Interaction between avian influenza subtype H9N2 and Newcastle disease virus vaccine strain (LaSota) in chickens

BACKGROUND: H9N2 avian influenza virus is endemic in Egyptian poultry flocks. The role of the live viral vaccines such as LaSota in exaggeration of the clinical picture of H9N2 infection under field conditions is significantly important leading to severe economic losses due to higher mortality and lower growth performance. This experiment was designed to identify the possible interaction between experimental infection with H9N2 virus and NDV live vaccine (LaSota strain) in broiler chickens. Six groups each of 20 broiler chicks were used. Three groups (G1–3) were infected with H9N2 and vaccinated with LaSota, 3 days before, at the same day or 3 days post vaccination (dpv), while the remaining groups (G4–6) were non-vaccinated infected, vaccinated non-infected and non-vaccinated non-infected. RESULTS: The highest mortality rate (37.5%) was noticed in chickens of G1 (H9N2 infected 3 days prior LaSota vaccination). Also, this bird group had the most severe clinical signs, histopathological lesions and the longest viral shedding for 9 days post infection (dpi). In the 2nd and 3rd groups, the mortality rate was the similar (31.2%) with less pronounced clinical signs, histopathological lesions and H9N2 shedding was for only 6 dpi with the least shedding quantity in chickens of G3. The control non-vaccinated infected chickens (G4) had 18.7% mortality with the least degree of clinical signs, lesions and the highest viral shedding quantity but only for 6 dpi. At 35 days of age, there was a statistical significant decrease (P < 0.05) in chicken’s body weight of all H9N2 infected groups from G1 to G4 compared to non-infected control groups, G5 and G6 respectively. CONCLUSION: It was clear that laSota vaccination significantly affect H9N2 infection in broiler chickens regarding clinical signs, mortality rate, lesions, performance and viral shedding.