Herd Immunity to Newcastle Disease Virus in Poultry by Vaccination
Author Information
Author(s): van Boven Michiel, Bouma Annemarie, Fabri Teun H. F., Katsma Elly, Hartog Leo, Koch Guus
Primary Institution: Wageningen University and Research Centre
Hypothesis
What are the requirements for an effective vaccination program against Newcastle disease in poultry?
Conclusion
A high proportion of birds (over 85%) must have a high antibody titre after vaccination to achieve herd immunity against Newcastle disease.
Supporting Evidence
- Vaccination provides excellent protection against mortality in chickens with high antibody titres.
- Vaccination does not provide substantial protection against infection, especially in birds with low antibody titres.
- Herd immunity is achieved when a high fraction of birds have a high level of protection after vaccination.
Takeaway
To keep chickens safe from Newcastle disease, most of them need to have strong protection from vaccines, or the disease can still spread.
Methodology
The study involved experimental transmission studies with broiler chickens to assess the effectiveness of vaccination against Newcastle disease.
Limitations
The study's conclusions are based on experimental data, which may not fully represent real-world conditions in poultry populations.
Participant Demographics
Broiler chickens of varying antibody titres were used in the experiments.
Statistical Information
Confidence Interval
95% confidence intervals were provided for reproduction numbers.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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