RESUMO
Infectious bronchitis (IB) is a highly contagious viral disease of chickens, known to cause severe economic losses. Vaccination against IB virus (IBV) is an important control measure against the disease. The objective of the present study was to test Avishield IB GI-13, the vaccine candidate against IBV, strain V-173/11 (GI-13 genotype), according to European Pharmacopoeia (Ph. Eur.) efficacy requirements. Laboratory study on specific-pathogen-free (SPF) chickens showed 100% protection against challenge 10 days after vaccination of 1-7 day-old chickens by three recommended routes. Duration of immunity was shown to be at least 8 weeks after vaccination. Chickens with maternally derived antibodies (MDA) were 100% protected against challenge 21 and 35 days after vaccination. Testing of the vaccine candidate in field conditions on commercial broiler and layer farms showed 80-90% protection against homologous challenge after spray (broilers and layers) or oral (broilers) vaccine administration. Serum antibodies were monitored during the studies, and although good seroconversion was observed in MDA-positive chickens 34 days after vaccination or later, the data from SPF chickens indicate that non-humoral immunity is important in protection against challenge. Neutralizing antibodies in tears were detected, however, their level could not be fully linked with individual protection scores. A cross-protection study showed that administration of the combination of Avishield IB H120 vaccine and Avishield IB GI-13 vaccine candidate at day 1, confers good protection against heterologous QX-like challenge. Stability of the vaccine after reconstitution in 0.2% skimmed milk solution or distilled water at room temperature was confirmed over the period of 3 h. The vaccine candidate fully complied with Ph. Eur. requirements, with very good protection levels, indicating that it can be administered already at 1 day of age by spray at the hatchery or at 7 days of age by drinking water on the farm.