Skip to main content
ARS Home » Southeast Area » Mississippi State, Mississippi » Poultry Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #334510
Title: The impact of vaccination route on Mycoplasma gallisepticum vaccine efficacy

Author
item Leigh, Spencer
item Evans, Jeffrey - Jeff
item Collier, Stephanie
item Branton, Scott

Submitted to: Poultry Science
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/18/2018
Publication Date: 9/1/2018
Citation: Leigh, S.A., Evans, J.D., Collier, S.D., Branton, S.L. 2018. The impact of vaccination route on Mycoplasma gallisepticum vaccine efficacy. Poultry Science. 97:3072–3075. https://doi.org/10.3382/ps/pey188.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3382/ps/pey188

Interpretive Summary: Mycoplasma gallisepticum causes severe respiratory diseases in domestic poultry, leading to increased production costs for both producers and consumers. Vaccines for the prevention of M. gallisepticum induced disease exist, but inconsistencies in vaccine delivery result in variable vaccination results and incomplete flock protection. Through study of differing vaccine delivery routes, it was determined that delivery of vaccine by eye drop was over 10 times as effective as delivery by intranasal delivery and both were significantly more effective than oral delivery of the vaccine. This identifies eye drop delivery as the best of the three manufacturer recommended routes of vaccine delivery, and should result in increased vaccine efficacy with decreased production cost for poultry producers.

Technical Abstract: Mycoplasma gallisepticum (MG) infection can lead to major financial losses for poultry producers. Control of MG infection in the layer industry is generally obtained through vaccination due to the nature of the multi-aged flocks in the facilities. Live vaccines can provide significant protection from the pathogenic effects of MG infection. However, differing management practices, including vaccination procedures, can lead to significant variations in the efficacy of the same vaccine. The site of vaccine deposition has been shown to be one important factor significantly influencing the vaccination outcome. Previous research has shown that vaccine applied to the eyes or sprayed on the head is significantly more effective than when sprayed on the body. Vaccine application through the eyes, nares, and two routes through the oral cavity were studied to further characterize the most efficient route for delivery. Results of this work demonstrate that eye drop vaccination is significantly more effective than through the nares, and vaccine delivered through the oral cavity has a negligible contribution to overall vaccine outcome.