An attenuated herpes vaccine may protect Gyr hybrids from fatal inclusion body hepatitis. A preliminary report.
Four Gyr hybrids were used for this falcon herpes vaccine experiment. Three falcons were given 1 ml of an attenuated falcon herpesvirus vaccine (DuFaHe) subcutaneously twice within 14 days, whereas the fourth falcon was used as a control. Eighteen days after the booster vaccination, all four Gyr hybrids were intranasally and ocularly challenged with a virulent low-passage falcon herpesvirus. The control falcon died 9 days after challenge with typical lesions of herpesvirus inclusion body hepatitis. The three vaccinated falcons seroconverted and did not show any symptoms. Following the challenge their antibody titres to falcon herpesvirus increased. No herpesvirus was isolated from any of the cloacal swabs taken during this experiment, indicating that there was no danger for any other birds from DuFaHe. This experiment shows that falcons can be protected from herpesvirus infection by an attenuated herpesvirus vaccine. However, it should be stressed that only four falcons were used for this experiment.
Wernery
U
U
Central Veterinary Research Laboratory, Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
Joseph
S
S
Kinne
J
J
D000818:Animals; D001715:Bird Diseases / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006524:Hepatitis, Viral, Animal / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006564:Herpesviridae / Q000276:immunology* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D006566:Herpesviridae Infections / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000662:veterinary*; D007181:Inclusion Bodies, Viral; D020304:Raptors; D014613:Vaccines, Attenuated; D014765:Viral Vaccines; D014774:Virulence
D014613:Vaccines, Attenuated; D014765:Viral Vaccines