A model for the transfer of passive immunity against Newcastle disease and avian influenza in specific pathogen free chickens.

In this study, a model was developed to offer a faster, more reproducible and cheaper way to study passive immunity in specific pathogen free chickens by injection of a polyclonal serum into the egg yolk at embryonic day 14, combined with an intraperitoneal injection at day 1. A satisfactory model, with consistent and homogeneous antibody titres, as well as persistence close to natural passive immunity, could be obtained for NDV. On the other hand, the application of this optimized protocol in an H5 AI context induced only a low artificial passive immunity compared to that described in the literature for the progeny of AI vaccinated dams. This artificial model should facilitate future studies regarding the effect of passive immunity on vaccine efficacy at a young age and its effect on immune system development. PMID: 24397892 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
Source: Avian Pathology - Category: Pathology Authors: Tags: Avian Pathol Source Type: research