Now an ARS scientist has proved effective an in ovo Newcastle vaccine that uses killed virus suspended in a conventional emulsion of mineral oil. This is safer for chickens. Plus, the dose is smaller than that given to hatched chicks. In tests, ARS scientists vaccinated embryos of White Leghorn chickens three days before they were due to hatch. Two months later, the grown birds were challenged with an exotic strain of Newcastle virus.
Exotic strains are the deadliest form that potentially threaten U.S. poultry.
No vaccinated chickens in the study showed disease signs. But the exotic virus strain killed all chickens in a group that was not vaccinated. The scientists also found that the killed-virus, Newcastle vaccine can be incorporated with in ovo vaccines available for avian influenza, Salmonella bacteria and other poultry pathogens. With Calgene, Inc., of Davis, CA, to evaluate the commercial potential of cotton hybrids that the company's scientists bioengineered to stop destructive caterpillars from eating cotton plants. If the hybrids pass muster, farmers could get a new alternative to insecticides.