Vaccination with FAdV-8a induces protection against inclusion body hepatitis caused by homologous and heterologous strains

Research output: Journal Publications and ReviewsRGC 21 - Publication in refereed journalpeer-review

12 Scopus Citations
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Author(s)

  • Penelope A. Steer-Cope
  • Denise O’Rourke
  • Peter C. Scott
  • Glenn F. Browning
  • Amir H. Noormohammadi

Detail(s)

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)396-405
Journal / PublicationAvian Pathology
Volume48
Issue number5
Online published14 Jun 2019
Publication statusPublished - 2019
Externally publishedYes

Abstract

Fowl aviadenoviruses (FAdV) are important avian pathogens, responsible for several poultry diseases prevalent worldwide, including inclusion body hepatitis (IBH). FAdV intraspecies cross-protection has been clearly demonstrated, but there is little evidence that any interspecies cross-protection exists. The present study aimed to assess the inter- and intraspecies protection between three FAdV field isolates (FAdV-8a, FAdV-8b, FAdV-11) identified in association with severe IBH outbreaks. Inocula prepared using inactivated plaque-purified virus with adjuvant Montanide™ ISA 71VG, were injected intramuscularly into 3-week-old SPF chickens. At 6-weeks of age, the birds were challenged with 106 TCID50 of homologous or heterologous virus intraperitoneally, and full post mortem examination performed at 4 days post-challenge. Various tissues were examined for gross and histological lesions and assessed for the presence of virus by PCR-HRM. All homologous-type vaccine/challenge groups exhibited protection against IBH lesions with no virus detected in the tissues. Unvaccinated groups challenged with virus showed evidence of FAdV-induced lesions; however, FAdV-8a demonstrated lower pathogenicity compared with FAdV-8b and FAdV-11. In the heterologous-type vaccine/challenge groups, FAdV-8a vaccine was shown to protect against challenge with both FAdV-8b and FAdV-11. FAdV-8a and 8b belong to species E and were therefore anticipated to cross-protect. However, FAdV-11 belongs to species D and therefore cross-protection by FAdV-8a was an uncharacteristic and unique finding of this study. Further research is required to disseminate the molecular basis for the interspecies cross-protection between FAdV-8a and FAdV-11. Nonetheless, the FAdV-8a isolate was shown to have substantial potential as a vaccine candidate in countries where FAdV-8a, 8b or 11 are prevalent.

Research Area(s)

  • cross-protection, Fowl aviadenovirus, inclusion body hepatitis, interspecies, vaccine

Citation Format(s)

Vaccination with FAdV-8a induces protection against inclusion body hepatitis caused by homologous and heterologous strains. / Steer-Cope, Penelope A.; Sandy, Jeanine R.; O’Rourke, Denise et al.
In: Avian Pathology, Vol. 48, No. 5, 2019, p. 396-405.

Research output: Journal Publications and ReviewsRGC 21 - Publication in refereed journalpeer-review