Study of the efficacy of combined vaccination with Vectormune ND and Vectormune AI in laying hens
Project staff: PhD student Yuan Liang, PhD student Karen Matiny, Professor Jens Peter Christensen, Professor Lars Erik Larsen
Project description
The project aims to investigate the strength and duration of immunity induced by a combination vaccination strategy with Vectormune® ND and Vectormune® AI. The results provide insight into the effectiveness of the vaccines and can be used to assess whether this strategy can be used in the Danish poultry sector. The project is divided into two work packages:
Work package 1. Investigation of lifelong immunity against avian influenza and Newcastle disease after vaccination with Vectormun®e AI and Vectormune® ND. In this work package, groups of day-old hens are immunized with Vectormune® AI and/or Vectormune® ND. A naïve control group is also included. The humoral and cellular immunity elicited by the vaccines is examined until week 12 of life.
Work package 2. Challenge study with Newcastle disease (ND) virus and low pathogenic avian influenza virus (LPAIV). After the 12th week of life, all groups receive a challenge dose with either ND virus and LPAIV, after which the level of protection, excretion of virus and humoral and cellular immunity are examined.
The results that will emerge from this project can be used to assess whether the investigated vaccination strategy against both ND and HPAIV is long-lasting, effective and appropriate with the diagnostic methods implemented in Denmark today.
Since 2014, avian influenza outbreaks caused by highly pathogenic avian influenza virus (HPAIV) have been a recurring problem and have led to many outbreaks in poultry flocks in Europe. The current strategy for the prevention and control of HPAIV in Europe is based on infection control and not on a vaccination policy. Since the reappearence of HPAIV can be expected and the virus may become established in Europe, a debate has started centrally in the EU on whether, for welfare and economic reasons, other prevention and control strategies against HPAIV should be
implemented in poultry flocks. The project aims to investigate the strength and duration of immunity induced by a combination vaccination strategy with Vectormune ND and Vectormune AI. The results provide insight into the effectiveness of the vaccines and can be used to assess whether this strategy can be used in the Danish poultry sector.
Danish poultry sector. The project is divided into two work packages:
- Work package 1. Investigation of lifelong immunity against avian influenza and Newcastle disease after vaccination with Vectormun®e AI and Vectormune® ND. In this work package, groups of day-old hens are immunized with Vectormune® AI and/or Vectormune® ND. A naïve control group is also included. The humoral and cellular immunity elicited by the vaccines is examined until week 12 of life.
- Work package 2. Challenge study with Newcastle disease (ND) virus and low pathogenic avian influenza virus (LPAIV). After the 12th week of life, all groups receive a challenge dose with either ND virus and LPAIV, after which the level of protection, excretion of virus and humoral and cellular immunity are examined.
The results that will emerge from this project can be used to assess whether the investigated vaccination strategy against both ND and HPAIV is long-lasting, effective and appropriate with the diagnostic methods implemented in Denmark today.
Project partners
Statens Serum Institut - SSI.
Sponsors
Fjerkræafgiftsfonden/Poultry Levy Foundation
Project period: 1.1.23-31.12.23