Vaccine Protection Against Experimental Challenge Infection with a PPV-27a Genotype Virus in Pregnant Gilts.

Background/introduction: Porcine parvovirus (PPV), the causative agent of severe reproductive failures in pigs, is present worldwide. The witnessed spread of the virulent 27a type PPV strains since its recognition raised concerns about the efficacy of the available commercial vaccines.

Methods: To address this question, vaccinated pregnant gilts were challenged with a PPV-27a-like virus strain and parameters related to vaccine efficacy were compared.

Novel Orthobunyavirus Causing Severe Kidney Disease in Broiler Chickens, Malaysia, 2014-2017.

During 2014-2017, we isolated a novel orthobunyavirus from broiler chickens with severe kidney lesions in the state of Kedah, Malaysia; we named the virus Kedah fatal kidney syndrome virus (KFKSV). Affected chickens became listless and diarrheic before dying suddenly. Necropsies detected pale and swollen kidneys with signs of gout, enlarged and fragile livers, and pale hearts.

Recombinant Turkey Herpesvirus-AI Vaccine Virus Replication in Different Species of Waterfowl.

Waterfowl play a key role in the epidemiology of the H5N1 subtype of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) virus; therefore, efficient immunization of domesticated ducks and geese to maximize the impact of other control measures is of great importance. A recombinant (r)HVT-AI, expressing the HA gene of a clade 2.2 H5N1 HPAI strain had been developed and proved to be efficient against different clades of H5N1 HPAI virus in chickens after a single vaccination at 1 day old and could provide long-term immunity.

Tembusu-like flavivirus (Perak virus) as the cause of neurological disease outbreaks in young Pekin ducks.

A neurological disease of young Pekin ducks characterized by ataxia, lameness, and paralysis was observed at several duck farms in Malaysia in 2012. Gross pathological lesions were absent or inconsistent in most of the cases, but severe and consistent microscopic lesions were found in the brain and spinal cord, characterized by non-purulent panencephalomyelitis. Several virus isolates were obtained in embryonated duck eggs and in cell cultures (Vero and DF-1) inoculated with the brain homogenates of affected ducks.

Onset and long-term duration of immunity provided by a single vaccination with a turkey herpesvirus vector ND vaccine in commercial layers.

The onset and duration of immunity provided by a recombinant ND vaccine using HVT virus as vector (rHVT-ND) was followed up to 72 weeks of age in commercial layer chickens after single application or as part of two different vaccination regimes including conventional live and killed ND vaccines. Efficacy of the different vaccination programmes was checked, from 3 to 72 weeks of age, by serology as well as by challenges with a recent velogenic NDV isolate belonging to genotype VII. Assessment of protection was done based on the prevention of clinical signs and reduction of challenge virus shedding via the oro-nasal and cloacal routes.

Short beak and dwarfism syndrome of mule duck is caused by a distinct lineage of goose parvovirus.

From the early 1970s to the present, numerous cases of short beak and dwarfism syndrome (SBDS) have been reported in mule ducks from France. The animals showed strong growth retardation with smaller beak and tarsus. It was suggested that the syndrome was caused by goose parvovirus on the basis of serological investigation, but the causative agent has not been isolated and the disease has not so far been reproduced by experimental infection.