THE IMPACT OF THE ROUTES OF LIVE VACCINE ADMINISTRATION AGAINST INFECTIOUS BURSAL DISEASE ON MOUNTING ANTIBODY RESPONSE IN BROILER CHICKENS

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Abstract

Infectious bursal disease (IBD) is one of the most important viral poultry diseases. To prevent
the disease it is required that there be maternal and active immunity prior to and after three weeks
of age. Live vaccines are usually used to immunize the broiler flocks. In addition to the type of
vaccine, the route of vaccination, also, has effects on mounting an immune response. In this study,
we administered a single dose vaccination of an intermediate IBD vaccine strain at 21 days of age
via five routes including subcutaneous (SC), intramuscular (IM), drinking water, eye drop, and
course spray. The impact of the vaccination route on mounting antibody response was evaluated
by a commercial ELISAkit (IDEXX). Antibody response was mounted by all routes. The highest
antibody titer in the last two sampling turns belonged to birds in the group vaccinated by the SC
route, but this difference was not statistically significant (p>0.05) when compared to those of other
vaccinated groups. In addition to the highest antibody titer, the highest bursal/body weight ratio
and body weight were observed in birds of the SC-vaccinated group. It was found that the groups
vaccinated by injection, SC or IM, were the only groups that achieved to a protective level of
antibody titer in the last turn of sampling. It was concluded that a single dose injection of an
intermediate IBD vaccine, via SC route, is able to induce higher antibody response, and improve
bursal health and performance of chickens as compared with those vaccinated via drinking water.

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Journal of Veterinary Research
Volume 66, Issue 4 - Serial Number 4
December 2011
Pages 355-362

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