Maternal Antibody Protected Chicks from Growth Retardation and Immunosuppression Induced by Early Reticuloendotheliosis Virus Infection

To determine if the maternal antibody from breeders vaccinated with cell culture-adapted reticuloendotheliosis virus （REV） could protect chicks from early REV infection, one-day-old chicks with or without anti-REV maternal antibodies were inoculated with REV, and then their growth rates and antibody titers to Newcastle disease virus （NDV） and avian influenza virus （AIV）, after vaccination with inactivated vaccines, were compared. This study indicated that REV infection could cause growth retardation and severely inhibit immune reactions to inactivated vaccines against NDV and Avian influenza virus （AIV, H9 and H5） in one-day-old broilers without maternal antibodies specific to REV. Maternal antibody from breeders vaccinated with an attenuated REV vaccine effectively protected REV-challenged birds from growth retardation and immunosuppression on antibody reactions to NDV and AIV vaccines. Four weeks after vaccination, the HI titers to NDV, AIV-H9, and AIV-H5 in maternal antibody positive and negative groups were 3.36 ＋- 2.04 versus 1.58± 1.69 （P〈0.01）, 6.27±3.87 versus 0.71 ± 1.60 （P〈0.01）, and 6.72±3.92 versus 0.54± 1.44 （P〈0.01）. Maternal antibodies from breeders vaccinated with REV vaccine could successfully protect chicks from REV infection and effectively prevent REV-induced growth retardation and immunosuppression in antibody responses to NDV and AIV.

Monitoring Report of Maternal Antibody of Broiler Avian Influenza Virus H5 Subtype Re-8 Strain

[ Objective ] The paper was to prevent the occurrence of broiler avian influenza virus HS subtype Re-8 strain effectively in the breeding process of broilers. [Method] The maternal antibodies of broilers in Beijing Baochen Hongwang farm were monitored. According to the disappearance law of maternal antibody, the optimal immune time of broiler avian influenza virus H5 subtype Re-8 strain was determined. [ Result] The maternal antibody level of 2-day-old broilers was relatively high, concentrated at 6 log2 -9 log2, and the antibody positive rate was 100%. The maternal antibody level of 8-day-old broilers concentrated at 4 log2 -6 log2, and the antibody positive rate was 100%. The maternal antibody level of 17-day-old broilers concentrated at 0 log2 -3 log2 , and the antibody positive rate was 0. The average maternal antibody level of 24 - 37 days old broilers was 〈 1 log2, and the antibody positive rate was 0. [ Conclusion ] Although the av- erage maternal antibody level of 8-day-old broilers was higher than 5 log2 , 20% of chickens was 4 log2, and maternal antibody could not protect the flock completely. Therefore, the best primary immunization day age of chicks against avian influenza virus was 8 - 10 days of age.

Study on Growth and Decline Law of Contagious Pleuro-pneumonia in Piglets

In order to establish the immune procedure for Actinobacillus pleuropneumonia and to determine the date for the first immunization on piglets, the growth and decline law of A. pleuropneumonia material antibodies in the piglets borne by cows inoculated with A. pleuropneumonia vaccines （type I, II, and VII） before delivery was detected. The results showed that type I, II, and VII maternal antibodies in piglets decreased gradually with the age growing overall, and was at the critical protection value at the ages of 42-50 days （type I） and 28 days （type VII）, lower than the quantification rate; and the antibodies all turned to be negative until the ages of 70 days （type I）, 60 days （type VII） and 35 days （type II）. The first immunization should be carried out at the age of 42-50 days using type I A. pleuropneumonia vaccine, and at the age of 28 days using type VII A. pleuropneumonia vaccine. However, type II A. pleuropneumonia maternal antibody had lower level and positive rate and could not well protect piglets, so the various A. pleuropneumonia vaccines differed in the date for the first immunization. In order to achieve a better immunization effect, A. pleuropneumonia vaccines with different valences should be further researched and developed.