Multispecies bacterial vaccine protects against BCO in broilersMultispecies bacterial vaccine protects against BCO in broilers

Loss of revenue via carcass condemnation at the market age could be significantly reduced, potentially saving billions of dollars annually.

Feedstuffs Staff

November 27, 2024

2 Min Read
Broiler chickens inside facility
Getty

Bacterial chondronecrosis with osteomyelitis (BCO) is a significant issue in the commercial broiler industry and is recognized as a key factor in causing lameness in broilers. This metabolic disease is frequently associated with Staphylococcus sp.

Lameness due to BCO may range dramatically from 15% to 57% of a flock being affected during episodic outbreaks. Bacteria that are found in BCO lesions are intestinal bacteria that are proposed to have translocated through the intestinal epithelium and have spread systemically. However, the complete etiology and pathogenesis of the disease is not fully understood. Further, there are no effective and commercially available measures to prevent this disease.

Electron beam (eBeam) technology is renowned for producing efficient whole-cell vaccines, via the capability to prevent bacterial multiplication by irreversibly shredding DNA, while uncompromising the membrane proteins' (immunogenic epitopes) integrity.

A study by Dr. Adnan Ali Khalaf Alrubaye of the University of Arkansas was aimed to achieve lameness reduction in broiler chickens via in ovo immunization with an eBeam-treated multi-strain Staphylococcus vaccine. The overarching goal was to investigate the reduction of lameness, prevent Staphylococcus colonization of leg bones and the specific immune responses against Staphylococcus brought forward by the vaccine.

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The study design consisted of four treatment (vaccination) groups:
 - eBeam-treated;
- Formalin-treated;
- A combination of the two above vaccine types, and
- Sham (carrier without bacteria).

Each treatment group was directly exposed to aerosolized, natural BCO causative pathogens from the day of hatch for 56 days.

According to research findings, the eBeam group resulted in a significant reduction of daily cumulative lameness by >50% and prevention of Staphylococcus colonization in the bones of treated birds, while the reduction brought forward by the other vaccines was insignificant compared to the control.

Findings from this study indicate that an eBeam-inactivated whole-cell bacterial vaccine can be a promising alternative to efficiently control BCO in commercial broiler chickens, which can benefit the industry divergently.

Loss of revenue via carcass condemnation at the market age could be significantly reduced, potentially saving billions of dollars annually. This may improve animal welfare and health by reducing clinical conditions of BCO and discomfort. Furthermore, the proposed single time administered in ovovaccine is less stressful to the birds as compared to a live vaccine administered on several occasions (as boosters) to live animals, the researchers noted.

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About the Author

Feedstuffs Staff

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