The Immune Response of Boschveld Chickens to a Newcastle Disease Vaccination Program Designed for Commercial Layers

Abstract

Abstract This study evaluated Boschveld chicken’s antibody response to a Newcastle Disease (ND) vaccination program designed for the Hyline Brown chickens. Both chicken breeds were challenged with the LaSota vaccine at days 1, 69, 111, and 195. A total of 160 sera samples were collected, 80 from each breed. The sera were tested for anti-Newcastle Disease Virus (NDV) antibodies using the Haemagglutination inhibition assay. The anti-NDV antibody titers were expressed in log 2 as geometric mean ± standard deviation. Antibody titers were evaluated and compared pre-infection and 10 days post-infection (dpi). Sera positivity to anti-NDV was tested at 10 dpi. A higher percentage of negative sera (6.875) was recorded in Boschveld than in Hyline Brown chickens (3.75). Hyline Brown chicks had a higher antibody titer (4.95 ± 0.21) than Boschveld (3.21 ± 0.43) before any vaccination. There was a significant association (p < 0.05) between the number of vaccinations and antibody titers in both chicken breeds. Sera from the Boschveld reached a higher antibody titer value (13.98) than that of Hyline Brown chickens (13.85). The Boschveld had a higher immune response peak and immunological memory compared to the Hyline Brown chickens. The candidate genes from Boschveld chickens can be introgressed in highly productive chicken germplasm with less NDV response as an alternative solution to ND. The antibody titers of the Boschveld did not change significantly (p > 0.05) after the 4th vaccination time while those from Hyline Brown chickens continued to increase. The 4th ND vaccination must be ignored or delayed in Boschveld chickens.