Oral immunization of ducklings with attenuated duck hepatitis virus
Hanson, L.E.; Tripathy, D.N.
Developments in Biological Standardization 33: 357-363
1976
ISSN/ISBN: 0301-5149 PMID: 182594 Document Number: 109012
Experimental studies of oral immunization in ducklings from immunized and nonimmunized parents were conducted to determine the feasibility of a convenient control programme with little stress to the ducklings. Ducklings immunized with attenuated liver duck hepatitis virus by intramuscular method, oral instillation, and through the drinking water were challenged with virulent duck hepatitis virus either intramuscularly or orally. Intramuscular, oral instillation, and drinking water application all provided adequate protection on challenge with virulent virus. Rise in neutralizing antibody was detected after immunization especially in serum of ducklings from nonimmunized parents. On the basis of successful experimental results, over 350 000 ducklings from immunized parents on a commercial farm were successfully vaccinated by the drinking water method.