Comparison of serological tests for the measurement of the primary immune response to avian infectious bronchitis virus vaccines

The immune response of individual chickens exposed in an aerosol apparatus to live commercial avian infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) vaccines was measured by serum neutralization (SN), haemagglutination inhibition (HI), complement fixation (CF) and agar gel precipitin (AGP) tests over a period of 14 weeks.The SN titres showed considerable variation for individual chickens and in a large number of birds were negative until 14 weeks after infection.Positive HI titres were recorded for most birds at one week after infection and persisted throughout the observation period. Some relationship was seen between HI and SN titres particularly in birds showing a high immune response.The results obtained with the AGP were transient, variable and did not compare well with results obtained by the other tests. The highest number of positive AGP reactors were seen two to three weeks after infection.Most birds showed positive titres by the CF test at some time after infection but titres were always low and did not correlate with results obtained by the other tests.Twenty-two weeks after vaccination 23 chickens were challenged by aerosol exposure to the Massachusetts 41 strain of IBV and four days later the trachea, kidneys and oviducts were removed from each bird for attempted virus isolation. Virus was recovered from only one kidney and 11 trachea samples. The mean pre-challenge HI and SN titres of birds from which no virus was recovered were significantly higher than the mash titres of vaccinated birds from which virus was isolated after challenge.     

Protection of laying hens against infectious bronchitis with inactivated emulsion vaccines

Commercially-reared laying chickens were challenged at 31 weeks of age with a virulent infectious bronchitis (IB) virus. They showed a sharp drop in egg production, despite having been vaccinated at four and eight weeks old with live attenuated IB vaccines to a recommended schedule. In contrast, similar birds that had been further immunised at point-of-lay with inactivated oil emulsion IB vaccine, or with a combined IB/Newcastle disease (ND) emulsion vaccine, showed no detectable fall in egg production after the same challenge. Unvaccinated susceptible specific pathogen-free birds challenged at the same time stopped laying almost completely. In the birds revaccinated with emulsion vaccine, measurement of haemagglutination inhibition antibody levels to IB showed their geometric mean titres to be raised from less than 5 log2 at the time of vaccination to over 10 log2 four weeks later. Their antibody levels did not rise further followining the IB challenge whereas in the birds that had not been revaccinated antibody rises to nearly 10 log2 were detected after the same challenge. For pullets vaccinated earlier with live IB vaccine, revaccination with inactivated IB or IB/ND oil emulsion vaccine at point-of-lay provides a safe and effective way of protecting their egg production against IB infection.     

Cell mediated and humoral immune response of chickens to inactivated oil-emulsion infectious bronchitis vaccine

A lymphocyte transformation microassay was used to study cell mediated immunity (CMI) in chickens following primary and secondary vaccination with inactivated oil emulsion infectious bronchitis (IB) vaccine and subsequent challenge with Massachusetts-41 (M-41). Humoral immunity was monitored for comparison, using the haemagglutination inhibition (HI) microassay. Positive stimulation indices (2 to 2.7 after primary and 2 to 4.8 after secondary vaccination) were lower and HI titres were higher than those previously reported following primary and secondary vaccination with live IB vaccines. The highest HI titres appeared in birds which had received the inactivated vaccine as a secondary vaccination. Challenge of vaccinated and revaccinated birds resulted in strong HI and weak CMI secondary responses. There was no correlation between CMI and HI antibody production. Monitoring egg production and clinical signs showed that a high level of protection against challenge resulted from revaccination with an inactivated oil adjuvant vaccine.     

Newcastle disease vaccination: A comparison of vaccines and routes of administration in Pakistan

Twelve-day-old chickens were vaccinated once with different Newcastle disease (ND) vaccines ( F, La Sota and Mukteswar) by two different routes (intraocular and drinking water). Chickens from a seventh group were uninoculated controls. At weekly intervals for 7 weeks after vaccination, 20 chickens from each vaccinated group and 20 chickens from the control group were examined for the production of haemagglutination-inhibition (HI) antibodies and for protection as assessed after challenge with velogenic, viscerotropic ND virus.

La Sota ND vaccine used intraocularly ranked the best and Mukteswar vaccine by the drinking water route the worst for their HI antibody titres prior to challenge. Differences between the treatments in protection were examined. For all three vaccines intraocular vaccine produced higher protection than drinking water vaccine. An inverse relationship between prechallenge and postchallenge HI titres was also recorded.     

Serological examination and egg production of progeny of fowl experimentally infected with egg drop syndrome 1976 virus

Following EDS'76 virus (BC14 virus) infection of breeder chickens by the conjunctival route, vertical transmission occurred in the first week after infection. In the progeny which had been infected with EDS'76 virus by the vertical route, increasing haemagglutination inhibiting (HI) titres to BC14 virus and increasing numbers of birds with HI titres were observed from 3 weeks to 15 weeks of age. Sixty-one per cent of the hens and 77 per cent of the cocks had 2 log HI BC14 virus titres exceeding 4 at an age of 15 weeks. Some birds which han been serologically negative throughout the rearing period, seroconverted between 25 and 28 weeks of age. This phenomenon occurred in hens as well as in cocks. Simulation of stress twice during the laying period by injection of corticosteroid hormone did not increase the number of birds serologically positive to EDS'76 virus. EDS'76 was observed in the group of hens that was vertically infected, since egg production was significantly depressed between 28 and 34 weeks of age. Probably this was mainly the results of a production drop in the hens showing serconversion at 27 or 28 weeks of age. In this group of fowl vertically infected with EDs'76 virus, serologically positive birds appeared to be protected for the greater part to BC14 virus challenge at 50 weeks of age, while negative birds seemed to be fully susceptible. Chicks hatched from eggs collected in the third and fourth week after infection of the dams had maternal antibodies. Fertility and hatchability of apparently normally shelled eggs seemed not to be affected after BC14 virus infection of the dams. Intensive contact with contaminated faeces is probably an indispensable condition for lateral transmission of the virus.     

Investigations on the Influence of Helminth Parasites on Vaccination of Chickens against Newcastle Disease Virus under Village Conditions

Prevalence studies have shown that almost 100% of free-range chickens are infected with a wide range of parasites. The infections are mostly subclinical in nature, resulting in production losses and occasionally mortality. Newcastle disease (ND), on the other hand, results in high mortality rates during epidemics. ND is a limiting factor for increasing poultry production in many tropical countries, where frequent reports indicate vaccination failures. The aim of our study was to investigate the influence of helminths on the antibody response after vaccination against Newcastle disease of free-range chickens naturally infected with parasites. Sixty chickens were divided into six groups, of which three were vaccinated against ND with a live De Soto vaccine, while the other three remained non-vaccinated. One group within the vaccinated groups and the one within the non-vaccinated group was kept naturally infected with helminth parasites, while the other two groups in each set were dewormed with fenbendazole and niclosamide, and one of each of these groups was subsequently infected with Ascaridia galli. After vaccination, all the groups were followed for 5 weeks and their antibody titres were determined weekly using a HI test. All the birds were finally challenged 4 weeks after vaccination with a virulent velogenic ND virus obtained from a field outbreak. All the vaccinated chickens seroconverted and had high antibody levels after 3 weeks, but these dropped to low levels at 4 weeks after vaccination. After challenge, the antibody titres rose in the dewormed groups but not in the parasite-infected groups. After 5 weeks, all the parasite-infected animals had significantly lower antibody titres than the dewormed animals. All the vaccinated chickens survived the challenge infection, emphasizing the importance of the cellular immune response. Further studies are needed to examine the effects of the parasitic infection on protection against ND over a longer period.     

Protective antibody response produced by the chickens vaccinated with green coloured thermostable Newcastle disease virus

The efficacy of green-coloured (GC) I-2 Newcastle disease vaccine was determined in the present study. I-2 vaccine was mixed with a green coloured dye and stored at 4°C for 6 months while assayed for the virus infectivity at a monthly interval. Chickens were vaccinated with the GC vaccine by eye drop. Serum samples were collected from all birds before and after vaccination at weekly interval for 4 weeks and tested for haemagglutination-inhibition (HI) antibody against Newcastle disease virus (NDV). These chickens were challenged with NDV virulent strain four weeks after vaccination. The results showed that there was no difference between the infectivity titres of GC and uncoloured vaccines. However, chickens vaccinated with GC vaccine produced higher HI antibody titres than chickens vaccinated with uncoloured vaccine. Results from the challenge trial showed that all vaccinated chickens survived whereas all unvaccinated chickens died. The findings from this study have shown that the GC vaccine is safe and produced protective antibodies against NDV in vaccinated chickens. Wambura, P. N., 2008. Protective antibody response produced by the chickens vaccinated with green coloured thermostable Newcastle disease virus. Tropical Animal Health and Production.     

SIMULATED NATURAL INFECTION OF CHICKENS WITH AUSTRALIAN LENTOGENIC NEWCASTLE DISEASE VIRUS AND SUBSEQUENT CHALLENGE WITH VIRULENT VIRUS

A total of 291 eight-week-old chickens were exposed to chickens infected with either of two Australian lentogenic strains (V4 and AVL NDV-1) of Newcastle disease virus (NDV). At 3 weeks after exposure, all chickens exposed to V4 infected chickens had developed haemagglutination-inhibition (HI) antibody. All chickens exposed to AVL NDV-1 virus infected chickens had developed HI antibody 5 weeks later. This sudden late appearance of HI antibody, to titres higher than those observed with V4 chickens, was explained by V4 virus being introduced to the AVL NDV-1 group of chickens. When groups of these chickens were challenged with Roakin virus (mesogenic NDV) at 3 weeks and Fontana 1083 virus (viscerotropic velogenic NDV) and Texas GB virus (neutrotropic NDV) at 3, 5, 10 and 21 weeks only three chickens developed clinical illness one of which died. These chickens were one AVL NDV-1 chicken contact challenged with Fontana 1083 virus at 3 weeks, one V4 chicken oronasally challenged with Texas GB virus at 5 weeks and one V4 chicken challenged oronasally with Fontana 1083 virus at 10 weeks. Susceptible non-vaccinated chickens died soon after challenge. Challenge by oronasal infection with 10(7.0) ELD50 of virus or contact with susceptible infected chickens enabled virulent virus to be isolated from most chickens and was accompanied by a large anamnestic increase in serum HI antibody.     

Immune response of chickens to various routes of administration of Australian infectious bronchitis vaccine

Groups of 100 two-week-old cockerels were vaccinated with the A₃ strain of IB vaccine by conjunctival, intranasal, in-contact, drinking water, or aerosol routes, or were left as unvaccinated controls. Three weeks after vaccination, each group of chickens was challenged with the Appin strain of IBV.
Vaccination by the conjunctiva!, intranasal and in-contact routes induced a good resistance to challenge, concurring with an obvious stimulation of the Harderian gland, while the drinking water route led to a low resistance to challenge, with minor changes in the gland. The results of no immune response and no resistance to challenge in the birds vaccinated by aerosol route was due to unsuccessful vaccination in the group. Application of the vaccine by the conjunctival route would appear to be a most effective route for the application of Australian IB vaccines, while the in-contact method appears worthy of further study.     

Intranasal vaccination of pigs against Aujeszky's disease: protective immunity at 2 weeks, 2 months and 4 months after vaccination in pigs with maternal antibodies.

The purpose of the study was to evaluate the short- and long-term immunity after intranasal vaccination in pigs with maternally derived antibodies (MDA). In two experiments, 10-week-old pigs with moderate MDA titres against Aujeszky's disease virus (ADV) were vaccinated intranasally with the Bartha strain of ADV to evaluate the protective immunity conferred at 2 weeks, 2 months and 4 months after vaccination. Protection was evaluated on the basis of severity of clinical signs, periods of fever and growth arrest, and duration and amount of virus excreted after challenge with a virulent ADV. During the first 2-3 weeks after vaccination, antibodies to ADV continued to decline as in unvaccinated control pigs. After that, antibody titres stabilized or gradually increased. At 2 weeks, 2 months and 4 months after vaccination, vaccinated pigs were significantly better protected than unvaccinated controls. The vaccinated pigs challenged 2 weeks after vaccination hardly developed any sign of disease. Mild signs of Aujeszky's disease and a growth arrest period of 5 days were observed in vaccinated pigs challenged 2 months after vaccination, whereas vaccinated pigs challenged 4 months after vaccination developed severe signs of disease and a growth arrest period of 13 days. Vaccinated pigs challenged 2 weeks after vaccination did not excrete challenge virus, and pigs challenged 2 or 4 months after vaccination excreted far less virus than unvaccinated controls. The results demonstrate that intranasal ADV vaccination of pigs with moderate MDA titres protected them from 2 weeks to at least 4 months after vaccination. Immunity steadily declined, however, after vaccination.     

Efficacy of infectious bronchitis virus vaccines against heterologous challenge

Twenty-four-week-old white Leghorn layers were inoculated subcutaneously with a killed Newcastle disease-infectious bronchitis (Massachusetts type) virus (MIBV) vaccine. Twenty-eight weeks after vaccination, the birds were challenged intraocularly with the Arkansas strain of infectious bronchitis virus (AIBV) to determine the effects of heterologous virus exposure on egg production, egg quality and serum antibody response of the birds. The challenged hens laid significantly (P less than 0.005) fewer eggs than the unchallenged layers. Eggs laid by the unchallenged groups weighed significantly more (P less than 0.005) than those laid by the challenged groups. Further, the internal quality (Haugh units) and shell quality of eggs laid by the AIBV-challenged hens was significantly (P less than 0.005) inferior to those from the unchallenged hens. In addition, the AIBV-challenged hens laid more soft-shell, misshapen and small eggs than the unchallenged hens. The Arkansas serum haemagglutination inhibition (AIBV-HI) titres of AIBV challenged birds increased up to four weeks after challenge. The corresponding MIBV haemagglutination-inhibition (MIBV-HI) titres decreased during the same period. The study indicates that killed MIBV vaccine offered no protection to birds exposed to heterologous AIBV.     

Vaccination against infectious bronchitis in young chickens--carriers or not of maternal antibodies

The immunity to infectious bronchitis afforded by spray vaccination of mycoplasma free two days-old broilers with maternal antibodies to infectious bronchitis virus was tested by comparing zootechnical scores, clinical signs, macroscopical and microscopical changes, frequency of infectious bronchitis virus isolation following challenge at one, three and five weeks of age in vaccinated, unvaccinated, challenged and unchallenged birds. This vaccination gave a very good protection to infectious bronchitis for the most part of broiler economical life; growth delays were especially avoided. However, vaccinated and unvaccinated one-week-old birds were not protected enough. No correlation was observed between haemagglutinating antibodies titres and protection. At last this vaccination caused a notable reaction in specific pathogen free control birds of the same age.     

Different approaches to the vaccination of free ranging village chickens against Newcastle disease in Qwa-Qwa, South Africa

The aim of this study was to develop a strategy to control Newcastle disease (ND) in free ranging village chickens using the Nobilis ND Inkukhu vaccine (Intervet South Africa). The study was conducted at Thibella village in Qwa-Qwa, South Africa from April 2001 to October 2002. Three different routes of vaccination (administration via eye-drop, drinking water and feed) were investigated. The haemagglutination inhibition (HI) test was conducted monthly in order to measure the antibody response of village chickens after immunization against Newcastle disease. Using a South African isolate of velogenic ND virus, challenge trials were conducted to determine the efficacy of the vaccine. A questionnaire was provided to evaluate perceptions of farmers on vaccinations. The eye-drop vaccination route produced the highest HI titres ranging between 2.7 and 4.4, followed by the drinking water vaccination route with titres ranging between 2.3 and 4.0. The lowest titres were from the feed vaccination route which ranged between 1.6 and 3.0. Following the challenge, the entire control group died on the third and fourth day after infection. However, 70% of the chickens immunized by using either the eye-drop or drinking water route survived the challenge. Only 20% of the chickens from the group immunized through the feed route survived. Evidently both the eye-drop and drinking water routes were efficient in preventing disease. Necropsies showed that vaccinated chickens had mild lesions whilst control chickens had severe lesions compatible with Newcastle disease. The efficacy of the vaccine using either of the routes can be enhanced by administration of booster vaccinations at 3-month intervals during the first year of a vaccination campaign and then at 6-month intervals from the second year onwards. The majority of the owners indicated that they would prefer to vaccinate their flocks using the drinking water route.     

Resistance of chickens to challenge with the virulent Herts 33 strain of Newcastle disease virus induced by prior infection with serologically distinct avian paramyxoviruses.

Results indicate that some degree of protection from challenge by Newcastle disease virus (NDV)/Herts 33 was conferred on chickens by prior infection with PMV/turkey/Wisconsin/68, PMV/turkey/Ontario/6661/68, PMV/Netherlands/449/75 and PMV/parakeet/England/39/78 viruses, all of which are serologically related but distinguishable from NDV. Except for one bird which survived challenge three weeks after infection with Robin/Hiddensee/19/75, no protection was seen in chickens infected with other unrelated avian paramyxoviruses. In contrast to infection with NDV-B1, birds protected by infection with avian paramyxoviruses showed large increases in NDV haemagglutination inhibition (HI) titres after challenge. In these birds considerable increases in the homologous HI titres were also seen after challenge.     

Experimental trials with a thermostable Newcastle disease virus (strain I2) in commercial and village chickens in Tanzania

Antibody responses in indigenous village and commercial chickens vaccinated with 12 thermostable Newcastle disease (ND) vaccine and protection levels against challenge with a virulent field isolate were determined. The antibody response of village chickens vaccinated by eye drop revealed that 30, 60 and 90 days after primary vaccination, the mean log2 HI titres were 6.1, 5.4 and 3.6, respectively, whereas for commercial chickens, the antibody response after 14, 30 and 90 days were 8.2, 5.1 and 4.2, respectively. Village chickens vaccinated orally via drinking water had mean log2 HI titres of 3.4 after 30 days. After booster vaccination, the mean HI titre was 5.4 and 3.3 after 30 and 60 days post-secondary vaccination (i.e. 60 and 90 days after primary vaccination). Antibody response of mean log2 HI titres of 2.6 was recorded 30 days after primary vaccination orally through food; 30 and 60 days after secondary vaccination (i.e. 60 and 90 days after primary vaccination), mean log2 HI titres were 5.3 and 3.2, respectively. All commercial and village chickens vaccinated by eye drop survived the challenge trial whereas village chickens vaccinated through drinking water and food had protection levels of 80% and 60% 30 days after primary vaccination, respectively. However, 30 days after booster vaccination, the protection level was 100%. At 60 days after secondary vaccination, the protection level dropped again to 80% for chickens vaccinated orally. All control chickens used in the challenge trials developed clinical ND and died 3-5 days after inoculation with the virulent virus. Supported by laboratory findings, I2 strain of NDV seemed to be avirulent, immunogenic and highly protective against virulent isolates of NDV. It may be a suitable vaccine to use in village chickens to vaccinate them against ND in rural areas.     

Immune response of sows and their offspring to pseudorabies virus: serum neutralization response to vaccination and field virus challenge.

One month prior to breeding, sows were vaccinated with an attenuated pseudorabies virus vaccine or challenged with a field strain of pseudorabies virus. A third group of sows were not vaccinated or challenged before breeding. Pigs from these sows were vaccinated at 3, 6, or 12 weeks of age and challenged with virulent virus three weeks later. One pig from each litter served as an unvaccinated, unchallenged control. Serum neutralization titers of these pigs were monitored from birth until 22 weeks of age. Titers of the sows were monitored through breeding, gestation and farrowing. The maximum prefarrowing anti-pseudorabies virus titer in the field virus challenged sows occurred four weeks following challenge. A significant decline in titers occurred at farrowing. Titers rose from one week postfarrowing and then declined. Titers in the field virus infected sows were consistently two to threefold greater than those of the vaccinated sows. The maximum prefarrowing anti-pseudorabies virus titer in the vaccinated sows occurred six weeks following vaccination. The geometric mean titer in these sow's then decreased and increased for two weeks after farrowing. The results in the pigs can be summarized as follows: Pigs from control sows had a greater serological response following field virus challenge than following vaccination with a modified live virus. Pigs from control sows responded serologically to vaccination at 3, 6 and 12 weeks of age. Pigs from control sows which were challenged at 6, 9 and 15 weeks of age had similar antibody responses. Pigs from vaccinated sows had no increase in titer following vaccination at three and six weeks of age. Titers increased when these pigs were vaccinated at 12 weeks of age. There was no significant increase in mean titers of pigs from challenged sows following vaccination at 3, 6 and 12 weeks of age. Vaccinated pigs from control and vaccinated sows had a secondary response following challenge three weeks after vaccination.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Vaccination with canine parvovirus type 2 (CPV-2) protects against challenge with virulent CPV-2b and CPV-2c

Mutations in canine parvovirus (CPV) field isolates have created concerns regarding the ability of vaccines containing CPV-2 to protect against infection with the newly identified antigenic types CPV-2b and CPV-2c. To address this concern, the efficacy of CPV-2 strain NL-35-D currently in use as a commercial vaccine was demonstrated against an oral challenge with CPV-2b and CPV-2c, respectively. Clinically healthy specific pathogen free Beagle dogs were either vaccinated or treated with water for injection first at 8-9 weeks of age and again at 11-12 weeks of age. All dogs were challenged either with CPV-2b or CPV-2c three weeks after the second vaccination. During the two week period following challenge, clinical signs, white blood cell counts, serology by haemagglutination inhibition (HI) and serum neutralisation tests, and virus shedding by haemagglutination test were assessed. All control dogs developed clinical signs of parvovirosis (including pyrexia and leucopenia) and shed virus. Vaccinated dogs seroconverted (HI titres > or =80), remained healthy throughout the study and shed more than 100 times less virus than controls. In conclusion, vaccination with the low passage, high titre CPV-2 strain NL-35-D cross-protects dogs against virulent challenges with CPV-2b or CPV-2c by preventing disease and substantially reducing viral shedding.     

Avian paramyxovirus type 1 infections of racing pigeons: 4 laboratory assessment of vaccination

The immune response and protection from challenge afforded to adult pigeons by four different vaccination schedules were assessed. Intravenous challenge with a field pigeon isolate was done four weeks after the second of two doses of vaccine given four weeks apart. Little difference in protection was seen between two 0.25 ml and two 0.5 ml doses of oil emulsion vaccine, although the latter produced a slightly higher immune response. In both cases one of 10 challenged pigeons became sick and died. One dose of Newcastle disease virus B1 live vaccine followed four weeks later by 0.5 ml oil emulsion vaccine gave a comparable immune response to two 0.25 ml doses of oil emulsion but only six birds survived challenge. Two doses of Newcastle disease virus B1 vaccine gave a poor immune response and little protection from challenge; all 10 birds became sick and eight died. Assessment of the onset of protection following one dose of either 0.5 ml oil emulsion vaccine or Newcastle disease virus B1 indicated some partial protection in the latter group as early as five days after vaccination. Both groups showed protection at 10 days but by 21 days, although protection was sustained in the oil emulsion group, birds receiving live vaccine were fully susceptible. Measurement of the duration of protection in pigeons given two 0.5 ml doses of oil emulsion vaccine indicated that protection had begun to wane by 40 weeks after the first dose.     

Duration of excretion of virulent Newcastle disease virus following challenge of chickens with different titres of serum antibody to the virus

Virulent Newcastle disease virus (NDV) was isolated from susceptible and immune chickens following intra-ocular challenge with the Essex '70 strain. Challenge virus was isolated from the trachea and cloaca of susceptible birds until they died 7 to 9 days after challenge. This virus was isolated from immunised chickens for up to 14 days after challenge. The duration of excretion was influenced by the prechallenge serum antibody titre to NDV. It persisted longest in chickens with titres of 2(3) to 2(7) and decreased in length and frequency from chickens with titres in the range 2(8) to 2(12). Chickens with pre-challenge titres of 2(3) to 2(5) developed 2- to 3- fold increases in post-challenge titres, whereas those with higher pre-challenge titres had smaller proportional increases in titre. Excretion of virulent virus from immunised birds should be considered in the development of Newcastle disease control programs.     

Serological examination and egg production of progeny of fowl experimentally infected with Egg Drop Syndrome 1976 virus

Summary

Following EDS'76 virus (BC14 virus) infection of breeder chickens by the conjunctival route, vertical transmission occurred in the first week after infection. In the progeny which had been infected with EDS'76 virus by the vertical route, increasing haemagglutination inhibiting (HI) litres to BC14 virus and increasing numbers of birds with HI litres were observed from 3 weeks to 15 weeks of age. Sixty‐one per cent of the hens and 77 per cent of the cocks had ²log HI BC14 virus litres exceeding 4 at an age of 15 weeks.

Some birds which had been serologically negative throughout the rearing period, seroconverted between 25 and 28 weeks of age. This phenomenon occurred in hens as well as in cocks. Simulation of stress twice during the laying period by injection of corticosteroid hormone did not increase the number of birds serologically positive to EDS'76 virus.

EDS'76 was observed in the group of hens that was vertically infected, since egg production was significantly depressed between 28 and 34 weeks of age. Probably this was mainly the result of a production drop in the hens showing seroconversion at 27 or 28 weeks of age.

In the group of fowl vertically infected with EDS'76 virus, serologically positive birds appeared to be protected for the greater part to BC14 virus challenge at 50 weeks of age, while negative birds seemed to be fully susceptible. Chicks hatched from eggs collected in the third and fourth week after infection of the dams had maternal antibodies. Fertility and hatchability of apparently normally shelled eggs seemed not to be affected after BC14 virus infection of the dams. Intensive contact with contaminated faeces is probably an indispensable condition for lateral transmission of the virus.