The Influence of Vaccination of Broiler Chickens and Turkeys with Live E. coli Attenuated Vaccine on E. coli Population Properties and TRT Vaccination Efficacy

SIMPLE SUMMARY: Escherichia coli infections are considered one of the major causes of economic loss in the poultry industry. The reasons for the magnitude of the problem are the numerous sources of infection with these bacteria for birds and the need for an effective prevention method. Vaccination is one of the strategies for minimizing the consequences of E. coli infection. In this study, we performed three independent experiments at farm level using a live vaccine against E. coli. Antibiotic-free broiler chickens, conventional broiler chickens and broiler turkeys were examined in different experiments. The most meaningful results and conclusions of these experiments are that vaccination against colibacillosis decreases the population count of E. coli, increases the antibiotic susceptibility of field E. coli isolates and has no impact on the efficacy of vaccination against another significant poultry upper respiratory tract disease—TRT. We believe that the vaccination of broiler chickens and turkeys against E. coli can improve bird health and should be considered in terms of routine immunoprophylaxis. ABSTRACT: Colibacillosis is one of the major causes of economic losses in the poultry industry. Vaccination against E. coli is attracting increasing interest. The aim of the study was to evaluate the influence of vaccination with live, aroA gene-deleted vaccine on the structure and properties of field E. coli population and its potential impact on TRT vaccination efficacy in broiler chickens and turkeys. We performed three independent experiments on farms: (1) with antibiotic-free broiler chickens, (2) with conventional broiler chickens and (3) with broiler turkeys. In experiment 1, we have recorded an approx. 0–15% prevalence of multi-susceptible E. coli strains in the first production cycle. Starting from production cycle number two, after vaccination introduction, successive significant increases in E. coli susceptibility emerged, reaching 100% of strains at the end of production cycle 3. Increased E. coli susceptibility remained for three production cycles after vaccination withdrawal. In experiments 2 (2 production cycles) and 3 (1 production cycle), we recorded similar tendencies of E. coli susceptibility profile change. In experiments 1 and 2, the E. coli population count was lower after vaccination. In experiments 2 and 3, no negative influence of E. coli vaccination on the level of specific antibodies against TRT was recorded.