title: Protection of chickens against highly pathogenic avian influenza virus (H5N2) by recombinant fowlpox viruses.
abstract: Two recombinant fowlpox viruses containing the avian influenza H5 hemaglutinin (HA) gene were evaluated for their ability to protect chickens against challenge with a highly pathogenic isolate of avian influenza virus (H5N2). Susceptible chickens were vaccinated with the parent fowlpox vaccine virus or recombinant viruses either by wing-web puncture or comb scarification. Following challenge 4 weeks later with highly pathogenic avian influenza virus, all birds vaccinated by the wing-web method were protected by both recombinants, while 50% and 70% mortality occurred in the two groups of birds vaccinated by comb scarification. Birds vaccinated with the unaltered parent fowlpox vaccine virus or unvaccinated controls experienced 90% and 100% mortality, respectively, following challenge. Hemagglutination-inhibition (HI) antibody levels were low, and agar-gel precipitin results were negative before challenge. Very high HI titers and positive precipitating antibody responses were observed in all survivors following challenge.
authors.affiliation: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Southeast Poultry Research Laboratory, Athens, Georgia 30605.
authors.forename: C W
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Beard
authors.forename: W M
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: Schnitzlein
authors.forename: D N
authors.initials: DN
authors.lastname: Tripathy
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood; D002645:Chickens; D005587:Fowlpox virus / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D006385:Hemagglutination Inhibition Tests; D053125:Influenza A Virus, H5N2 Subtype; D009980:Influenza A virus / Q000276:immunology; D005585:Influenza in Birds / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011233:Precipitin Tests; D014611:Vaccination / Q000662:veterinary*; D014614:Vaccines, Synthetic; D014765:Viral Vaccines
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D014614:Vaccines, Synthetic; D014765:Viral Vaccines