An Aluminium Hydroxide Gel Adsorbed Inactivated Egg Drop Syndrome Vaccine

Abstract

An inactivated vaccine was prepared from local isolates of egg drop syndrome (EDS) virus using aluminum hydroxide as an adjuvant. A total of 30 commercial layers at the age of 16 weeks were procured and divided in to two groups, A and B having 20 and 10 birds, respectively. The birds of group A were vaccinated with 0.5ml aluminium hydroxide gel adsorbed EDS vaccine. The birds of group B were kept as unvaccinated control. The serum samples were collected at a 14-day interval till 6 weeks post vaccination. At 22 weeks of age group A was again divided into two groups A₁ and A₂. Birds of group A₂ and group B were challenged with a virulent EDS virus. The results revealed that birds of group A had HI titer ranging from 1:128 to 1:512 at different times of sample collection with a geometric mean titer 116. Highest antibody response appeared on 4th week post vaccination. Results also revealed that the vaccination protected the birds against challenge with the virulent EDS virus. Where there was a significant drop in egg production in unvaccinated challenged birds. The egg quality was also deteriorated as miss-shapened, soft-shelled and shell-less eggs were laid in EDS unvaccinated layers.