A recent study funded by USPOULTRY and the USPOULTRY Foundation has identified a promising approach to improve the production and delivery of recombinant herpesvirus of turkey (rHVT) vaccines, which are widely used to protect poultry against important diseases. The research is part of the Association’s comprehensive research program, which encompasses all phases of poultry and egg production and processing. The research is made possible in part through proceeds from the International Poultry Expo, part of the International Production & Processing Expo.

Project # BRU-19: Improving Efficiency in the Delivery of HVT Vector Vaccines

(Dr. Isabel M. Gimeno, Department of Population Health and Pathobiology, North Carolina State University, College of Veterinary Medicine, Raleigh, N.C.)

Ensuring poultry receive an accurate and consistent vaccine dose is an important part of effective disease prevention. However, rHVT vaccines present a unique challenge because they are cell-associated, meaning the vaccine virus is contained within living cells. This can make it more difficult to achieve consistent vaccine production and uniform dosing at the hatchery.

A recent study conducted by Dr. Isabel Gimeno and colleagues found that using a novel Diploid Growth Serum Reduced (DGSR) medium increased vaccine titers fivefold, improved infectivity by 300% and reduced dose variability by half compared with conventional media. Vaccines produced using DGSR maintained their safety, replication and protective efficacy, performing as well as or better than vaccines produced using conventional media.

The findings could help vaccine manufacturers increase production efficiency, reduce costs and provide more uniform and accurate vaccine dosing at hatcheries.

The research summary can be found on the USPOULTRY website. Information on other Association research may also be obtained by visiting the USPOULTRY website.