title: Efficacy of a heterologous vaccine and adjuvant in ferrets challenged with influenza virus H5N1.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In 1997, highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) viruses caused outbreaks of disease in domestic poultry markets in Hong Kong. The virus has also been detected in infected poultry in Europe and Africa.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this study was to determine the efficacy of a heterologous vaccine administered with and without the aluminum hydroxide adjuvant in ferrets challenged with HPAI (A/Vietnam/1203/04).
  
  
  METHODS
  Animals in four of the five groups were vaccinated twice 21 days apart, with two doses of a heterologous monovalent subvirion vaccine with or without an aluminum hydroxide adjuvant and challenged with a lethal target dose of A/Vietnam/1203/04.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All animals vaccinated with the heterologous vaccine in combination with the aluminum hydroxide adjuvant survived a lethal challenge of A/Vietnam/1203/04. Four of the eight animals vaccinated with 30 μg of the vaccine without the adjuvant survived, while two of the eight animals vaccinated with 15 μg of the vaccine without the adjuvant survived. None of the unvaccinated control animals survived challenge. Additionally, changes in virus recovered from nasal washes and post-mortem tissues and serology suggest vaccine efficacy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Altogether, the data suggest that the heterologous vaccine in combination with the aluminum hydroxide adjuvant offers maximum protection against challenge with A/Vietnam/1203/04 when compared to the unvaccinated control animals or animals vaccinated without any adjuvant.
authors.affiliation: Battelle, 505 King Avenue, Columbus, OH 43201, USA. velae@battelle.org
authors.forename: Eric M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Vela
authors.forename: Mathew A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Buccellato
authors.forename: Kevin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tordoff
authors.forename: Greg
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Stark
authors.forename: John E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Bigger
mesh_terms: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000536:Aluminum Hydroxide / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005289:Ferrets; D053124:Influenza A Virus, H5N1 Subtype / Q000276:immunology*; D007252:Influenza Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000276:immunology*; D009976:Orthomyxoviridae Infections / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000821:virology*; D016019:Survival Analysis; D014611:Vaccination / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D007252:Influenza Vaccines; D000536:Aluminum Hydroxide