Abstract of research

Determination of the optimal protective dose of inactivated Salmonella Typhimurium vaccine in pigeon

Afaf, A. Khedr, Anhar, A. Abdel latef, Sayed, M.L. and Salama, S.S.

Abstract

Salmonellosis is one of the major health problem affect pigeons and protection of pigeons against this disease is very important, for this purpose the present work was planned to prepare an inactivated Montanide ISA- 206 oil adjuvant vaccine from a locally pigeon isolate of Salmonella Typhimurium (S. Typhimurium) and determined of the optimal dose, which protect pigeon against salmonellosis. Evaluation of such preparation following the quality control tests revealed that it was free from any foreign contaminants, safe and immunogenic. Pigeons were divided into six groups, three of them vaccinated subcutaneously with single dose (0.5ml) of different bacteria concentrations (108,109 and 1010 CFU/ dose) and the others three received 2 doses with 3 weeks intervals with same route and concentrations. The vaccination/challenge assay with a virulent S. typhimurium organism using 5x107 CFU/dose revealed that protection rates of vaccinated birds were 70% ,75% and 75% for the first three groups (Ia, IIa, IIIa) respectively, while the other three groups gave 80%, 85% and 85% protection(Ib, IIb, IIIb) respectively.Control groups could not withstand the challenge and protection rate were 15% and 20% respectively. The seroevaluation showed that the humoral immune response developed against S. typhimurium in vaccinated pigeons was high. On conclusion the optimal dose of the prepared vaccine should be 109 CFU/dose applied twice with three weeks interval, which can cover the needed requirements and protect pigeon against salmonellosis.