Vaccination against the Gumboro virus has been a topic of much attention in recent years, especially because of the arrival of the UK2019 Gumboro virus field variant. To protect the chicks from Gumboro disease, vaccination can be done through drinking water or in-ovo in the nursery. HIPRA has used screening, in collaboration with poultry veterinarians and companies, to map the effectiveness of vaccination strategies.
Choice of drinking water vaccine
When choosing a drinking water vaccine, it is advisable to determine the best vaccination time. Calculation of the date of grafting is a valuable tool, taking into account maternal antibodies, the genetic background of the hens and the specific weight of the vaccine. In this way it is possible to design a graph table. To gain protection against Gumboro UK2019 field virus, drinking water vaccination with intermediate vaccine plus appears to be a good option1. Click for points of attention for drinking water vaccination here and download the tips.
Vaccination choice in the nursery
In the Benelux we see that the in-ovo vaccine is especially becoming popular, mainly because of the arrival of the new UK2019 reassortant strain. This species differs from the traditional acute form of Gumboro disease. Consequences of this UK2019 strain include reduced growth, digestive disturbances, a slight increase in mortality and immune suppression. By vaccinating in-ovo in the nursery, the egg is vaccinated by itself, quickly and correctly. There are several Gumboro vaccines on the market that can be used in-ovo, where the immune complex vaccines appear to provide broad protection against the UK2019 Gumboro field virus variant1.
Screening and results
From June 2020 to May 2024, 344 flocks were surveyed on poultry farms. Various veterinary practices in the Benelux selected the companies and collected bursa samples from vaccinated animals. The samples were analyzed with a PCR test, followed by typing for positive results. In this way it could be determined which strain was present on the company: vaccine strain, field strain or both.
The screening showed that in 94.87% of the field-stressed companies, the isolated strain was related to the UK2019 strain. This makes this pressure dominant in the Benelux, with a dominance of 98.7% in Belgium. 52.61% of farms tested positive for the field strain of Gumboro despite vaccination, and 34.59% tested positive for the vaccine strain only. PCR results were negative in 9.88% of farms. There are also significant differences between the different types of vaccines1:
Decision
This screening provides valuable insights into Gumboro’s dynamics in the Benelux, particularly in relation to the unfolding of the UK2019 version. Despite a high level of vaccination, the results show that there is a large number of field types. The results of this screening emphasize the importance of continued monitoring, adaptation of vaccination strategies and further research to limit the impact of new variants on poultry health. These findings have implications for the poultry sector in the Benelux and beyond, and will help improve IBDV vaccination programmes. The intermediate plus vaccines, especially when in the form of immune complex vaccines, appear to be a good option for controlling the spread of Gumboro field virus on poultry farms.
If you want to know more about the Gumboro virus or if you have any questions about prevention in your company, do not hesitate to contact the HIPRA poultry veterinarians: Pieter Kuhne +31 6 8289 6434 or Patrick de Jong +31 6 2610 5061.
Reference:
2024-10-29 19:18:00
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