Effect of a single dose of mucosal immunization through oral and nasal route in White Leghorn layer chicks against Egg-drop syndrome (EDS) disease using microencapsulated EDS-76 virus has been reported. The mucosally immunized chicks showed a considerably high titre of serum IgG antibodies, which was similar to that of the chicks receiving systemic immunization with the conventional inactivated oil adjuvanted EDS vaccine. However, a significantly higher titre of IgA antibody was induced by mucosal immunization with the microencapsulated virus. A good cell-mediated immune response in terms of lymphocyte proliferation and cytotoxicity was also observed in the immunized chicks. Mucosal immunization with microencapsulated virus could also confer protection against the challenge infection with virulent EDS-76 virus as no shedding of virus was detected from the cloacal swab and other tissues.
Mucosal immunization, Microencapsulation, PLG microspheres, Egg-drop syndrome, IgA antibodies
