African Journal of
Biotechnology

  • Abbreviation: Afr. J. Biotechnol.
  • Language: English
  • ISSN: 1684-5315
  • DOI: 10.5897/AJB
  • Start Year: 2002
  • Published Articles: 12487

Full Length Research Paper

Delivery of thermostable Newcastle disease (ND) vaccine to chickens with broken millet grains as the vehicle

Echeonwu, G. O. N.1*, Iroegbu, C. U.2, Echeonwu, B. C.3, Ngene, A.4, Olabode, A. O.1, Okeke, O. I.1, Ndako, J.1, Paul, G.1, Onovoh, E. M.1, Junaid, S. A.1 and Nwankiti, O.5
  1 Federal College of Veterinary and Medical Laboratory Technology, National Veterinary Research Institute, Vom,  Plateau State, Nigeria.  2 Department of Microbiology, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria.  3 Poultry Department, National Veterinary Research Institute, Vom, Plateau State, Nigeria.  4 Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria.  5 Viral Vaccines Production Department, National Veterinary Research Institute, Vom, Plateau State, Nigeria. 
Email: [email protected]

  •  Accepted: 07 November 2007
  •  Published: 31 December 2007

Abstract

The efficacy of treated broken millet grains as a carrier for delivery of thermostable Newcastle disease (ND) vaccine HRV4 to free-range chickens in three locations was assessed by haemagglutination inhibition (HI) test and challenge experiment. Out of 256 birds fed with first dose of the vaccine, 130 (50.8%) produced detectable HI antibody but only 16 (6.3%) attained serum antibody level of log2 ≥ 3.0 adjudged protective. From the locations, Igumale (74 birds), Kuru (88 birds) Riyom (94 birds), only 1 (1.4%), 8 (9.1%) and 7 (7.4%) attained log2 titre ≥ 3.0, respectively. A booster vaccine dose 2 weeks later on 236 of the birds led to 126 (53.4%) attaining HI (log2) titre ≥ 3.0 [Igumale (63 birds), Kuru (86 birds) Riyom (87 birds) had 33 (53.5%), 46 (53.5%) and 42 (48.3%) respectively attaining log2 titres of ≥ 3.0]. Out of a total of 70 buy-back chickens challenged, 49 (70.0%) survived. The break down showed that from Igumale (20 birds), Kuru (25 birds) Riyom (25 birds), the survivors were 13 (65.0%), 19 (76.0%) and 17 (68.0%), respectively. Out of 28 unvaccinated control birds challenged, only 4 survived.  The overall results showed that millet, if properly treated, could be a good vaccine carrier and that the method of vaccination was relatively efficacious.

 

Key words: Broken millet, village chicken, Newcastle disease, vaccination.

Copyright © 2024 Author(s) retain the copyright of this article.

This article is published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License 4.0

Back to Vol. 6 No. 23
Back to articles
  • Articles on Google by:
SUBSCRIBE TO RSS
SUBMIT MANUSCRIPT
CONFERENCES