Comparison of the Efficacy of the Immune Complex and Conventionally Live Vaccine in Broilers against Infectious Bursal Disease Infection

Abstract

One hundred and thirty two, one day old broiler chickens were divided into 4 groups. Group 1 (1 day old) was subcutaneously vaccinated with immune complex vaccine into the nape of the neck. Group 2 and 3 (14 days old) were vaccinated with different commercial products, intermediate-plus strains of live attenuated infectious bursal disease (IBD) vaccine I and II, respectively, via the oral route. Group 4 acted as the positive control. Chickens were bled at days 1, 14, 28 and 38 for evaluating IBD virus antibody titers by ELISA. The body weight, FCR, bursa to body weight ratios and bursal lesion scores at days 14, 28 and 38 were compared. All groups were challenged with local strain of IBD virus at 28 days old. The study revealed that the antibody titers of group 3 were significantly higher (p<0.05) than those of the other groups at day 28. At 38 days old, the body weight of group 2 was significantly lower (p<0.05) than that of group 3. The bursal lesion scores of group 3 were significantly lower (p<0.05) than those of other groups. In conclusion, the immune complex vaccine was shown to be safe for 1 day old vaccination.