Transcriptional profiling of chicken immunity-related genes during infection with Avibacterium paragallinarum

Avibacterium paragallinarum is the causative agent of Infectious Coryza (IC), which is an upper respiratory tract disease in chickens. The occurrence of outbreaks has emphasized the significance of the disease globally in the chicken industry. Studies have demonstrated that early immune responses are critical in defining the severity and physiological outcome of an infection. This prompted the need to investigate the regulation of immune functions by the number of genes that are expressed during the chickens' response to A. paragallinarum serovar C3 insult. This study consisted of 15 male leghorn birds that were scored into groups (score 1, 2, 3) according to severity of symptoms after they were challenged. Expression patterns of immunity-related genes were followed as symptoms progressed from a disease score of 1 to 3. The data proposed that initial pathogen recognition was either through Toll-like receptors 2 or 4. Unique expression patterns were observed such as the up-regulation of TLR7 which recognizes viral-like particles. This substantiated the presence of prophages reported in the genome of A. paragallinarum. Significant down-regulation of metabolic pathways was observed, which led us to hypothesize that the host may rely on an oxidative stress response as initial immune response. The data sheds light onto the mechanisms that govern the immune system towards infection and/or towards the initial response to infections with highly virulent A. paragallinarum.

Safety and efficacy studies on trivalent inactivated vaccines against infectious coryza

The safety and efficacy of an inactivated oil-emulsion infectious coryza vaccine containing three Avibacterium paragallinarum isolates (one each of Page serovars A, B, and C) was evaluated. The safety of six batches of the vaccine was confirmed by testing with chickens vaccinated with a single large dose or vaccinated repeatedly with a normal dose. Efficacy tests were carried out on three batches of vaccine using both specific pathogen free (SPF) chickens and conventional chickens. In SPF chickens given a single vaccination at 42 days of age, the protection rate against all three serovars of Av. paragallinarum was at least 80% at 30 days post vaccination. The conventional chickens, which were immunized at 42 and 110 days of age, were challenged at 9 months post the second vaccination and the protection rate was at least 80% for all three serovars. The effect of storage on the vaccine was evaluated in SPF chickens using three batches of vaccine stored at 4-8°C for 1 year. The protection rate against challenge from all three serovars (single vaccination at 42 days of age and challenge at 30 days post-vaccination) was at least 80%.