title: Association of serologic and protective responses of avian influenza vaccines in chickens.
abstract: A study was conducted to evaluate efficacy of inactivated, reverse genetics-based H5N3 avian influenza vaccines and the predictive ability of a vaccination/serology model for testing vaccine batches. Serologic response, protection against mortality, and protection against viral shedding from trachea and cloaca were assessed for vaccines prepared varying only in antigen content. When the birds were grouped according to serologic response, a clear association with protection could be seen. In general, for birds possessing a nonmeasurable titer (< 10), mortality after challenge was a near certainty. Low titers of 10 to 40 resulted in the prevention of mortality but not viral shedding. Titers greater than 40 prevented mortality and reduced viral shedding. The results suggest that a test model including vaccination of chickens at 3 wk, bleeding at 6 wk, and quantitative assessment of serologic response by using a standardized hemagglutination inhibition assay system can be an excellent predictor of vaccine efficacy.
authors.affiliation: Fort Dodge Animal Health, Division of Wyeth, 800 Fifth Street NW, Fort Dodge, IA 50501, USA.
authors.forename: Mahesh
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.forename: Hsien-Jue
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Chu
authors.forename: Jeff
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rodenberg
authors.forename: Scott
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Krauss
authors.forename: Robert G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Webster
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002645:Chickens / Q000821:virology*; D005821:Genetic Techniques; D053124:Influenza A Virus, H5N1 Subtype / Q000276:immunology; D007252:Influenza Vaccines / Q000276:immunology*; D005585:Influenza in Birds / Q000517:prevention & control*
chemical_list: D007252:Influenza Vaccines