Performing Department
(N/A)
Non Technical Summary
Clostridium perfringens (CP) is a bacterial pathogen that causes necrotic enteritis (NE) in chickens and foodborne illnesses in humans, and Mycoplasma gallisepticum (MG) is a pathogen for chickens that causes Chronic Respiratory Disease (CRD). Both pathogens cause significant economic loss to the poultry industry worldwide. The estimated loss due to NE is approximately $5-6 billion, and the loss due to CRD is $780 million. Vaccines are one of the best methods to control them, but currently, there are no commercial vaccines to control CP in poultry. Even though commercial vaccines are available for MG, the problem of CRD still exists, indicating the need for a more effective vaccine, so we proposed to develop a multi-strain-electron beam (eBeam)- killed vaccines to control both NE and CRD in chickens. The proposal aims to prepare vaccines against a broad spectrum of CP and MG strains using eBeam, vaccinate the embryos, and then challenge the chickens with live pathogens to test if the vaccine gives protection. We expect that the multi-strain vaccine will control both NE and CRD in chickens and prevent economic loss due to NE and CRD. We also expect the commercialization of vaccines.
Animal Health Component
100%
Research Effort Categories
Basic
10%
Applied
80%
Developmental
10%
Goals / Objectives
Clostridium perfringens(CP) andMycoplasma galisepticum(MG) are poultry pathogens that cause huge economic loss to the poultry industry, so the goal of this project is to develop a suite of eBeam-killed vaccines against CPand MGto reduce necrotic enteritis (NE) and chronic respiratory disease (CRD) in chickens and human foodborne outbreaks due to CP. To obtain this goal, we have two major objectives: (1) To prepare a multi-strainClostridium perfringensvaccine using eBeam technology and test its efficacy in protecting broiler chickens when challenged with live homologous and heterologous strains; (2)To prepare a multi-strainMycoplasma galisepticumvaccine using eBeam technology and test its efficacy in protecting layer chickens when challenged with homologous and heterologous strains of MG.
Project Methods
Strains ofClostridium perfringens(CP) andStrains ofMycoplasma gallisepticum(MG) will be cultured and exposed to a lethal dose of electron beam for inactivation. The inactivated cells will be used as a vaccine. Fertile chicken eggs will be obtained from a commercial hatchery and incubated in our incubators. On the day of embryogenesis, the vaccine will be delivered to the embryos using the in-ovo methodto simulate commercial hatcheriesin-ovovaccination practices. After the chicks are hatched on day 21, they will be kept in appropriate cages/pens according to the treatment. To test the efficacy of the vaccines, the chickens will be challenged with live pathogens (CP or MG), and different samples will be collected for microbial and immunological analysis. The results from all the analyses will be analyzed and prepared for presentations, manuscripts, or patent applications.