old broiler chickens, which were challenged 3 days later with homologous (O78) or heterologous (O1 or O2) E. coli by the intra-air sac route. Mortality was recorded and surviving chickens were euthanized 1 week after the challenge and examined for macroscopic lesions. Passive antibodies against all antigens except FimH were protective (90-100%) against the homologous challenge, but only anti-PapG and anti-IutA were effective against heterologous challenge. Anti-PapG IgY provided the greatest protection against the three serogroups of E. coli used for challenge. Hence vaccination of broiler breeders to induce anti-PapG and anti-IutA antibodies may provide passive protection of progeny chicks against respiratory/septicemic disease caused by APEC.     

鸡大肠杆菌Ⅰ型菌毛亚单位苗交叉保护的初步研究

含Ⅰ型菌毛的３ 个不同血清型（Ｏ１ 、Ｏ７８ 及Ｏ８８） 的菌株， 大容量培养后提取菌毛制备３ 种单价菌毛油乳苗。用１ 日龄雏鸡分别免疫３ 种单价菌毛油乳剂苗， 每雏免疫量为１２５ μｇ ， 隔离饲养至２ 周龄经气囊攻毒， 并评价疫苗的免疫原性。结果未免疫鸡出现８７－５ ％ ～１００ ％ 的死亡率， 免疫鸡用同源菌株攻毒后死亡率仅１２－５ ％ ， 用异源菌株攻毒出现３７－５％ ～６２－５ ％ 的死亡率。免疫鸡攻毒后未死亡者， 经扑杀观察， 可见在气囊、心包及肝脏的病变非常轻微， 且攻毒后比非免疫鸡能更有效地清除攻入气囊的大肠杆菌     

Systemic and mucosal antibody responses to selected cell surface antigens of avian pathogenic Escherichia coli in experimentally infected chickens

The immune response to four cell surface antigens of avian pathogenic Escherichia coli (APEC) was investigated as the first step in identifying vaccine candidates. F1 pilus adhesin, P pilus adhesin, aerobactin receptor protein, and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) from an O78 E. coli (strain EC99) were used as antigens. The proteins were purified as 6xhistidine-tagged recombinant proteins and LPS was purified from a phenol/water extract. Groups of 12 broiler chickens were vaccinated intranasally with the EC99 strain and challenged with the same strain 10 days later via the intra-air sac route. The chickens that survived were euthanatized 10 days postchallenge. Scores were assigned to infected chickens on the basis of lesions and recovery of the challenge E. coli. The immunoglobulin (Ig) IgG, IgA, and IgM antibodies to the four antigens were measured in serum and air sac washings in an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Among the chickens that were not vaccinated prior to challenge, two died and three of the survivors were ill, whereas, of the chickens that were vaccinated prior to challenge, one died and one of the survivors became ill. After the intranasal vaccination, high antibody activity against all four antigens was associated with each Ig isotype in serum and air sac washings. IgG was the predominant isotype of Ig in air sac washings as detected by radial immunodiffusion. Chickens that were not ill after challenge had greater IgG, IgA, and IgM antibody activity against all four antigens in serum and air sac washings than did sick chickens. Thus, all of the antigens tested appear to be suitable candidates for a vaccine to protect chickens from respiratory tract infections caused by APEC.     

Recombinant Iss as a potential vaccine for avian colibacillosis

Avian pathogenic Escherichia coli (APEC) cause colibacillosis, a disease which is responsible for significant losses in poultry. Control of colibacillosis is problematic due to the restricted availability of relevant antimicrobial agents and to the frequent failure of vaccines to protect against the diverse range of APEC serogroups causing disease in birds. Previously, we reported that the increased serum survival gene (iss) is strongly associated with APEC strains, but not with fecal commensal E. coli in birds, making iss and the outer membrane protein it encodes (Iss) candidate targets for colibacillosis control procedures. Preliminary studies in birds showed that their immunization with Iss fusion proteins protected against challenge with two of the more-commonly occurring APEC serogroups (O2 and O78). Here, the potential of an Iss-based vaccine was further examined by assessing its effectiveness against an additional and widely occurring APEC serogroup (O1) and its ability to evoke both a serum and mucosal antibody response in immunized birds. In addition, tissues of selected birds were subjected to histopathologic examination in an effort to better characterize the protective response afforded by immunization with this vaccine. Iss fusion proteins were administered intramuscularly to four groups of 2-wk-old broiler chickens. At 2 wk postimmunization, chickens were challenged with APEC strains of the O1, O2, or O78 serogroups. One week after challenge, chickens were euthanatized, necropsied, any lesions consistent with colibacillosis were scored, and tissues from these birds were taken aseptically. Sera were collected pre-immunization, postimmunization, and post-challenge, and antibody titers to Iss were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Also, air sac washings were collected to determine the mucosal antibody response to Iss by ELISA. During the observation period following challenge, 3/12 nonimmunized chickens, 1/12 chickens immunized with 10 microg of GST-Iss, and 1/12 chickens immunized with 50 microg of GST-Iss died when challenged with the O78 strain. No other deaths occurred. Immunized chickens produced a serum and mucosal antibody response to Iss and had significantly lower lesion scores than nonimmunized chickens following challenge, regardless of the challenge strain. This study expands on our previous report of the value of Iss as an immunoprotective antigen and demonstrates that immunization with Iss can provide significant protection of chickens against challenge with three different E. coli strains.     

Immunogenicity of an Escherichia coli (serotype O1) pili vaccine in chickens

Immunogenicity of an oil-emulsified Escherichia coli (serotype O1) pili vaccine was evaluated in chickens. Chickens were vaccinated with 116 micrograms or 29 micrograms of pili protein and challenged with the homologous E. coli via the posterior thoracic air sac. Unvaccinated chickens were challenged to serve as positive controls or left unchallenged to serve as negative controls. Vaccinated chickens were protected against challenge because they suffered low or no mortality; had mild gross lesions in air sacs, pericardial sacs, and livers, and the scored values were significantly (P less than or equal to 0.05) lower than those in the positive controls; and eliminated E. coli from tissues more efficiently than the positive controls.     

Comparison of different attenuation strategies in development of a Salmonella hadar vaccine

The purpose of this work was to develop a live, attenuated vaccine strain to protect chickens against colonization by group C Salmonella. We constructed two candidate vaccines: a deltacya deltacrp derivative and a deltaphoP derivative of Salmonella hadar. White Leghorn chickens were vaccinated at day of age and at 2 wk with one of the two strains. A nonvaccinated group served as a control. At 4 wk of age, all birds were challenged with wild-type S. hadar and necropsied 6 days later. Numbers of S. hadar in the ceca were determined. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay-derived serum immunoglobulin G responses against S. hadar lipopolysaccharide indicated that both strains induced a serum antibody response. The average optical density450 for birds vaccinated with the deltaphoP or deltacya deltacrp derivatives was 0.456 and 0.881, respectively. Although the deltacya deltacrp derivative induced higher levels of serum antibody, it did not provide an immune response protective against colonization by S. hadar. Conversely, birds vaccinated with the deltaphoP strain showed significant protection against S. hadar challenge. Seventy percent of the nonvaccinates, 60% of the deltacya deltacrp vaccinates, and 15% of deltaphoP vaccinates were positive for S. hadar in tissues. In a second experiment, birds were vaccinated with either the deltaphoP strain or buffer and challenged with a 10-fold higher dose than in the first experiment. After challenge, all of the birds in both groups were colonized. The geometric mean number of cecal S. hadar isolated from the control group was 1.0 x 10(6) colony-forming units (CFU)/g, and from the vaccinated group, this value was 32 CFU/g, indicating a four to five log reduction in colonization by the challenge strain.     

Reciprocal competitive exclusion of salmonella and Escherichia coli by native intestinal microflora of the chicken and turkey

Both the native intestinal microflora of chickens that protected chicks against salmonellae and Escherichia coli and native turkey intestinal microflora were evaluated for their reciprocal protective capacity in both species against Salmonella typhimurium and a pathogenic strain of E. coli. Nalidixic-acid-resistant forms of the S. typhimurium and E. coli strains were used in seeder-bird and individual-bird challenge tests. Reciprocal protection was provided by native chicken and turkey intestinal microflora in chicks and poults against S. typhimurium and the pathogenic strain of E. coli. The chicken and turkey microflora appeared to be equally effective in protecting the two species from S. typhimurium, but protection against E. coli was somewhat greater in the chicken than in the turkey.     

鸡大肠杆菌多价1型菌毛亚单位疫苗在鸡体内的免疫原性研究

用1日龄雏鸡免疫评价了鸡大肠杆菌多价1型菌毛油乳剂苗在鸡体内的免疫原性。用含1型菌毛的3个不同血清型（O1、O78及O88）菌株,大容量培养后提取菌毛制备多价菌毛油乳剂苗。接种多价菌毛油乳剂苗的鸡用同源菌株攻毒后出现10％～11．2％的死亡率,阳性对照组鸡攻毒后出现70％～80％的死亡率;用异源菌株（O36）攻毒后,免疫鸡出现33．3％的死亡率,而未免疫阳性对照组鸡死亡率达70％。免疫鸡在气囊,心包及肝脏的病变非常轻微,且攻毒后非免疫鸡能更有效地清除侵入气囊的大肠杆菌。     

Cross-protection against Salmonella Typhimurium infection conferred by a live attenuated Salmonella Enteritidis vaccine

In this study, a genetically engineered live attenuated Salmonella Enteritidis (SE) vaccine was evaluated for its ability to protect against Salmonella Typhimurium (ST) infection in chickens. The birds were orally primed with the vaccine on the 1st day of life and given an oral booster at 5 wk of age. Control birds were orally inoculated with phosphate-buffered saline. Both groups of birds were orally challenged with a virulent ST strain at 9 wk of age. Compared with the control chickens, the vaccinated chickens had significantly higher levels of systemic IgG and mucosal IgA against specific ST antigens and a significantly greater lymphoproliferative response to ST antigens. The excretion of ST into the feces was significantly lower in the vaccinated group than in the control group on days 9 and 13 d after challenge. In addition, the vaccinated group had significantly fewer pronounced gross lesions in the liver and spleen and lower bacterial counts in the internal organs than the control group after challenge. These data indicate that genetically engineered live attenuated SE may induce humoral and cellular immune responses against ST antigens and may confer protection against virulent ST challenge.     

鸡毒支原体SC克隆致弱株免疫原性测试——开放动物模型的建立与应用

对罗斯鸡和 Ｓ Ｐ Ｆ来航鸡用鸡毒支原体强毒攻击时,以鸡致病性大肠杆菌 Ｏ７ ８ 血清型菌株 １６ 小时培养物 ０２ｍ ｌ／羽皮下注射作人工诱导发病,试验鸡出现明显气囊病变,初步建立了以鸡致病性大肠杆菌为诱导因子的 Ｍ Ｇ 野外环境人工发病的动物模型。以此开放模型检测 Ｓ Ｐ Ｆ来航鸡以鸡毒支原体 Ｓ６ 克隆致弱株 Ｆ１５６ 代培养物点眼、滴鼻免疫后 ３０ 日、６０ 日龄的攻毒保护率,结果保护率分别达 ９０％ （１８／２０）、８４％ （４２／５０）,而对照组为 ３０％ （６／２０）、５０％ （１５／３０）,中期免疫效果证明,鸡毒支原体 Ｓ６ 克隆致弱株有良好的免疫保护作用。     

Safety,immunogenicity, and efficacy of two Escherichia coli cya crp mutants as vaccines for broilers

Attenuated derivatives (delta cya delta crp mutants) of an O2 and an O78 avian septicemic Escherichia coli strain were used to immunize broiler chickens by spray to determine the safety, immunogenicity, and efficacy of the derivatives in single- and double-dose regimens. In the safety and immunogenicity studies, groups of 10 chickens were vaccinated by spray (droplet size approximately 20 microm) with the parent E. coli, the mutant organisms, or phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) at 14 days of age and euthanatised 21 days later. There was no deaths or gross pathologic finding in any of the chickens immunized with the vaccine strains. Compared with the levels in chickens exposed to PBS, there were significantly higher levels of immunoglobulin (Ig) G antibody in serum and air sac washings and of IgA antibody in air sac washings in response to the virulent parent strains than to the vaccine strains. In efficacy studies, chickens were immunized with the O2 or the O78 vaccine strain or PBS at day 14 and with the O2 vaccine strain or PBS at days 10 and 14 and challenged with the parent strain 10 days after the last vaccination. There was no significant difference in local IgA and IgG and serum IgG responses between vaccinated and control groups. Chickens vaccinated with the O2 strain, but not the O78 strain, had significantly lower air sac lesion scores compared with those of the unvaccinated groups in both single- and double-dose regimens. We conclude that the mutant O2 strain provided moderate protection against airsacculitis.     

Efficacy of a commercially available coryza vaccine against challenge with recent South African NAD-independent isolates of Haemophilus paragallinarum in chickens

In South Africa the incidence of NAD-independent Haemnophilus paragallinarum isolation from clinical cases is increasing. This study was carried out to test whether a commercially available coryza vaccine (Nobilis Coryza, Intervet International BV) could protect chickens against challenge with recent NAD-independent isolates. SPF chickens were vaccinated twice at 3 and 7 weeks of age and were challenged at 9 weeks of age with 5 different NAD-independent isolates of serotype A or C-3. The results after challenge show that the coryza vaccine induces good protection against challenge with the different South African NAD-independent isolates of H. paragallinarum, including serotype C-3.     

Active oral immunization of suckling piglets to prevent colonization after weaning by enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli with fimbriae F18

Immunoprophylaxis of porcine oedema disease and post-weaning diarrhoea caused by strains of Escherichia coli expressing fimbriae F18 is an unsolved problem. The study was designed to examine whether vaccination with a live F18ac vaccine of unweaned pigs born to sows with F18ac antibody in the colostrum requires preformed fimbriae in the vaccine, and whether protection against the heterologous fimbrial variant F18ab is induced as well. Genetically susceptible pigs were vaccinated orally on three consecutive days, beginning 10 days before weaning with 10(11) CFU of an F18ac culture. Challenge with a dose of 10(7) CFU of E. coli F18 on three consecutive days was initiated 9 or 11 days after weaning. Eighteen pigs given the fimbriated F18ac vaccine and challenged with a strain of the homologous fimbrial variant were protected against colonization; mean faecal viable counts of the challenge strain were >3 log10 lower than those from the 17 non-vaccinated control pigs. The vaccinated pigs developed a significant rise of F18ac IgA serum antibodies. The 23 pigs which had received the non-fimbriated vaccine showed no significant protection and exhibited much lower serum F18ac IgA ELISA reactivities. Eighteen pigs vaccinated with the fimbriated F18ac and challenged with an F18ab strain had faecal viable counts nearly as high as those from 16 non-vaccinated control pigs. It is concluded that only oral vaccines having preformed fimbriae induce protection limited to the homologous fimbrial variant.     

Effect of IBV-H120 vaccination in broilers on colibacillosis susceptibility after infection with a virulent Massachusetts-type IBV strain

Vaccination against infectious bronchitis (IB) is aimed to protect against clinical IB. The question is, however, whether vaccinated birds are also protected against predisposure for colibacillosis after a subsequent IBV infection. We examined this research question in four experiments. One-day-old commercial broilers, housed in isolators, were vaccinated with IB vaccine strain H120 by coarse spray or ocularly. Twenty-eight days after vaccination, broilers were challenged with the virulent IBV strain M41. Five days later, broilers were inoculated with Escherichia coli strain 506. Body weight uniformity, severity of E. coli airsacculitis, and systemic E. coli infection at 7 days following E. coli inoculation were used as parameters for colibacillosis. IBV vaccination reduced both the number of broilers with E. coli airsacculitis as well as the severity of airsacculitis significantly after challenge with IBV-M41 and E. coli 506. However, in spray-vaccinated groups, no significant reduction of the number of birds with systemic colibacillosis or the severity of this infection was obtained, and body weight uniformity was not significantly improved compared with nonvaccinated, IBV-M41, and E. coli 506-challenged groups. Eye-drop vaccination resulted in conflicting results.     

Evaluation of the effectiveness of two infectious bronchitis virus vaccine programs for preventing disease caused by a California IBV field isolate

Infectious bronchitis virus CA99 serotype was isolated from several broiler flocks in Northern California. The virus caused late-onset respiratory disease and increased airsacculitis condemnation in affected flocks despite the use of an established infectious bronchitis virus vaccination program. An experimental study compared Holland/Arkansas and Massachusetts/Arkansas vaccination protocols to determine the efficacy of commercial infectious bronchitis virus vaccines in reducing respiratory disease and airsacculitis lesions found at processing that were associated with a CA99 field isolate. All vaccination groups were given Massachusetts/Connecticut strains of infectious bronchitis virus vaccines at age 1 day followed by vaccination with either Holland/ Arkansas or Massachusetts/Arkansas vaccine strains at 18 days of age. Birds were challenged at age 31 days with a CA99 field isolate. Gross pathology, histopathology, and virus isolation were evaluated. Chickens vaccinated with Holland/Arkansas had marginally better protection against CA99 challenge than chickens vaccinated with Massachusetts/Arkansas, although differences were not statistically significant.     

鸡源大肠埃希氏菌部分生物学特性研究

对从天津地区分离到的71株鸡大肠杆菌的部分生物学特性包括致病性、血清型、耐药特性和免疫原性等进行了研究。结果表明其中60株为致病性菌株,占分离菌株的84.5%;60个致病性菌株共定型出45个菌株,分属O1、O2、O5、O6、O20、O45、O53、O74、O75、O78、O88、O89、O92、O107、O111、O145等16个血清型,其中O78、O88、O2、O45、O53和O145为优势血清型,占定型菌株的73.4%;试验菌株具有广泛的耐药性,60个致病性菌株均为多重耐药。免疫原性测定试验结果表明,O2、O78、O88血清型菌株均可对相同血清型菌株提供很好的保护,但3个血清型菌株之间缺乏有效的保护。