Comparative Efficacy of Different Inactivated Hydro-Pericardium Syndrome Vaccines Prepared from Infected Liver and Vero Cell Line Adapted Adeno Type 4 Virus

Hydro-Pericardium Syndrome (HPS) is viral problem of commercial poultry caused by aviadeno virus type-4. In Pakistan the problems have been controlled by administering inactivated infected liver homogenate vaccine (ILHV). The use of liver based HPS vaccines remained potential threat for having hypersensitivity reactions in poultry. The current study was carried out to compare the serological potency of HPS ILHV to vero cell line adopted vaccine in term of anti HPS-ELISA antibody titers. 14 HPS virus vaccines were prepared based on different concentration of antigen, type of adjuvants and source of virus substrate. Total of 160 birds were divided into 16 groups each containing 10 birds. At day of 14th age each bird of every group was injected with 0.3 ml dose of respective vaccine. It was observed that HPS infected liver based vaccine having 1 × 105.6, 1 × 105.6 and 1 × 103.6 bird lethal dose 50 induced 1092.10, 875.25 and 702.2 anti-HPS ELISA antibody titer respectively. The 20, 25 and 30 doses/gm HPS infected liver vaccine induced 110.4, 1071.9 and 1037.8 anti-HPS ELISA antibody titer respectively. Montanide based tissue culture HPS vaccine showed significantly higher 1148.45 anti-HPS ELISA antibody titer to aluminium hydroxide based vaccine (137.2) (P 5.6 TCID50 is serological potent against field infection. The vaccines based on such formulation could be prepared in future for effective immuno-prophylaxis against HPS virus.

Zinc Application Affects Tissue Zinc Concentration and Seed Yield of Pea(Pisum sativum L.)

A 2-year field experiment was conducted to assess the effect of applied zinc(Zn) on the seed yield of pea(Pisum sativum L.) and to determine the internal Zn requirement of pea with emphasis on the seed and leaves as index tissues.The experiment was carried out at two different locations(Talagang,Chakwal district and National Agricultural Research Centre(NARC),Islamabad) in the Potohar Plateau,Pakistan by growing three pea cultivars(Green feast,Climax,and Meteor).The soils were fertilized with 0,2,4,8,and 16 kg Zn ha^(-1) along with recommended basal fertilization of nitrogen(N),phosphorus(P),potassium(K),and boron(B).Zinc application increased seed yield significantly for all the three cultivars.Maximum increase in the pea seed yield(2-year mean) was21%and 15%for Green feast,28%and 21%for Climax,and 34%and 26%for Meteor at Talagang and NARC,respectively.In all cultivars,Zn concentrations in leaves and seed increased to varying extents as a result of Zn application.Fertiliser Zn requirement for near-maximum seed yield varied from 3.2 to 5.3 kg ha^(-1) for different cultivars.Zinc concentrations of leaves and seeds appeared to be a good indicator of soil Zn availability.The critical Zn concentration range sufficient for 95%maximum yield(internal Zn requirement)was 42-53 mg kg^(-1) in the pea leaves and 45-60 mg kg^(-1) in the seeds of the three pea cultivars studied.