Fowl cholera immunity in broiler breeder chickens determined by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was developed to detect antibodies in broiler breeders vaccinated (wing web) with the CU fowl cholera vaccine. Birds were bled weekly from 9 to 26 weeks, every other week from 26 to 40 weeks, and every 4 weeks from 40 to 56 weeks of age. Overall mean ELISA antibody titers (9 to 56 weeks) reported as log10 values and survivability of the vaccinates after virulent challenge were as follows: unvaccinated--5.75, 48%; birds vaccinated once at 8 weeks--5.91, 78%; birds vaccinated twice at 8 and 14 weeks--6.11, 100%; birds vaccinated thrice at 8, 14, and 20 weeks--6.23, 100%; birds vaccinated twice at 8 and 20 weeks--6.12, 100%; and birds vaccinated twice at 8 and 20 weeks (plus fowl pox at 8 weeks)--6.08, 95%. Survivability in the vaccinates after virulent challenge with strain X-73 Pasteurella multocida was 100% in birds with ELISA antibody titers (log10) greater than 6.02. Under the conditions of this experiment, birds vaccinated two or three times between 8 and 20 weeks proved to be sufficiently immune at 56 weeks of age to withstand a virulent fowl cholera challenge. Birds not vaccinated or vaccinated only once at 8 weeks were not sufficiently immunized to withstand virulent challenge.