Monitoring the Immune Status of Broilers Against Reoviruses Using Challenge and Serologic Data

Reoviruses are an important cause of suboptimum performance in commercial broilers worldwide. Integrators use the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay against the S1133 antigen for monitoring serum of breeders for indicating pullet vaccine success. However, without correlating serology to reovirus challenge, it is difficult to determine whether titers reflect protective immunity. We developed a broiler challenge test against 2 common reovirus isolates (2408 and S1133) to evaluate the efficacy of reovirus pullet vaccine programs. Two reovirus serologic and challenge studies were undertaken using chicks from broiler integrators from the southeastern United States. Breeder flocks, from which the chicks were obtained, received at least 1 live and 2 inactivated reovirus vaccines during their pullet phase. One-day-old progeny were collected from 6 breeder flocks. At 1 d of age, 20 chicks from each broiler flock were bled, and serum was analyzed for antibodies. At 3 to 4 d of age, 20 progeny per flock were challenged with the 2408 reovirus by intratracheal route. At 10 to 14 d of age, another 20 birds per flock were challenged with the S1133 reovirus by footpad. Twenty birds per flock were used as nonchallenged controls. At 3 wk of age, all birds were killed and weighed. Percentage of protection was calculated for each flock based on the absence of gross lesions. Flocks with at least 50% protection were considered well protected. Most flocks were well protected against both viruses. The percentage of protection correlated with day-old enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay titers. Chicks from younger hens had higher titers and the best protection against challenge. Producers, whose hen flocks were monitored herein, were doing a good job of immunizing pullets against reovirus. They are now using reovirus progeny challenge studies along with breeder antibody titers to determine vaccination success of their pullets.     

Vaccination of day-old broiler chicks against Newcastle disease and infectious bursal disease using commercial live and/or inactivated vaccines

Day-old broilers were administered live and/or inactivated vaccines to assess vaccine efficacy against challenge with Newcastle disease (ND) and infectious bursal disease (IBD). Chicks were from commercial breeder pullets vaccinated against ND and IBD using several live vaccine primers followed by an inactivated ND-IBD vaccine at 18 weeks. The most efficacious initial ND-IBD vaccination program was live ND virus by eye drop and live IBD vaccine injected subcutaneously (SQ) followed 2 hours later with inactivated ND-IBD vaccine SQ. The next two most efficacious programs were live vaccine alone and the inactivated vaccine only. Inactivated vaccine given SQ had no adverse effect on live IBD vaccine given 2 hours earlier in a similar site. Administration of inactivated vaccine by vent was not as efficacious as administration SQ. A booster of a second live ND-IBD vaccine drinking water at 18 days significantly increased levels of circulating antibody, regardless of the initial vaccination program.     

蛋鸡首免乙型脑炎病毒后卵黄抗体变化规律的研究

本试验旨在研究疫苗、免疫剂量和注射方式对卵黄抗体效价规律的影响,探讨制备抗猪乙型脑炎病毒卵黄抗体蛋鸡的最佳免疫程序。选用无免疫褐羽蛋鸡180只,随机分成18组,每组10只。1、2组均为对照组,注射无菌生理盐水;3~10组采用皮下和肌肉两种注射方式,并依次注射灭活苗0.2、0.5、1.0和1.5 mL;11~18组同样采取两种注射方式,依次免疫相同剂量弱毒苗。各试验组分别于免疫前1 d、免疫后第3、7、10、14、18、21和28天采集当日鸡蛋6枚,提取卵黄抗体,测定效价。试验结果显示,1~6、11、12组卵黄抗体效价均为0,未产生明显免疫应答;7~10组注射灭活苗后7 d,平均卵黄抗体效价达到峰值,抗体持续时间为14 d;13~18组注射弱毒苗后14 d达到最高值,抗体持续时间为21 d;注射剂量相同但注射方式不同的两组之间比较,卵黄抗体效价差异不显著（P>0.05）;相同注射方式,相同疫苗的各试验组间,随着免疫剂量的增加卵黄抗体效价逐渐加强,且差异显著（P<0.05）。以上结果表明,肌肉或皮下两种注射方式,蛋鸡产生明显免疫应答至少需要免疫灭活苗1.0 mL或弱毒苗0.5 mL。比较弱毒苗与灭活苗,灭活苗刺激机体产生的抗体速度较快,但维持时间较短;较少剂量弱毒苗就可刺激机体产生抗体,但速度慢、维持时间长。     

Immune response to avian reovirus in chickens and protection against experimental infection

Objectives To assess the efficacy of the vaccination procedure and the effect of the transfer of maternal antibodies to progeny chickens on reovirus pathogenicity.
Design To vaccinate chickens and challenge progeny chickens with high doses of homologous and heterologous viruses.
Procedure High doses of reovirus strains RAM-1, 1091 and 724 were used to induce tenosynovitis lesions. High doses were produced by concentration of viruses grown in cell culture. Then similar doses of viruses were used to challenge immunised chickens progeny.
Result Vaccination of breeding hens with the RAM-1 strain of avian reovirus, which resulted in the passive transfer of neutralising antibody to progeny chickens, completely prevented the development of tenosynovitis in 80% of progeny chickens infected with the homologous virus. Even though multiple injection of hens resulted in broadening of the normal type-specificity of the neutralising antibody response against heterologous serotypes of avian reovirus, only marginal protection against strains of two heterologous serotypes of avian reovirus was obtained.
Conclusions A model for assessing the efficacy of vaccination against avian reovirus strains on clinical signs such as tenosynovitis was developed that overcome the normal low virulence of Australian strains of avian reovirus. Breeding hens can be immunised with Australian strain of avian reovirus with passive transfer of antibody via the yolk to the progeny chickens. Although the neutralising antibody response to three injections of inactivated virus decreased the specificity of the neutralising antibody response against antigenically heterologous strains of avian reovirus, the protective immunity appeared to retain type-specificity.     

Study on the Change Rule of Egg Yolk Antibody in Laying Hens after First Immunization by Japanese Encephalitis Virus

The purpose of this experiment was to study the immunization rule of the egg yolk antibody affected by different vaccines,immunization dose and injection ways and further to discuss the optimal immunization procedures of the laying hens for the preparation of egg yolk antibody against swine Japanese encephalitis virus.180 brown laying hens without any vaccines were selected and divided into 18 groups randomly,each group of 10 hens.Groups 1,2 were the control groups,injected with the sterile saline;Groups 3 to 10 were injected with subcutaneous or intramuscular injection,and the vaccine was injected with 0.2,0.5,1.0 and 1.5 mL successively.Groups 11 to 18 were also adopted two kinds of injection,followed by the same dose of vaccine immunization.Six eggs of each experimental group were gathered before immune day and after 3,7,10,14,18,21 and 28 days,the egg yolk antibody was extracted and the titer was determined.As a result,the egg yolk antibody titers of groups 1 to 6,11 and 12 were all 0,and no significant immune response produced;The hens from 7 to 10 groups were injected with the inactivated vaccine.After 7 days,the average antibody titer reached the peak,and the duration of the antibody was 14 days.The hens from 13 to 18 groups were injected with the attenuated virus vaccine.After 14 days,the average antibody titer reached the highest value,and the duration of the antibody was 21 days.The egg yolk antibody titers were not significantly different in the two compared experiment groups with the same injection dose but with different injection ways (P>0.05).With the same injection way of each experiment group,and the difference was significant (P>0.05).Compared with some groups with the same injection and vaccine,the titer of yolk antibody was gradually increased with the increase of the immune dose,and the difference was significant (P<0.05).The results showed that,no matter intramuscular or subcutaneous injection,in order to produce a significant immune response to hens,the immune antigen dose was 1.0 mL inactivated vaccine or 0.5 mL attenuated vaccine at least.Compared with the attenuated and inactivated vaccine,inactivated vaccine stimulated the body to produce the antibody faster,but the maintenance time was shorter;The lower dose of attenuated vaccine could stimulate the body to produce antibodies,but the speed was slower,the maintenance time was longer.     

Antibody responses against avian reovirus nonstructural protein sigmaNS in experimentally virus-infected chickens monitored by a monoclonal antibody capture enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay

Crude antigen preparations from avian reovirus (ARV)-infected chicken embryo fibroblasts (sigmaNS) or from bacterially expressed protein sigmaNS (esigmaNS) were captured by monoclonal antibody 1E1(MAb 1E1) against ARV nonstructural protein sigmaNS immobilized on the ELISA plates and were used as the MAb capture ELISA for antibody detection. Sixty one-week-old specific pathogenic free (SPF) chickens were divided into six groups and were vaccinated with live or inactivated ARV vaccine preparations in different combinations or inoculated with a virulent ARV strain. Sera collected from the birds were tested for their antibody responses to ARV nonstructural protein sigmaNS. Using the MAb capture ELISAs, the level of nonspecific binding reactions was tested on the serum samples obtained weekly from mock-infected SPF chickens from 1 to 25 weeks and compared to the results tested by the conventional ELISA. The results indicated that both MAb capture ELISAs had lower nonspecific bindings than those in the conventional ELISA, even in older birds. Antibody responses against ARV sigmaNS of the birds which received the inactivated vaccine twice (group I), inactivated vaccine followed by a live vaccine (group II), or a live vaccine followed by boosting with an inactivated vaccine (group III) were detected by MAb captured ELISA with sigmaNS crude antigens. The absorbance values increased rapidly at 1-2 weeks after boosting, approximated a peak at 5-6 weeks of age, and maintained this throughout the length of the experiment. The absorbance values of the MAb capture ELISA showed a good correlation to the SN titers ( r value > 0.85). On the other hand, serum samples from the birds which received the live vaccine twice (group IV) or were inoculated with a virulent ARV (group V) did not show antibody responses to sigmaNS, similar to those from the mock-infected birds (group VI), as the absorbance values maintained at a low level (below 0.5) throughout the length of the experiment. Similar results were obtained in the sera detected by MAb capture ELISA with crude esigmaNS antigens, except that the absorbance values in the sera from the birds in group III were gradually increased and later approximated a peak at 11 weeks of age and maintained this throughout the length of the experiments. The results suggest that MAb capture ELISAs can be readily used to detect antibody responses of the birds against ARV nonstructural protein sigmaNS which may reflect an immune status of a chicken flock, receiving ARV vaccine as long as including an inactivated vaccine.     

芦荟多糖对猪繁殖与呼吸综合征疫苗免疫猪抗体的影响

 试验研究了芦荟多糖在猪繁殖与呼吸综合征疫苗免疫过程中对猪抗体的影响。试验选择35日龄二元杂交断奶试验猪,随机分为8组,选用高低两个剂量的芦荟多糖分别与PRRSV灭活苗、活疫苗联合使用,在免疫后的不同时段采血,进行PRRSV抗体检测。结果表明,芦荟多糖高低剂量在PRRSV灭活苗免疫的中后期差异显著（P<0.05）,高剂量芦荟多糖组在免疫后第54 d抗体水平比对照组抗体高出73.5%;对于活疫苗,高剂量芦荟多糖能显著提高抗体水平,低剂量芦荟多糖对抗体的产生无显著作用（P>0.05）。试验结果显示,芦荟多糖联合PRRSV灭活苗免疫能显著提高抗体水平,但对活疫苗,只有高剂量芦荟多糖才能提高抗体水平。     

Efficacy of coarse-spray administration of a reovirus vaccine in young chickens.

Coarse-spray (CS) administration of a commercial S1133 reovirus vaccine in chickens for prevention of clinical viral tenosynovitis (VT) infection was evaluated. In Expt. 1, one-day-old specific-pathogen-free (SPF) white leghorns were vaccinated with a combination of reovirus, Newcastle disease (ND), and infectious bronchitis (IB) vaccines by CS and infectious bursal disease vaccine by the subcutaneous (SQ) route. In Expt. 2, one-day-old commercial broilers were vaccinated by CS with reovirus vaccine and Marek's disease (MD) vaccine by SQ. In Expt. 3, one-day-old commercial broilers received reovirus vaccine in combination with ND-IB vaccines at 1 day of age by CS and MD vaccine by SQ. Some birds received an initial or second vaccination at 7 days of age by CS or the drinking-water (DW) route. Birds vaccinated by CS at 1 day of age with reovirus vaccine did not produce circulating virus-neutralizing antibody against reovirus, although they had resistance to VT infection. In contrast, initial or booster vaccination at 7 days of age by CS or DW resulted in an antibody response and greater resistance to challenge than did CS vaccination at 1 day of age. There was no difference in efficacy between CS and DW routes at 7 days of age. The reovirus vaccine did not interfere with other vaccines as measured by serologic (ND-IB-IBD) or challenge (MD) studies.     

Safety and efficacy of an experimental reovirus vaccine for in ovo administration

A commercial reovirus vaccine alone or experimental reovirus vaccine plus antibody complex were inoculated into 18-day-old specific pathogen free (SPF) broiler embryos at 0.1 of the recommended chick dose. The following groups were used: group 1A was not vaccinated or challenged; group 1B was not vaccinated, but was challenged with virulent reovirus; group 2 received the vaccine complexed with 1/4 dilution of antiserum; group 3 received the vaccine with 1/8 dilution of antiserum; group 4 received the vaccine with 1/16 dilution of antiserum, and group 5 received vaccine alone. At 1, 3, 6, 9, and 12 days of age, serum was collected and antibody against avian reovirus was analyzed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). At the same times, spleens were collected and vaccine virus detected by inoculating chicken embryo fibroblasts (CEFs) and examining for cytopathic effect. At 15 days of age, chickens in groups 2-5 were challenged with reovirus. At 22 days of age, birds were euthanatized and weighed. Efficacy of the vaccines was based on safety, percent protection, and antibody response. In ovo vaccination with the commercial or experimental vaccines did not adversely affect hatchability of SPF chickens. The vaccine complexed with antibody resulted in significantly less posthatch mortality (3.7%) when compared to mortality of chickens that received vaccine alone (17%). Both vaccine virus recovery and antibody response were delayed at least 3 days in birds receiving the experimental vaccines. In evo administration of reovirus antibody complex vaccines provided at least 70% protection. The experimental reovirus-antibody complex vaccines were safe and efficacious when given in ovo to SPF broiler embryos.     

Antibody response of kori bustards (Ardeotis kori) and houbara bustards (Chlamydotis undulata) to live and inactivated Newcastle disease vaccines.

Adult houbara bustards (Chlamydotis undulata) and juvenile kori bustards (Ardeotis kori) were given four regimens of commercially available inactivated and live poultry paramyxovirus type 1 (PMV-1) vaccines. Immunologic response to vaccination was assessed by hemagglutination inhibition assay of serum. Kori bustards, to which a dose of 0.5 ml of a commercially available inactivated vaccine for poultry had been administered intramuscularly (0.15 ml/kg body weight), failed to develop hemagglutinating antibodies, but antibody titers of low intensity and duration were detected following administration of a second and third subcutaneous dose of 2.0 ml vaccine per bird (0.40-0.45 ml/kg). In subsequent trials, when inactivated vaccine was administered subcutaneously at 1.0 ml/kg body weight following two or four live vaccinations administered by the ocular route, juvenile kori bustards developed higher, more persistent titers of antibodies. Kori bustards given four live vaccinations followed by inactivated vaccine developed higher titers of longer duration compared with kori bustards given two live vaccines followed by inactivated vaccine. Antibody titers of kori bustards given inactivated vaccine were higher and more persistent than the antibody response to live vaccination. Houbara bustards, previously vaccinated with inactivated vaccine, that were given a booster dose of inactivated vaccine maintained high mean antibody titers (> or = log, 5) for 52 wk. The authors recommend that inactivated PMV-1 vaccine should be administered by subcutaneous injection of 1.0 ml/kg vaccine to bustards. Adult bustards, previously vaccinated with inactivated vaccine, should be vaccinated annually with inactivated vaccine. Juvenile bustards should receive a second dose of inactivated vaccine 4-6 mo after the first dose of inactivated vaccine. Even though inactivated PMV-1 vaccines induced hemagglutination inhibition antibodies and produced no adverse reactions, further studies will be required to determine the protective efficacy of the antibody.     

The use in practice of inactivated oil emulsion vaccine against infectious bursal disease in broiler breeders and its influence on the progeny: a comparative field trial

Field trials were conducted to establish the effect of the use of an inactivated oil emulsion vaccine against Infectious Bursal Disease (IBD OEV) in broiler breeder hens, and its effects on their progeny. The performance of 18 broiler flocks, which were the progeny of the IBD OEV vaccinated breeder hens, but which were not vaccinated with a live vaccine against IBD, was equal to that of broiler flocks which were vaccinated with a live IBD vaccine and originated from parent stock that had been vaccinated only against IBD with a live vaccine. In none of the 18 flocks, progeny of IBD OEV vaccinated parents, was IBD diagnosed. In a second stage, 15 broiler flocks were included in the trial: these were derived partly from IBD OEV vaccinated parents, and partly from parents that received only live IBD vaccine at 8-10 days of age. No cases of IBD occurred and all flocks were positive for IBD precipitins at slaughter age. Vaccination with a live vaccine against IBD at the age of 8-10 days had no influence on NCD antibody development after a NCD vaccination at 7 days. No immunosuppressive effect from this type of live live IBD vaccine could be determined under field conditions.     

猪圆环病毒2型高免卵黄抗体的研制与应用

为制备猪圆环病毒2型(porcine circovirus serotype2,PCV-2)高免卵黄抗体,并对其治疗效果进行研究,通过自制猪圆环病毒2型(PCV-2)灭活苗,免疫SPF产蛋鸡,收集高免蛋,制备PCV-2高免卵黄抗体,对高免卵黄抗体进行无菌检验、活体动物安全性检测,用琼脂扩散方法进行效价检验和人工感染保育猪治疗试验,并将其应用于临床实践,观察其治疗效果。结果抗体效价达到1∶64;人工感染治疗试验治愈率达100%;临床试验治愈率为96%,应用效果良好。     

鸡传染性法氏囊病活疫苗（B87株 CA株 CF株）安全性及免疫效果评价

通过观察疫苗免疫后鸡群的生长情况和临床症状,检测免疫后不同时期鸡群的ELISA抗体水平和攻毒保护率以及对鸡新城疫（ND）疫苗免疫后不同时间鸡群的HI抗体水平,评价和检测鸡传染性法氏囊病活疫苗（B87株 CA株 CF株）在石家庄地区临床应用的安全性、免疫效果、免疫持续期以及是否会产生免疫抑制。结果表明,试验疫苗接种蛋鸡和肉鸡后,均没有观察到因疫苗引起的不良反应,对蛋鸡和肉鸡均安全。疫苗接种蛋鸡后14 d、28 d、42 d、60 d和90 d,接种肉鸡后14 d、21 d、36 d攻毒保护率均达80%以上;商品蛋鸡接种疫苗后90 d其ELISA抗体水平仍高达6500以上。ND HI抗体检测结果表明,试验疫苗接种后对ND疫苗的免疫应答无显著影响,不引起免疫抑制。结论：试验疫苗安全、有效,质量稳定,适用于预防鸡传染性法氏囊病。     

几种鸡新城疫-减蛋综合征二联灭活苗免疫效果比较试验

用自制的鸡新城疫-减蛋综合征二联油乳剂灭活苗接种140日龄的商品蛋鸡,并以其他公司及进口的同种二联油苗、自制的ND单苗和EDS76单苗作对照,抽测不同免疫时期鸡血清,测定各种疫苗接种后ND和EDS76HI抗体消长规律。结果表明,自制二联灭活苗与国外某公司生产的ND-EDS76二联灭活疫苗相当,EDS76抗体和ND抗体的增长曲线无明显差异。     

Effect of in ovo administered reovirus vaccines on immune responses of specific-pathogen-free chickens

We investigated the effect of in ovo administered reovirus vaccines on the immune responses of specific-pathogen-free chickens. T-cell mitogenic responses to concanavalin A were numerically lower at 9 and 12 days of age and significantly lower at 6 days of age in birds vaccinated with a commercial reovirus vaccine compared with unvaccinated birds or birds vaccinated with an experimental reovirus-antibody complex vaccine. There were no significant differences in proportions of subpopulations of helper (CD4+CD8-) or cytotoxic (CD4-CD8+) T cells except at 12 days of age, when the percentages of CD4-CD8+ cells in the two vaccinated groups were statistically higher than in the nonvaccinated group. B-cell populations were not different among vaccine groups except at 9 days of age, when the vaccinated groups had the highest level of B cells. This commercial reovirus vaccine should not be given in ovo to embryos having little or no maternal antibody, otherwise immunosuppression may occur in the chicks. The addition of the antibody complex to the vaccine prevented this T-cell immunosuppression.     

Effect of breeder vaccination on immunization of progeny against Newcastle disease

Two experiments were conducted to determine the effect of breeder vaccination program and maternal antibody on the efficacy of Newcastle disease immunization of 1-day-old chicks. Experimental protocol was the same for both. In the first experiment, broilers were from breeders that were 32 weeks old, and in the second experiment, broilers were from breeders 50 weeks old. Breeders received three live Newcastle disease virus (NDV) vaccines and either a killed vaccine at 18 weeks or continual live boosting at 60-to-70-day intervals through lay. Broilers were vaccinated at 1 day of age with a commercial coarse-spray machine; they were bled, sera were examined for antibody against NDV, and broilers were challenged with virulent NDV at 2, 4, and 6 weeks of age. In the first experiment, maternal antibody was higher in chicks from the younger breeders given the inactivated vaccine, and in the second experiment maternal antibody was higher in chicks from older breeders given continual live vaccines. Higher antibody in 1-day-old broilers resulted in fewer vaccine-induced reactions, less vaccine virus shed, and decreased duration of vaccine-induced immunity from coarse-spray vaccination.     

Serological response and virus shedding of chickens inoculated with reovirus via different routes

A comparison of the serological responses to a reovirus administered by the eye-drop, intramuscular, oral and subcutaneous routes was made in three-week-old chickens. Their patterns of virus shedding were also compared. All four routes resulted in an antibody response and no virus excretion in faeces more than two to three weeks after administration. The oral route represented the most favourable route for live reovirus vaccine administration.     

Antibody Responses Against Equine Influenza Virus Induced by Concurrent and by Consecutive Use of an Inactivated Equine Influenza Virus Vaccine and a Modified Live Equine Herpesvirus Type 1 Vaccine in Thoroughbred Racehorses

An inactivated equine influenza virus (EIV) vaccine and a live equine herpesvirus type 1 (EHV-1) vaccine are usually administered concurrently to Thoroughbred racehorses in Japan. The objective of this study was to evaluate whether concurrent administration of an inactivated EIV vaccine and a live EHV-1 vaccine in Thoroughbred racehorses influences the antibody response against EIV. We compared the antibody response against EIV in horses administered both vaccines on the same day (Group A; n = 27) and the response in horses administered an inactivated EIV vaccine first and then a live EHV-1 vaccine 1–2 weeks later (Group B; n = 20). In both groups, geometric mean hemagglutination inhibition (HI) titers against A/equine/Ibaraki/1/2007 and A/equine/Yokohama/aq13/2010 increased significantly after EIV vaccination. However, the percentage of horses that showed a twofold increase or greater in HI titers against A/equine/Yokohama/aq13/2010 was significantly higher in Group B (75%) than in Group A (37%; P = .02). These results suggest that the concurrent use of an inactivated EIV vaccine and a live EHV-1 vaccine reduced the immune response against EIV to some extent, and it would be better to use these vaccines consecutively, especially for naïve horses or horses whose vaccination history is incomplete.     

Immune responses of breeding chickens to trivalent oil emulsion vaccines: responses to infectious bronchitis

Three similar flocks of broiler breeder parent chickens that had been given live infections bronchitis (IB) vaccines during rearing were injected at 20 weeks of age with three different oil emulsion vaccines: a commercial monovalent Newcastle disease (ND) vaccine (flock A); an experimental bivalent vaccine containing ND and infectious bursal disease (IBD) components (flock B); and an experimental trivalent vaccine containing ND, IBD and IB components (flock C). One week after vaccination 40 hens from flock A and 40 from flock C were taken to the laboratory and their egg yields individually recorded. At 37 weeks of age they were challenged by aerosol exposure to virulent IB virus. The egg production dropped significantly in the hens from flock A but not in the hens from flock C. On the farm, flock C showed a higher mean IB virus antibody titre four weeks after vaccination but titres rose in all three flocks indicating the presence of active IB virus infection. No differences in egg yields were found between the three farm flocks.     

The use of a bacterin vaccine in broiler breeders for the control of Ornithobacterium rhinotracheale in commercial broilers

Ornithobacterium rhinotracheale (ORT) is a recently identified bacterial pathogen of poultry, linked to the respiratory disease complex of broilers and the economic losses associated with that disease complex. Present control measures applied for the disease include the continuous use of in-feed antibiotics. A recently developed bacterin vaccine that is applied to broiler-breeder hens to pass on protective immunity to their broiler progeny was tested under large-scale commercial conditions in South Africa. An indirect ELISA test for antibodies to ORT, optimised for use in South Africa, was used to determine antibody levels in breeders and broilers. ELISA test results showed that the vaccine stimulated the development of high antibody titre levels in broiler breeders. The efficacy of the vaccine in protecting the progeny of these birds from ORT challenge could not be determined during the trial, although the progeny of vaccinated hens appeared to perform slightly better under commercial conditions than the progeny of unvaccinated hens.