Newcastle disease virus strain I2 - a prospective thermostable vaccine for use in developing countries

Forty-five avirulent Australian strains of Newcastle disease virus had been examined for antigenicity in chickens and 18 of these were tested for thermostability. Strain I2, chosen for a combination of antigenicity and thermostability, was artificially selected for enhanced thermostability. Master seed material was then prepared in minimal disease eggs, and vaccine by a further two passages in conventional eggs. Strain I2 virus at seed and vaccine level induced adequate levels of antibody in chickens vaccinated by eye drop and usually in their contacts. The serological response to oral vaccination was less certain. Antibody titres indicative of substantial protection against virulent challenge were maintained in a simulated village flock for 38 weeks by vaccination of the foundation flock on two occasions, with subsequent vaccination confined to clutches of chicks as they were produced. Strain I2 virus survived for at least 12 weeks when stored at 22°C in 1% gelatin. Strain I2 is suitable for local production of thermostable vaccine in regional laboratories in developing countries

Oral vaccination of chickens with the V4 strain of Newcastle disease virus. Cooked and raw white rice as a vehicle

Uncooked white rice and cooked white rice were tested as vehicles for the V4 strain of oral Newcastle disease vaccine. The results of feeding experiments were evaluated by the measurement of haemagglutination inhibition antibodies against Newcastle disease virus. Little of the virus applied to uncooked white rice could be recovered, even immediately after mixing, whereas when the virus was applied to cooked white rice most of it could be recovered. In 4 separate experiments, chickens failed to respond serologically to vaccine supplied on uncooked white rice. In all of 4 experiments with cooked white rice, there were serological responses in vaccinated chickens, from 45% to 100% of the chickens developing titres sufficiently high to indicate protection against challenge with virulent virus. Development of haemagglutination inhibition antibodies in some control chickens indicated the ability of the vaccine virus for lateral spread or persistence in the environment

Approaches to food-based vaccines for domestic chickens

Domestic chickens were fed viral vaccines that were applied to the surface of food pellets. Responses were judged by the production of specific antibodies, and compared with the responses obtained when the same vaccines were given by conventional routes. Chickens responded similarly to commercial avian infectious encephalomyelitis vaccine given on food or by eyedrop when antibodies were measured by ELISA, and the vaccine virus spread by contact. Increasing the dose of oral vaccine tenfold gave a more rapid serological response but the levels of antibody were not increased. There was no serological response to commercial infectious laryngotracheitis virus vaccine given on food. An experimental avian adenovirus vaccine produced a serological response when given on food, but higher levels of antibody were produced in response to vaccination by eyedrop. The vaccine virus spread by contact. It was concluded that current avian infectious encephalomyelitis vaccines, and prospective recombinant vaccines based on avian adenovirus vectors, could be delivered on food

Genetic analysis of canine parvovirus from dogs in Australia

Objective To determine the genetic variants of canine parvovirus-2 (CPV) present in domestic dogs in Australia and to investigate 26 cases of apparent vaccine failure

Development of a rapid biological assay for determination of potency of Newcastle disease vaccine (strain I-2)

A rapid biological assay based on incubation time has been developed for determination of the potency of Newcastle disease virus strain I-2 vaccine. It is based on the observation that the interval between inoculation and the first detection of haemagglutinin (HA) depends on the titre of the vaccine inoculated. Chicken embryonated eggs were inoculated with different titres (10(9), 10(6) and 10(3) EID50/0.1 ml) of vaccine and incubated for 24 h. At hourly intervals, 5 eggs from each vaccine titre were tested for the presence of HA. The results showed that the HA activity was detected from 5, 11 and 15 h after inoculation with vaccine doses of 10(9), 10(6) and 10(3) EID50, respectively. On the basis of these results it is suggested that if there is no HA detected from 5 to 11 h after inoculation of eggs with the vaccine virus, the vaccine should not be used to vaccinate chickens as it might have an infectivity titre of less than 10(6) EID50/0.1 ml, which is equivalent to the recommended single chicken dose. It is concluded that measuring the time between inoculation of the vaccine virus and the onset of HA activity might provide an estimate of the titre of the vaccine within 24 h