Cross-protection test of an avian poxvirus isolated from houbara bustards.
An avian poxvirus was isolated previously from the houbara bustard (Chlamydotis undulata). We carried out a cross-protection test on 66 captive-bred canaries. Thirty-five canaries were vaccinated with a commercial canary poxvirus (CP) vaccine. Three weeks later all 66 birds were assigned randomly to six different groups: group Ia (n = 14) was vaccinated and challenged with houbara bustard poxvirus (HP) strain; group Ib (n = 13) was vaccinated and challenged with a CP strain; group Ic (n = 7) was vaccinated and not inoculated; group IIa (n = 14) was nonvaccinated and challenged with HP strain; group IIb (n = 11) was nonvaccinated and challenged with a CP strain; and group IIc (n = 7) was not vaccinated and not challenged. Vaccinated groups (Ia, Ib, Ic) had no losses and remained healthy. All of the birds (100%) in group IIb died within 10 days, and 10 birds (71.4%) of group IIa died within 20 days. The nonvaccinated control group (IIc) remained healthy. Poxvirus was isolated from the liver, digestive tract, lungs, and inoculation lesions of nonvaccinated dead CP- and HP-challenged birds. Secondary bacterial infections were higher among nonvaccinated HP-challenged birds (85.7%) than in nonvaccinated CP-challenged birds (25%). The results of this experiment reveal a degree of immunogenic relatedness between CP and HP strain and support the recommendation that houbara bustards be vaccinated with a CP vaccine.
Ostrowski
S
S
National Wildlife Research Center, National Commission for Wildlife Conservation and Development, Taif, Saudi Arabia.
Dorrestein
G
G
Burger
L
L
Hémon
S
S
Saint Jalme
M
M
D000818:Animals; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology; D018150:Avipoxvirus / Q000276:immunology* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D001715:Bird Diseases / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D001717:Birds / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology*; D002171:Canaries / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology; D003429:Cross Reactions; D004064:Digestive System / Q000821:virology; D008099:Liver / Q000821:virology; D008168:Lung / Q000821:virology; D011213:Poxviridae Infections / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000662:veterinary*; D011897:Random Allocation; D014765:Viral Vaccines / Q000276:immunology / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D014765:Viral Vaccines