The influence of maternally derived antibodies on protection against aMPV/A infection in TRT vaccinated turkeys

Marcin Śmiałek; Joanna Kowalczyk; Michał Gesek; Edyta Kaczorek-Łukowska; Daria Dziewulska; Bartłomiej Tykałowski; Andrzej Koncicki

Poultry Science (May 2021)

The influence of maternally derived antibodies on protection against aMPV/A infection in TRT vaccinated turkeys

Marcin Śmiałek,
Joanna Kowalczyk,
Michał Gesek,
Edyta Kaczorek-Łukowska,
Daria Dziewulska,
Bartłomiej Tykałowski,
Andrzej Koncicki

Affiliations

Marcin Śmiałek: Department of Avian Disease, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Warmia and Mazury, 10-719 Olsztyn, Poland; Corresponding author:
Joanna Kowalczyk: Department of Avian Disease, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Warmia and Mazury, 10-719 Olsztyn, Poland
Michał Gesek: Department of Pathological Anatomy, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Warmia and Mazury, 10-719 Olsztyn, Poland
Edyta Kaczorek-Łukowska: Department of Clinical Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Warmia and Mazury, 10-719 Olsztyn, Poland
Daria Dziewulska: Department of Avian Disease, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Warmia and Mazury, 10-719 Olsztyn, Poland
Bartłomiej Tykałowski: Department of Avian Disease, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Warmia and Mazury, 10-719 Olsztyn, Poland
Andrzej Koncicki: Department of Avian Disease, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Warmia and Mazury, 10-719 Olsztyn, Poland

Journal volume & issue: Vol. 100, no. 5
p. 101086

Abstract

Read online

Avian metapneumoviruses (aMPV) are a causative agent of turkey rhinotracheitis (TRT). Despite vaccination, cases of TRT outbreaks are frequently reported. Considering that there are aMPV-free areas, a part of turkey poults possess (MDA+) or do not possess (MDA−) maternally derived antibodies (MDA) in the first weeks of life, which is the time of TRT vaccination. Study was undertaken to establish the level of protection against homologue aMPV/A infection, in MDA+ and MDA− turkeys, vaccinated against TRT at the 0 or 14th d of life and infected 14 d later. With the use of ELISA test and qPCR techniques, we have established the level of immune system stimulation after the vaccination and how does it correlate with the level of protection against the aMPV infection. Vaccination of MDA+ turkeys (especially at 0 d of life) resulted in weaker IgA production in upper respiratory tract. In addition, we have demonstrated differences in both humoral and cell-mediated immunity stimulation after infection of vaccinated turkeys. Despite these differences, we have shown that all vaccinated birds were protected against the disease which was determined based on the clinical and histopathological scoring, as well as the level of aMPV/A replication and shedding. Nonvaccinated groups of turkeys displayed typical signs of TRT after infection which indicates that MDA alone are incapable of preventing the disease. Differences in TRT course were recorded between different age groups of nonvaccinated birds. Birds infected at the 28th d of life (especially MDA− birds) developed more severe signs, and the level of aMPV replication was higher than that in birds infected on the 14th d of life. Despite the minor role in alleviating TRT course, MDA seems not to interfere with the vaccination efficacy. It is hard to predict whether the observed immune system stimulation differences between MDA+ and MDA− birds after vaccination can influence the outcome of vaccination efficacy under the field conditions.

Published in Poultry Science

ISSN: 0032-5791 (Print); 1525-3171 (Online)
Publisher: Elsevier
Country of publisher: United States
LCC subjects: Agriculture: Animal culture
Website: https://www.journals.elsevier.com/poultry-science

About the journal

Abstract

Keywords