S.26. Field trial with an ‘in-ovo’ gamma irradiated Newcastle disease vaccine in broiler eggs

Two field trials were conducted to find out the efficacy of in-ovo vaccine procedure in broilers. The vaccine was prepared by mixing irradiated and concentrated Newcastle Disease Virus (ICNDV), two types of vaccine emulsions were prepared; mineral oil adjuvant (MOA) vaccine and vegetable oil adjuvant (VOA) vaccine, the virus was added to each of the above adjuvants respectively prior to inoculation in embryos. In the first trial, a total of 560 embryonating broiler eggs were inoculated by in-ovo vaccination with vegetable oil adjuvant vaccine, mineral oil adjuvant vaccine, vegetable oil adjuvant control and mineral oil adjuvant respectively. In the second trial 480 embryonating desi broiler eggs of 18 day-old were inoculated with vegetable oil vaccine and vegetable oil adjuvant respectively. As a conventional vaccine control in both the trials one group of chicks were inoculated with LaSota vaccine by intra-nasal route. The efficacy of vaccines was tested in terms of per cent hatchability, per cent survival, Haemagglutination-inhibition (HI) titres, seroconversion rate, protective index and by challenge response study. The per cent hatchability in both the trials was comparable to that of control groups and LaSota, the per cent survival was 100% in both the trials. The seroconversion ratio and protective index after challenge in both the trials was similar to the LaSota vaccinated groups. This finding further emphasizes the fact that ICNDV in combination with vegetable oil adjuvant offers tremendous potential in field of in-ovo vaccination and an effective one time vaccination alternative to the existing live attenuated vaccines for exotic and desi broilers.