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Delay of Infectious Bursal Disease Virus Infection by In pvo Vaccination of Antibody-Positive Chicken Eggs

J. E. McCarty^*, T. P. Brown and J. J. Giambrone

^* Schering Plough Animal Health, Inc., Union, New Jersey 07083;
Departments of Avian Medicine and Veterinary Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia 30602; and
Department of Poultry Science, Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama 36849

Correspondence: J. E. McCarty, E-mail: john{at}vetalts.com

Infectious bursal disease (IBD) is a highly immunosuppressive disease of chickens. Long-term immunosuppression is most severe in broiler chicks infected immediately after hatch, whereas chicks infected in the second or third week of age demonstrate progressively milder impairment of the immune system. After 3 wk of age, IBD virus (IBDV) infection does not permanently damage a broiler's ability to mount an immune response.

Broiler integrators in the United States have adopted hyperimmunization programs to protect broiler breeder replacements and their progeny against IBDV infection. Most integrators rely solely upon passive immunity for protection of broiler progeny despite an inevitable decline in maternal antibody titers after the first 2 wk of life.

The ability of IBDV vaccination to enhance the protection of antibody-positive broiler chicks was examined by sequential challenge of chicks vaccinated in ovo with classic or Delaware E variant strains of IBDV over a period of 3 wk. In ovo vaccination produced a 6-d delay in the onset of infection with the classic or variant strain of IBDV. A 6-d delay in the onset of IBDV infection may significantly enhance the immunocompetence of broiler flocks, even when they are the progeny of hyperimmunized breeder flocks.

Key Words: broiler in ovo vaccination • infectious bursal disease • maternal antibody