Triple Threat Vaccine Protects Poultry from Devastating Diseases
A new vaccine is offering unprecedented protection against a trio of devastating poultry diseases: Marek’s disease, infectious bursitis, and infectious laryngotracheitis.
The vaccine was officially authorized by the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries through Provision 37/2024. This breakthrough marks a significant advancement in poultry health, offering hope for minimized suffering and increased production.
Marek’s disease, infectious bursitis, and infectious laryngotracheitis can cause significant suffering in birds. These diseases present in various ways, from neurological lesions to immunosuppression. Their presence on farms worldwide is alarmingly common, leading to substantial financial losses for the poultry industry. Decreased egg production, increased mortality rates, and high treatment costs are just some of the burdens these diseases impose.
A Powerful Tool Against Multiple Threats
The new vaccine leverages an innovative approach to protect against these multiple threats simultaneously. It modifies specific proteins expressed by the Marek’s disease virus serotype 3, known as turkey herpesvirus (HVT). This strain has served as a successful vaccine against Marek’s disease in chickens since 1971, significantly reducing loss rates in chicken production.
This authorized vaccine builds on the proven success of HVT by tailoring its protein expression to enhance immune response. By modifying the proteins, the vaccine essentially instructs the bird’s immune system to recognize them as antigens. This triggers a targeted immune response, preparing the bird’s body to effectively combat these viruses.
When a vaccinated bird encounters any of these pathogens in the future, its immune system is primed to swiftly eliminate the virus and prevent disease development.
Safety and Efficacy Proven
Through rigorous evaluation, the Secretariat, in collaboration with the Coordination of Innovation and Biotechnology and the National Advisory Commission for Agricultural Biotechnology (CONABIA), along with SENASA, determined the safety of this modified vaccine.
Their assessment confirmed that the modifications do not pose an additional risk to the surrounding ecosystem compared to the unmodified strain.
The authorization of this vaccine underscores the national agricultural portfolio’s commitment to advancing safe and effective solutions for animal health. This dedication to innovation ultimately contributes to enhancing agricultural production and ensuring food security.
How does the American Poultry Association view the use of live Marek’s disease vaccines in poultry flocks?
## Poultry Protection: A Triple Threat Vaccine
**Host:** Welcome back to the show. Today, we’re joined by Dr. Emily Carter, a poultry health expert, to discuss a groundbreaking new vaccine offering hope for the poultry industry. Dr. Carter, thanks for being here.
**Dr. Carter:** It’s my pleasure to be here.
**Host:** So, let’s dive right in. This new vaccine targets three major poultry diseases. Can you tell us what they are?
**Dr. Carter:** Absolutely. This vaccine tackles Marek’s disease, infectious bursitis, and infectious laryngotracheitis. These diseases can be devastating to poultry flocks, causing significant suffering in birds and leading to substantial financial losses for farmers.
**Host:** Those sound like serious issues. What kind of impact do these diseases have on the poultry industry?
**Dr. Carter:** They’re incredibly impactful. These diseases can lead to decreased egg production, increased mortality rates, and high treatment costs. This new vaccine is a major advancement because it addresses all three threats simultaneously.
**Host:** I read that this vaccine modifies a specific strain of virus.
**Dr. Carter:** That’s right. It modifies specific proteins expressed by the Marek’s disease virus serotype 3, also known as turkey herpesvirus, or HVT. Interestingly, HVT has been successfully used as a vaccine against Marek’s disease in chickens since 1971 [[1](https://extension.psu.edu/mareks-disease-in-chickens)]. This new vaccine builds upon that long history of success.
**Host:** That’s fascinating! What does this mean for the future of the poultry industry?
**Dr. Carter:** This vaccine has the potential to revolutionize poultry health. By providing effective protection against these three major diseases, it can help reduce suffering in birds, improve productivity, and ultimately strengthen the poultry industry.
**Host:** This is certainly welcome news. Thank you for sharing your expertise with us, Dr. Carter.
**Dr. Carter:** My pleasure.
