title: The efficacy of Mycoplasma gallisepticum K-strain live vaccine in broiler and layer chickens.
abstract: The efficacy of a live Mycoplasma gallisepticum (MG) vaccine candidate (K-strain) was compared to commercially available vaccines in broiler-type chickens (Trial 1) and layer-type chickens (Trial 2). In Trial 1, three-week-old broiler-type chickens were vaccinated via aerosol with K-strain or an F-strain vaccine. The vaccinated chickens and 10 non-vaccinated controls were subsequently challenged with virulent R-strain via aerosol at six weeks post vaccination; both K-strain and F-strain vaccination resulted in significant protection from air sac and tracheal lesions, as well as R-strain colonization (P ≤ 0.05). In Trial 2, commercial layer-type chickens were vaccinated with ts-11 (via eye drop) or K-strain (via aerosol) at 12 weeks of age. At 25 weeks of age these birds were challenged with R-strain via aerosol. The ts-11 and K-strain vaccinated groups both had significantly lower air sac lesion scores and a lower prevalence of ovarian regression after challenge as compared to non-vaccinated chickens (P ≤ 0.05). K-strain vaccination also prevented significant tracheal lesions and R-strain colonization (P ≤ 0.05). K-strain shows great potential as a highly efficacious live MG vaccine in broiler and layer-type chickens for protection of the respiratory and reproductive systems as well as prevention of infection with field strains.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Population Health, Poultry Diagnostic and Research Center , University of Georgia , Athens , GA , USA.
authors.forename: N M
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Ferguson-Noel
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Williams
mesh_terms: D000372:Agglutination Tests / Q000662:veterinary; D000400:Air Sacs / Q000473:pathology; D000818:Animals; D001428:Bacterial Vaccines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002645:Chickens; D009175:Mycoplasma Infections / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000662:veterinary*; D045686:Mycoplasma gallisepticum / Q000276:immunology*; D011201:Poultry Diseases / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D019105:Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA Technique / Q000662:veterinary; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000662:veterinary; D013045:Species Specificity; D014132:Trachea / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D001428:Bacterial Vaccines