Oral vaccination of chickens against Newcastle disease with V4 vaccine delivered on processed rice grains.

An international effort (sponsored by the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research) is being made to develop oral vaccines that will protect village chickens against Newcastle disease. The vaccines being used are derivatives of the avirulent Australian V4 strain that have been selected for enhanced heat resistance. The present study, undertaken in Sri Lanka, used local processed (parboiled) rice as a vehicle for the vaccine. Chickens receiving two doses of vaccine on cooked, parboiled rice were completely protected against contact challenge with the virulent SL 88/1 Sri Lankan strain of Newcastle disease virus Chickens kept in contact with these vaccinated chickens were similarly protected. Lower levels of protection were achieved with vaccine given on uncooked parboiled rice. V4 vaccine administered intranasally also gave complete protection. Serums from vaccinated chickens that survived challenge were tested for haemagglutination-inhibition antibodies, using both vaccine virus and challenge virus as antigens. Titres were higher against vaccine virus.