Embryo vaccination with infectious bursal disease virus alone or in combination with Marek's disease vaccine

Studies with specific-pathogen-free chickens revealed that chicks hatching from eggs inoculated at the 18th day of embryonation with infectious bursal disease (IBD) vaccine viruses of low virulence (isolates TC-IBDV and BVM-IBDV) developed antibody against IBD virus (IBDV) and resisted challenge with virulent IBDV at 3 weeks of age or older. Embryo vaccination did not adversely affect hatchability of chicks or survival of hatched chicks. Chicks embryonally vaccinated with TC-IBDV had transient histologic lesions in the bursa of Fabricius at hatch. Similar but milder lesions were also noted in chickens that received TC-IBDV at hatch. The level of protection following embryo vaccination with TC-IBDV and BVM-IBDV was similar to that following vaccination with the same vaccines at hatch. Vaccine viruses of moderate virulence (isolates BV-IBDV and 2512-IBDV) were not suitable as vaccines in embryos lacking maternal antibody to IBDV, because the vaccinated chicks developed acute IBD after hatch. Isolate 2512-IBDV was not pathogenic for embryos bearing maternal antibody to IBDV. Maternal antibody against IBDV interfered with efficacy of embryo vaccination with BVM-IBDV but not with 2512-IBDV. Embryo vaccination with a mixture of vaccines against IBD and Marek's disease resulted in protection of hatched chicks against challenge with virulent IBDV and Marek's disease virus.     

Reduced serologic response to Newcastle disease virus in broiler chickens exposed to a Chinese field strain of subgroup J avian leukosis virus

In this study, a Chinese field strain of subgroup J avian leukosis virus (ALV-J), NX0101, was studied for its immunosuppressive effects in both commercial broilers and SPF white Leghorn chickens infected at 1 day of age. Our data demonstrated that NX0101 induced much more significant body and immune organ weight loss in the infected commercial broiler chickens in an earlier age than that in the SPF white Leghorn chickens. At the same time antibody responses to vaccinations of Newcastle disease virus (NDV) and infectious bursa disease virus (IBDV) in the NX0101-infected chickens were also evaluated and compared between the commercial broiler chickens and the SPF white Leghorn chickens. Compared with the control group of chickens, the hemagglutination inhibition (HI) antibody response to NDV vaccines was significantly reduced in the NX0101-infected commercial broiler chickens from as early as 20 days after vaccination. However, no significant difference in HI antibody response was seen when HI titers reached their peaks in the NX0101-inoculated and control SPF white Leghorn chickens, except it declined significantly faster in infected birds. Neither of these two types of chickens showed significant decrease of antibody response to IBDV vaccination. Herein, we conclude that this NX0101 strain of ALV-J could selectively suppress humoral immune reactions to NDV, especially in broilers. But challenge experiments were not conducted and, therefore, it cannot be known if decreased antibody levels correlated with decreased protection against NDV in this case.     

Safety and efficacy of in ovo administration of infectious bursal disease viral vaccines

In ovo vaccination against Marek's disease virus and infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV) in commercial broilers in the United States is common. Little information exists as to the safety and efficacy of intermediate IBDV vaccines given in ovo. Experiments were initiated to determine the safety and efficacy of three commercially available live intermediate IBDV vaccines by in ovo route. Commonly used vaccines were given at 18 days of embryonation to specific-pathogen-free (SPF) broiler embryos (first and second study) or to commercial broiler embryos (third study) that had maternal antibody against IBDV. When any of the antigenic standard vaccines was given at full dose to SPF embryos, embryonic and 3-wk posthatch mortality increased. Vaccines also caused significant microscopic lesions in the bursa of Fabricius at 1 and 3 wk posthatch. In contrast, there was no adverse effect on embryonic or posthatch mortality when vaccines were given at half dose to SPF or commercial broiler embryos. However, significant microscopic lesions were evident at 1 and 3 wk posthatch in the bursae of SPF embryos given the vaccines at half dose. When vaccines were given at half dose to commercial broiler embryos, lesions were evident at 1 but not 3 wk of age. In the third study, in ovo vaccinated chickens were challenged with either a virulent standard (APHIS) or antigenic variant (variant E) IBDV virus at 3 wk of age. All vaccines produced at least 87% protection against the standard and 60% protection against the variant challenge IBDV, as measured by bursal weight to body weight ratios. This study was the first to examine the safety and efficacy of the three commonly used intermediate IBDV vaccines given in ovo in protection against standard and antigenic variant IBDV challenge viruses.     

Detection of infectious bursal disease vaccine viruses in lymphoid tissues after in ovo vaccination of specific-pathogen-free embryos.

Control of infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV) by vaccination is important for poultry production worldwide. Two vaccines, an IBDV immune complex (ICX) vaccine and an IBDV-2512 vaccine, were administered at 100 mean embryo infectious dose to specific-pathogen-free 18-day-old broiler embryos in ovo. At 3, 6, 9, 15, and 21 days post in ovo vaccination (PIOV), bursa, spleen, and thymus tissues were collected and analyzed for virus protein by antigen capture chemiluminescent enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Chicks were bled and antibody titers were determined by the antibody ELISA. At 21 days PIOV, chickens were challenged with a 1:500 dilution of an antigenic standard IBDV strain. At 28 days PIOV, birds were euthanatized and bursa weight:body weight ratios were determined. Embryos vaccinated with either vaccine exhibited 92% hatchability; however, within 1 wk of hatch, birds vaccinated with IBDV-2512 showed 56% mortality, whereas those given IBDV-ICX had only 3.2% mortality. Both IBDV-ICX and IBDV-2512 vaccines were detected in bursa, spleen, and thymus at day 3 PIOV. A 5-day delay in virus replication was observed with IBDV-ICX vaccine. By day 15 PIOV, the IBDV-ICX was no longer detectable in the bursa and spleen but persisted in the thymus. The IBDV-2512 vaccine persisted in the spleen and thymus on day 15 PIOV. By day 21 PIOV, neither vaccine virus was detected in any lymphoid organ. This assay can be useful in the early detection of vaccine virus in the tissues of chickens vaccinated via the in ovo route. Both vaccines caused bursal atrophy at all times PIOV. The IBDV-2512 caused splenomegaly at day 6 PIOV, whereas splenomegaly was not seen in IBDV-ICX-vaccinated birds until day 9 PIOV. Thymus atrophy was observed in IBDV-2512-vaccinated chicks from day 3 PIOV, whereas this occurred on day 15 PIOV in IBDV-ICX-vaccinated birds. Bursa weight: body weight ratios in IBDV-ICX-vaccinated unchallenged and vaccinated challenged birds were not different (P < 0.05).     

鸵鸟新城疫病毒野毒株的分离及其生物学特性

用鸡胚从疑似鸵鸟新城疫的送检病料中分离到 2株病毒。 2株病毒均能凝集鸡红细胞 ,且能被抗新城疫病毒 ( NDV)阳性血清抑制 ;用抗 NDV单抗 PEG夹心 ELISA测定 2株分离毒均为阳性。对其中 1株作进一步生物学特性鉴定 ,按照国际上规定的 NDV毒力判定标准测定的该毒株最低致死量致死鸡胚的平均死亡时间 ( MDT)为 54h,1日龄雏鸡脑内接种致病指数 ( ICPI)为 1 .88,6周龄雏鸡静脉接种致病指数 ( IVPI)为2 .75。结果表明 ,本分离株为鸵鸟新城疫病毒强毒     

鸡新城疫、传染性法氏囊病二联活疫苗和单苗研究

用实验室研制的鸡新城疫(La Sota株),鸡传染性法氏囊病(NF8株)单苗和二联活疫苗分别免疫7日龄SPF鸡以及有母源抗体的雏鸡研究其免疫效力。结果表明:用二联活疫苗免疫SPF雏鸡后,NF8株与La Sota株间不产生明显的相互干扰作用,攻毒保护率与各自的单苗相比无明显差异。用二联活疫苗免疫有母源抗体的雏鸡后,只进行一次免疫,新城疫免疫效果较好,但法氏囊免疫效果稍差,不能完全保护;一免后10天再进行第二次加强免疫,其抗体水平、攻毒后的保护率与各自的单苗相比无明显差异,具有完全保护效力。     

In ovo vaccination of specific-pathogen-free chickens with vaccines containing multiple agents.

We used in ovo technology to protect chickens against multiple diseases by inoculating vaccines containing mixtures of live viral agents. A single in ovo injection of a vaccine containing serotypes 1, 2, and 3 of Marek's disease virus (MDV), a vaccine strain of serotype 1 infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV), and recombinant fowl pox vaccine with HN and F genes of Newcastle disease virus (rFP-NDV) induced protection against virulent MDV, IBDV, Newcastle disease virus, and fowl poxvirus. The multiple-agent vaccine induced specific antibodies against the viral agents present in the mixture and did not adversely affect the survival of hatched chickens. Inoculation of a vaccine containing serotypes 1, 2, and 3 of MDV and IBDV did not affect hatchability of eggs, although the addition of rFP-NDV to the mixture reduced hatchability by 23%-26%. In ovo vaccination with a vaccine containing MDV and IBDV vaccine viruses did not exacerbate the inhibitory effect of individual viral agents on humoral and cellular immune competence.     

Study on the Immunity Effect of Infectious Bursal Disease Immune Complex Vaccine on One-day Old Moderate Maternal Antibody Chick

One-day-old moderate maternal antibody Jinghong chickens and SPF chickens were vaccinated with infectious bursal disease (IBD) immune complex (IC) vaccine and BX strain live vaccine,respectively,pathological changes of bursa of fabricius in chickens were observed at the 9th day after immunization.On the 28th day after immunization,blood samples were taken and the IBDV neutralizing antibody were tested,meanwhile experimental chickens were challenged with high virulent IBDV,the protective rates of experimental groups were calculated.The results showed that at the 9th day after immunization,the bursa of fabricius in SPF and Jinghong chickens were normal in IC vaccine group,however atrophic changes of bursa of fabricius in BX strain live vaccine group were shown.At the 28th day after immunization,the IBDV neutralizing antibody of IC vaccine group and BX strain live vaccine group in SPF and Jinghong chickens were 9.2log2,8.5log2,7.2log2 and 4.4log2,respectively,while 100% protection rates were provided.The results provided that IC vaccine had better immunity effect on one-day-old moderate maternal antibody chicken,high levels of neutralizing antibodies against IBDV were produced and protection rates were 100%.     

鸡新城疫－传染性支气管炎－传染性法氏囊病三联灭活疫苗对不同日龄雏鸡的免疫效力研究

为评估鸡新城疫（ND）-传染性支气管炎（IB）-传染性法氏囊病（IBD）三联灭活疫苗对不同日龄和不同水平母源抗体雏鸡的免疫效力和持续期,本试验用该疫苗免疫7、14、21日龄SPF雏鸡和有母源抗体的普通雏鸡,免疫后采血测定ND血凝抑制抗体（HI Ab）、IB血凝抑制抗体（HI Ab）及IBD中和抗体（NA）,并用传染性法氏囊病病毒（IBDV）强毒攻击。结果显示,7日龄SPF雏鸡免疫后21 d ND HI抗体、IB HI抗体及IBD中和抗体效价分别为7.9log2、6.9log2和14.1log2,SPF鸡日龄越大,抗体水平越高;28日龄SPF鸡免疫后3个月,0.3 mL免疫剂量组试验鸡ND HI、IB HI及IBD中和抗体效价分别达6.5log2、6.1log2和13.6log2,IBDV攻毒保护率均为100%（10/10）;不同日龄普通雏鸡免疫效果与SPF鸡试验一致,抗体水平随鸡日龄增大而升高,IBD攻毒保护率也都达到100%（10/10）。试验结果证实,鸡新城疫-传染性支气管炎-传染性法氏囊病三联灭活疫苗可使7、14及21日龄SPF雏鸡和普通雏鸡产生良好的免疫力,对雏鸡的免疫期至少为3个月。     

鸡传染性法氏囊病免疫复合物疫苗对1日龄中等母源抗体水平雏鸡免疫效果的研究

将鸡传染性法氏囊病免疫复合物疫苗和BX株活疫苗分别免疫1日龄中等母源抗体水平京红雏鸡,同时免疫1日龄SPF雏鸡作对照,免疫后第9天观察法氏囊病变,免疫后第28天采血测定IBDV中和抗体,并用强毒攻击,计算各组疫苗保护率。结果显示,免疫后第9天,免疫复合物疫苗组SPF雏鸡和京红雏鸡法氏囊均正常,BX株活疫苗组SPF雏鸡法氏囊出现了萎缩病变;免疫后第28天,对照SPF雏鸡和京红雏鸡的免疫复合物疫苗组、BX活疫苗组IBDV中和抗体效价分别为9.2log2、8.5log2和 7.2log2、4.4log2,攻毒保护率均为100%。试验结果表明免疫复合物疫苗免疫1日龄中等水平母源抗体雏鸡效果很好,能产生较高的中和抗体,攻毒保护率能达到100%。     

鸡新城疫、传染性支气管炎、传染性法氏囊病三联活疫苗的研究

鸡新城疫(ND) La Sota、传染性支气管炎(IB) H120和传染性法氏囊病(IBD) B87弱毒株适当稀释后等量混合,经10日龄SPF鸡胚同胚接种联合培养,收获含毒鸡胚液和胎儿混合制成ND、IB、IBD三联活疫苗。接种7~14日龄SPF雏鸡7 d产生抗体,14~21d达到高峰,免疫期70 d以上,与单苗同步免疫并攻击强毒,试验结果无显著性差异。以10个使用剂量免疫SPF雏鸡,无ND、IB、IBD临床症状和剖检病变,其安全性和效力检验均达到相应单苗的标准要求。     

Pathogenicity of embryo-adapted serotype 2 OH strain of infectious bursal disease virus in chickens and turkeys

The pathogenicity of serotype 2 OH strain of infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV) to specific-pathogen-free (SPF) chicken embryos and 2-wk-old SPF chickens and turkey poults was investigated. The virus was pathogenic for chicken embryos after five passages as evidenced by pathologic changes in inoculated embryos. The embryo-adapted virus was not pathogenic for 2-wk-old SPF chickens and turkey poults as indicated by lack of clinical signs, gross or microscopic lesions in the bursa of Fabricius of inoculated birds. Bursa-to-body-weight ratios of the inoculated chickens and turkey poults were not significantly different from those of uninoculated controls. Virus-neutralizing antibodies to serotype 2 IBDV were detected in inoculated chickens and turkeys. Results of this study indicated that the embryo-adapted serotype 2 OH IBDV isolate that is pathogenic for chicken embryos is infectious but not pathogenic in chickens and turkeys.     

鸡新城疫地方强毒株的分离与毒力鉴定

在河北保定地区疑似新城疫的鸡群中,分离到两株具有血凝性的病毒,与多种阳性血清进行血凝抑制试验,确定两株分离株均为新城疫病毒。对两株病毒的毒力进行了鉴定,测定鸡胚最小致死量平均死亡时间(MDT)分别为52h和54h;1日龄雏鸡脑内接种致病指数(ICPI)分别为1.93和1.86;6周龄鸡静脉内接种致病指数(IVPI)分别为2.92和2.72。结果表明:这两株分离株均为新城疫强毒株。     

Infectious bursal disease virus variant from commercial Leghorn pullets

An infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV) was isolated from 39-to-43-day-old commercial leghorn pullets suspected of having infectious bursal disease (IBD). These chickens had been vaccinated with a commercial live IBDV vaccine at 28 and 35 days of age. An isolate designated IN was recovered using specific-pathogen-free (SPF) chickens and the BGM-70 established cell line. Experimental studies using SPF chickens vaccinated with either inactivated vaccines made from the vaccine strain used in the problem flock or a standard-type vaccine indicated no protection against the IN isolate. However, two variants and another standard-type vaccine induced protection against the IN isolate. Cross-neutralization tests indicated that the IN isolate differed antigenically from commercial vaccine strains and was related to the variant IBDV strains recently isolated from broilers. To our knowledge, this is the first report of a variant IBDV recovered from commercial layer chickens in the United States.     

Field trial in commercial broilers with a multivalent in ovo vaccine comprising a mixture of live viral vaccines against Marek's disease,infectious bursal disease,Newcastle disease,and fowl pox

A multivalent in ovo vaccine (MIV) was tested for safety and efficacy in a commercial broiler complex. The MIV comprised five replicating live viruses including serotypes 1, 2, and 3 of Marek's disease virus (MDV), an intermediate infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV) and a recombinant fowl poxvirus (FPV) vector vaccine containing HN and F genes of Newcastle disease virus (NDV). The performance of MIV-vaccinated broilers was compared with that of hatchmates that received turkey herpesvirus (HVT) alone (routinely used in ovo vaccine in the broiler complex). The chickens that hatched from the MIV-injected and HVT-injected eggs were raised under commercial conditions in six barns. Barn 1 housed 17,853 MIV-vaccinated chickens and each of the barns 2-6 housed 18,472-22,798 HVT-vaccinated chickens. The HVT-vaccinated chickens were given infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) and NDV vaccines at hatch and at 2 wk of age. The MIV-vaccinated chickens received IBV vaccine at hatch and IBV + NDV at 2 wk of age. The relative values of hatchability of eggs, livability and weight gain of chickens, and condemnation rates at processing were comparable between the MIV and the HVT groups (P > 0.05). Chickens from the MIV- and the HVT-vaccinated groups were challenged with virulent viruses under laboratory conditions. The resistance of vaccinated chickens against Marek's disease could not be assessed because of high natural resistance of unvaccinated commercial broilers to virulent MDV. The relative resistances of the MIV- and the HVT-vaccinated groups, respectively, against other virulent viruses were as follows: IBDV, 100% for both groups; NDV, 81% vs. 19%; FPV, 86% vs. 0%. The successful use of MIV under field conditions expands the usefulness of the in ovo technology for poultry.     

传染性法氏囊病免疫保护试验中3种评定指标的比较

100只SPF鸡均分为5组，A、B、c3组免疫后攻毒，接种3批次自制的IBD基因工程重组亚单位油乳剂疫苗；D组不免疫不攻毒，E组不免疫而攻毒。免疫后第22天，感染IBDV强毒株BC-6／85。攻毒后第4天，将所有存活的鸡只以颈脱臼致死，收集法氏囊，以3种方法和指标（法氏囊眼观病变；法氏囊显微病变；法氏囊中IBDV抗原检测）进行分析，以评定免疫保护率。结果显示，以这3种方法和指标评定，A组免疫保护率为90％，B、C组免疫保护率均为95％；试验鸡A3、A14、B7、C16、E1～E20，法氏囊眼观病变明显，法氏囊显微病理损伤评分为3～5分，琼脂免疫扩散试验检测法氏囊中IBDV抗原均为阳性；其他试验鸡，法氏囊眼观无明显异常，法氏囊显微病理损伤评分在3分以下，琼脂免疫扩散试验检测法氏囊中IBDV抗原均为阴性。结果表明，这3种方法和指标在IBD疫苗免疫保护试验评定中具有很好的一致性。     

Pathogenicity and immunogenicity of different recombinant Newcastle disease virus clone 30 variants after in ovo vaccination

Even though Newcastle disease virus (NDV) live vaccine strains can be applied to 1-day-old chickens, they are pathogenic to chicken embryos when given in ovo 3 days before hatch. Based on the reverse genetics system, we modified recombinant NDV (rNDV) established from lentogenic vaccine strain Clone 30 by introducing specific mutations within the fusion (F) and hemagglutinin-neuraminidase (HN) proteins, which have recently been suggested as being responsible for attenuation of selected vaccine variants (Mast et al. Vaccine 24:1756-1765, 2006) resulting in rNDV49. Another recombinant (rNDVGu) was generated to correct sequence differences between rNDV and vaccine strain NDV Clone 30. Recombinant viruses rNDV, rNDV49, and rNDVGu have reduced virulence compared with NDV Clone 30, represented by lower intracerebral pathogenicity indices and elevated mean death time. After in ovo inoculation, hatchability was comparable for all infected groups. However, only one chicken from the NDV Clone 30 group survived a 21-day observation period; whereas, the survival rate of hatched chicks from groups receiving recombinant NDV was between 40% and 80%, with rNDVGu being the most pathogenic virus. Furthermore, recombinant viruses induced protection against challenge infection with virulent NDV 21 days post hatch. Differences in antibody response of recombinant viruses indicate that immunogenicity is correlated to virulence. In summary, our data show that point mutations can reduce virulence of NDV. However, alteration of specific amino acids in F and HN proteins of rNDV did not lead to further attenuation as indicated by their pathogenicity for chicken after in ovo inoculation.