Vaccination of broilers against Newcastle disease in the presence of maternally derived antibodies

Summary

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of a live attenuated vaccine against Newcastle disease in broilers with different levels of maternally derived antibodies (MDA). While vaccination remains the single most important means for controlling Newcastle disease, presence of MDA may interfere with the vaccination of young birds and decrease the efficacy of the vaccine. Materials and methods: Day-old chicks with variable levels of MDA (negative, low and high) were vaccinated with a live attenuated vaccine against Newcastle disease. Three most commonly used inoculation routes were compared; oculonasal, spray and oral (drinking water). Onset and duration of immunity were measured by serology and challenge with virulent virus. Results: Immune response in vaccinated MDA-positive birds was delayed in comparison with SPF controls. Protection was well established already at 14 days post vaccination in SPF birds while in MDA-positive birds it was 1–2 weeks delayed and was lower throughout the study. Non-vaccinated MDA-positive birds lost passive protection completely at 3–4 weeks of age and were significantly more susceptible to challenge than vaccinated hatch mates at all test points. The protection rate increased in vaccinated birds towards the end of the experiment and reached 70–100 % at the last test points (35–42 days of age). Correlation of haemagglutination inhibition (HI) titre vs. protection rate revealed the importance of cellular and local immunity as most of the vaccinated birds with low HI titre were protected, contrary to their unvaccinated hatch mates with the same HI titre. Oculonasal route seems to provide slightly better protection than the other two routes. Conclusions and clinical relevance: Although immune protection in vaccinated MDA-positive birds may be decreased or delayed, vaccination still provides high protection against ND challenge in comparison with the unvaccinated hatch mates. The degree of interference seems to be proportional to the level of MDA. Vaccination schedules therefore need to be designed according to the immune status of the flock.

Zusammenfassung

Ziel: Beurteilung der Wirksamkeit eines attenuierten Lebendimpfstoffs gegen Newcastle Disease (ND) bei Broilern mit verschiedenen Titern maternaler Antikörper (MA). Die Impfung ist die wichtigste Präventionsmaßnahme gegen ND, doch können MA mit der Impfung interferieren und deren Wirksamkeit bei Junghühnern beeinträchtigen. Material und Methoden: Eintagsküken mit unterschiedlichen MA-Titern (negativ, niedrig, hoch) wurden mit attenuiertem ND-Lebendimpfstoff geimpft. Es erfolgte ein Vergleich der drei häufigsten Applikationswege: okulonasal, Versprühen, über das Trinkwasser. Beginn und Dauer der Immunität wurden durch Serologie und Challenge mit virulentem ND-Virus beurteilt. Ergebnisse: Bei geimpften MA-positiven Hühnern war die Immunantwort im Vergleich zu SPF-Hühnern der Kontrollgruppe verzögert. Ein guter Impfschutz ergab sich bei SPF-Hühnern schon 14 Tage nach der Impfung, während der Impfschutz bei MA-positiven Hühner 1–2 Wochen verzögert eintrat und im Verlauf der Studie geringer war. Nicht geimpfte MA-positive Hühner verloren den passiven Schutz im Alter von 3–4 Wochen und erwiesen sich zu allen Testzeitpunkten signifikant anfälliger gegenüber der Challenge mit virulentem ND-Virus als aus dem selben Schlupf stammende geimpfte Tiere. Der Impfschutz stieg bei geimpften Tieren gegen Ende der Studie an und erreichte an den letzten Testzeitpunkten (35–42 Tage alte Tiere) 70–100 %. Die Korrelation zwischen Hämagglutinations-hemmtest(HAH)-Antikörpertiter und Stärke des Impfschutzes zeigt die Notwendigkeit von zellulärer und lokaler Immunität, da die meisten geimpften Hühner mit niedrigem HAH-Antikörpertiter geschützt waren, nicht jedoch ungeimpfte Hühner aus dem gleichen Schlupf mit identischem HAH-Antikörpertiter. Die okulonasale Applikation scheint einen etwas besseren Impfschutz zu ermöglichen als die beiden anderen Verabreichungswege. Schlussfolgerung und klinische Relevanz: Wenngleich der Immunschutz geimpfter MA-positiver Hühner vermindert oder verzögert sein kann, führte die Impfung zu einem hohen Schutz bei ND-Challenge im Vergleich zu ungeimpften Hühnern vom gleichen Schlupf. Die Beeinträchtigung des Impfschutzes scheint proportional zum MA-Titer zu sein. Die Impfschemata sollten daher dem betriebsspezifischen Immunstatus angepasst werden.

Keywords

Poultry - chicken - LaSota strain - live attenuated vaccine

Schlüsselwörter

Geflügel - Küken - LaSota-Stamm - attenuierte Lebendvakzine

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