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Vaccine offers hope in fight against major chicken disease
The recombinant vaccines have potential to be more cost-effective and respond to emerging new virus strains.
Researchers test effectiveness of recombinant virus vaccine

Researchers have developed a new vaccine strategy that could help chickens in the fight against infectious bronchitis.

Current vaccines that protect against infectious bronchitis guard against some strains of the virus, but not others. Scientists believe these failures are associated with differences in the spike protein - the protein which enables the virus to attach to and enter cells - between strains of the virus.

Writing in the Journal Of Virology, researchers describe how they tested a new approach using a specialist type of vaccine, known as recombinant virus vaccine. These vaccines use harmless or weak versions of a virus or bacteria to introduce microbes into cells into the body.

The team used recombinant viruses with different spike proteins as vaccines to build two versions of a harmless virus. They found that the vaccine offered partial protection against infectious bronchitis virus, but further research is needed to develop a more robust vaccine.

Researchers say the recombinant vaccines have potential to be more cost-effective and respond to emerging new virus strains. The next step will be to develop a vaccine that remains harmless but induces a stronger immune response.

Professor Lonneke Vervelde, who led the study at the University’s Roslin Institute, said: “There is a real need to develop new vaccines against infectious bronchitis that protect against multiple strains and offer rapid responses. We are trying to make a vaccine that offers broad protection, but further research is needed to develop a more robust vaccine.”

Dr Erica Bickerton at the Pirbright Institute, who also took part in the study, said: “Our research hopes to develop more cost-effective and efficient commercial vaccines that are capable of protecting chickens against this serious disease.”

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Reporting service for dead wild birds updated

News Story 1
 The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) has updated its online reporting service for dead wild birds.

The new version allows those reporting a dead bird to drop a pin on a map when reporting the location. It also includes a wider range of wild bird species groups to select from when describing the bird.

The online service, which helps APHA to monitor the spread of diseases such as avian influenza, can be accessed here. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
NI chief vet urges bluetongue vigilance

Northern Ireland's chief veterinary officer (CVO) has urged farmers to be vigilant for signs of bluetongue, after the Animal and Plant Health Agency warned there was a very high probability of further cases in Great Britain.

There have been 126 confirmed cases of bluetongue virus serotype 3 in England since November 2023, with no cases reported in Northern Ireland. The movement of live ruminants from Great Britain to Northern Ireland is currently suspended.

According to the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA), the virus is most likely to enter Northern Ireland through infected animals or germplasm (semen or ova) being imported.

Brian Dooher, Northern Ireland's CVO, said: "Surveillance for this disease within Northern Ireland has been increased to assist with detection at the earliest opportunity which will facilitate more effective control measures."

Farmers should report any suspicions of the disease to their private veterinary practitioner, the DAERA Helpline on 0300 200 7840 or their local DAERA Direct Veterinary Office.