Preparation of inactivated oil-emulsion vaccines with avian viral or Mycoplasma antigens.

The influence of the composition of water-in-oil emulsions on their physical characteristics was determined by preparing experimental emulsions with various water-to-oil ratios and various emulsifiers. Emulsions containing Tween 80 in the aqueous phase and Arlacel A or Arlacel 80 in the oil phase were lower in viscosity than emulsions containing only an oil-phase emulsifier. Viscosity decreased as the concentration of oil increased. Oil-emulsion vaccines prepared with aqueous- and oil-phase emulsifiers had low viscosity, were stable for more than 12 weeks at 37 C, and induced a marked primary antibody response in chickens.