No Adverse Effects Noted after Mycoplasma Vaccination of Hens

US - Research by the USDA reveals no adverse effects following the vaccination of layers with an F-strain Mycoplasma gallisepticum vaccine on egg production or quality parameters.
calendar icon 3 January 2014
clock icon 3 minute read

The results of a new research in Mississippi suggest that hens can be safely vaccinated with Vectormune FP MG as pullets and can be re-vaccinated with a live Mycoplasma gallisepticum vaccine such as F-strain M. gallisepticum (FMG) at a later date without deleterious effects on egg production or egg or eggshell quality parameters.

The study was conducted by the USDA Agricultural Research Service's South Central Poultry Research Unit to determine the impact of vaccination with Vectormune FP MG on egg production and egg quality characteristics of Single Comb White Leghorn hens.

In the journal, Poultry Science, first author, Spencer Leigh and colleagues explain that, due to questions of the efficacy of this vaccine in preventing M. gallisepticum-mediated pathology, the ability of this vaccine to protect against egg losses after the production peak associated with F-strain M. gallisepticum (FMG) vaccination was also investigated.

Vaccination with Vectormune FP MG did not result in any significant change in egg production or egg quality parameters compared with control (unvaccinated) hens.

Subsequent re-vaccination with FMG at 45 weeks of age yielded no impact on egg production or egg quality parameters of Vectormune FP MG vaccinated hens, unlike prior results for post-production-peak vaccination of M. gallisepticum-clean hens with FMG, when a drop in egg production of approximately six per cent was observed.

No difference in egg size distribution was observed for any of the treatment groups before or after FMG re-vaccination. These results suggest that hens can be safely vaccinated with Vectormune FP MG as pullets and can be re-vaccinated with a live M. gallisepticum vaccine such as FMG at a later date with no deleterious effects on egg production or egg or eggshell quality parameters.

Reference

Leigh S.A., L. Branton, J.D. Evans and S.D. Collier. 2013. Impact of fowlpox-vectored Mycoplasma gallisepticum vaccine Vectormune FP MG on layer hen egg production and egg quality parameters. Poult. Sci. 92(12):3172-3175. doi: 10.3382/ps.2013-03325

Further Reading

You can view the full report (fee payable) by clicking here.
Find out more about Mycoplasma in chickens by clicking here.

© 2000 - 2024 - Global Ag Media. All Rights Reserved | No part of this site may be reproduced without permission.