Puzzling inefficiency of H5N1 influenza vaccines in Egyptian poultry.
In Egypt, efforts to control highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza virus in poultry and in humans have failed despite increased biosecurity, quarantine, and vaccination at poultry farms. The ongoing circulation of HP H5N1 avian influenza in Egypt has caused >100 human infections and remains an unresolved threat to veterinary and public health. Here, we describe that the failure of commercially available H5 poultry vaccines in Egypt may be caused in part by the passive transfer of maternal H5N1 antibodies to chicks, inhibiting their immune response to vaccination. We propose that the induction of a protective immune response to H5N1 is suppressed for an extended period in young chickens. This issue, among others, must be resolved and additional steps must be taken before the outbreaks in Egypt can be controlled.
Division of Virology, Department of Infectious Diseases, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA.
Jeong-Ki
JK
Kim
Ghazi
G
Kayali
David
D
Walker
Heather L
HL
Forrest
Ali H
AH
Ellebedy
Yolanda S
YS
Griffin
Adam
A
Rubrum
Mahmoud M
MM
Bahgat
M A
MA
Kutkat
M A A
MA
Ali
Jerry R
JR
Aldridge
Nicholas J
NJ
Negovetich
Scott
S
Krauss
Richard J
RJ
Webby
Robert G
RG
Webster
D000822:Animal Husbandry; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood; D002645:Chickens; D003429:Cross Reactions; D004196:Disease Outbreaks / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000662:veterinary; D004534:Egypt / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007116:Immunization, Passive; D053124:Influenza A Virus, H5N1 Subtype / Q000276:immunology* / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D007252:Influenza Vaccines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005585:Influenza in Birds / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000635:transmission; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission; D008297:Male; D011201:Poultry Diseases / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000635:transmission; D015017:Yolk Sac / Q000276:immunology
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D007252:Influenza Vaccines