Field and laboratory investigation of Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever virus (Nairovirus, family Bunyaviridae) infection in birds

In November 1984 a case of Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever (CCHF) occurred in a worker who became ill after slaughtering ostriches (Struthio camelus) on a farm near Oudtshoorn in the Cape province of South Africa. The diagnosis was confirmed by isolation of CCHF virus from the patient's serum and by demonstration of a specific antibody response. It was suspected that infection was acquired either by contact with ostrich blood or by inadvertently crushing infected Hyalomma ticks while skinning ostriches. Reversed passive haemagglutination-inhibition antibody to CCHF virus was detected in the sera of 22/92 ostriches from farms in Oudtshoorn district, including 6/9 from the farm where the patient worked, but not in the sera of 460 birds of 37 other species. In pathogenicity studies domestic chickens proved refractory to CCHF infection, but viraemia of low intensity (maximum titre 2.5 log10 mouse ic LD50/ml) followed by a transient antibody response occurred in blue-helmeted guinea fowl (Numidia meleagris). These results offer the first direct evidence that some bird species are susceptible to CCHF virus infection.     

Ostrich diseases

Scientific knowledge of ostrich diseases is incomplete and very fragmented, with specific details on technical aspects of diagnostic and/or screening tests completely absent in most cases. Salmonella Typhimurium is common in multispecies collections and causes mortality in chicks younger than three months on commercial farms, but is rarely found in chicks older than six months, or slaughter birds of twelve to fourteen months in southern Africa. Campylobacter jejuni and Chlamydia psittaci are occasionally reported, mainly in young ostriches, but both remain a diagnostic challenge. Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever is transmitted to domestic animals including ostriches, principally by ticks of the genus Hyalomma. In the ostrich, the disease causes no clinical symptoms during a viraemia of approximately four days. Spongiform encephalopathy has not been reliably reported in ostriches, while anthrax has occurred rarely in modern times but was reportedly an important cause of death approximately 100 years ago in South Africa. Salmonella Gallinarum and S. Pullorum are unknown in ostriches. Pasteurella multocida occurs but is easily contained with antibiotics. Mycoplasma spp. are regularly found in an upper respiratory disease syndrome complicated by opportunistic bacterial pathogens. Ostriches of all ages are susceptible to challenge by velogenic Newcastle disease virus (NDV), but standard inactivated La Sota poultry vaccines can stimulate protective immunity lasting over six months. The viraemic period in vaccinated slaughter ostriches is between nine and eleven days and there are no indications of a carrier state or presence of the virus in the meat or any other tissues after this period, with peak immunoglobulin G response reached on day fourteen post infection. Haemagglutination inhibition tests are significantly less sensitive and less specific than enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. Cloacal and choanal swabs used for direct virological screening in clinically affected cases (field and experimental) could not detect NDV. All avian influenza isolates reported from ostriches have been non-pathogenic to poultry, even the H5 and H7 subtypes. Some of the latter have been associated with mortality of ostrich chicks in localised outbreaks during periods of inclement weather and with significant wild bird (waterfowl) contact. Borna disease causes a nervous syndrome in ostrich chicks, but to date, has only been reported in Israel. Eastern and Western equine encephalomyelitides cause fatal disease in ostriches and other ratites, with mortality ranging from less than 20% to over 80% in affected flocks. These diseases are present in North, Central and South America where the associated ornithophilic mosquito vectors occur. Equine and human vaccines are apparently safe and efficacious in ratites. Wesselsbron disease, infectious bursal disease (type 2), adenovirus and coronavirus infections have been reported from ostriches but the significance of these diseases is unclear. Due to the paucity of data regarding ostrich diseases and the unvalidated state of most poultry tests in this unique group of birds, strict observation of a pre-slaughter quarantine of thirty days is strongly advised, whilst live exports and fertile eggs should be screened through the additional use of sentinel chickens and/or young ostriches.     

Isotype specific ELISAs to detect antibodies against swine vesicular disease virus and their use in epidemiology

Isotype specific ELISAs to detect antibodies against swine vesicular disease, which may help to estimate the moment of infection, were developed and validated on sera from pigs experimentally infected with four different isolates of swine vesicular disease virus. Virus specific IgM antibodies could be detected from days 3-49 and occasionally up to day 91 after infection. IgG1 antibodies were first detected at day 8 and IgG2 at day 11. IgA antibodies coincided with IgG1 antibodies, but antibody titres varied widely. From the results obtained with the sera from the experimentally infected pigs, we calculated the day at which 50% of the pigs had become positive (D50). A D50 of 5, 4, 12, 12 and 24 days was calculated, respectively, for the appearance of antibodies in the virus neutralization test, the IgM, total IgG, IgG1 and IgG2 ELISA. A D50 of 49 days was calculated for the disappearance of IgM antibodies. The isotype specific ELISAs proved to be valuable tools to study the epidemiology of the disease.     

Protective efficacy of a recombinant subunit West Nile virus vaccine in domestic geese (Anser anser)

Introduction of the West Nile virus (WNV) to Hawai'i will undoubtedly devastate many populations of critically endangered avian species indigenous to Hawai'i. The protective efficacy of a protein-based WNV subunit vaccine formulated with adjuvant was evaluated in domestic geese as a surrogate species for the endangered Nēnē, the state bird of Hawai'i. Prevention of viremia following viral infection of vaccinated birds was used as the clinical endpoint of protection. ELISA and plaque reduction neutralization tests demonstrate that significant levels of vaccine antigen-specific antibody were produced in groups of birds vaccinated with 5 or 10mug of the WN-80E antigen formulated with ISA720 adjuvant. Moreover, after challenge with WNV, no viremia was detected in vaccinated birds, whereas viremia was detected up to 4 days after and virus was detected by oral swab for 6 days after infection among control groups. Safe and effective vaccination of managed or captive endangered bird populations will protect species with critically low numbers that could not survive the added mortality of introduced disease.     

Superinfection and recombination of infectious laryngotracheitis virus vaccines in the natural host

Infectious laryngotracheitis virus (ILTV, Gallid alphaherpesvirus 1) causes severe respiratory disease in chickens and has a major impact on the poultry industry worldwide. Live attenuated vaccines are widely available and are administered early in the life of commercial birds, often followed by one or more rounds of revaccination, generating conditions that can favour recombination between vaccines. Better understanding of the factors that contribute to the generation of recombinant ILTVs will inform the safer use of live attenuated herpesvirus vaccines. This study aimed to examine the parameters of infection that allow superinfection and may enable the generation of recombinant progeny in the natural host. In this study, 120 specific-pathogen free (SPF) chickens in 8 groups were inoculated with two genetically distinct live-attenuated ILTV vaccine strains with 1–4 days interval between the first and second vaccinations. After inoculation, viral genomes were detected in tracheal swabs in all groups, with lowest copies detected in swabs collected from the groups where the interval between inoculations was 4 days. Superinfection of the host was defined as the detection of the virus that was inoculated last, and this was detected in tracheal swabs from all groups. Virus could be isolated from swabs at a limited number of timepoints, and these further illustrated superinfection of the birds as recombinant viruses were detected among the progeny. This study has demonstrated superinfection at host level and shows recombination events occur under a very broad range of infection conditions. The occurrence of superinfection after unsynchronised infection with multiple viruses, and subsequent genomic recombination, highlight the importance of using only one type of vaccine per flock as the most effective way to limit recombination.     

Overcoming the susceptibility gap between maternal antibody disappearance and auto-antibody production

In the first 10–14 days of a chick′s life, protection is conferred by maternal antibodies. Further broiler protection is achieved by active vaccination. However, the high level of maternal antibodies interferes with the induction of an effective immune response by vaccination at a young age. As a result, there is a gap between the reduction in protective maternal antibodies and elevation of self-produced antibodies following active vaccination. The major aim of this study was to test an approach consisting of passive and active vaccination to overcome this gap and to provide continuous resistance to infectious viral diseases during the broiler′s growth period. Newcastle disease virus (NDV), which is one of the world′s most prevalent infectious diseases of poultry, was tested as a model. Following subcutaneous injection of 18 hemagglutination-inhibiting (HI) units of anti-NDV immunoglobulin Y per 1-day-old chick, protective log₂ antibody titers above 4 could be detected to at least 17 days of age. The combination of passive immunization on day 1 of age with attenuated live vaccination on day 10 led to high protective titers throughout the entire growth period, up to 41 days of age. Moreover, the HI titers in the group of birds immunized with the combined vaccination were significantly more homogeneous than those in the group vaccinated only with live virus. Thus, full protection against NDV of all broilers in flock during their entire growth period was achieved by a vaccination regime that combines passive immunization and live vaccination.     

人结直肠活组织HIV-1黏膜感染模型的建立

目的 建立与HIV-1黏膜感染相关的结直肠活组织体外培养模型,利用假病毒模拟HIV-1进入黏膜建立感染的生物学过程. 方法 在知情同意下,取肿瘤手术患者癌旁正常结直肠组织,保留黏膜层与黏膜下层,钻取成统一大小(直径6 mm)的组织块置于12孔板中培养.HE染色观察培养0 d至13 d时组织形态结构的变化,噻唑蓝法(MTT法)同步检测组织活性.采用单轮复制周期假病毒感染黏膜并持续培养6～7 d,通过检测上清中p24含量验证该模型再现HIV-1黏膜感染的适用性;以进入临床实验的预防HIV-1黏膜感染的第1代微生物杀菌剂壬苯醇醚-9(N-9)为例,验证该模型对黏膜外用药物的反应性. 结果 HE染色观察至5 d时结直肠组织结构良好,13 d时黏膜组织结构依然可见.经MTT法检测黏膜培养4 d时活性高于80%,7 d的活性可保持在50%左右.假病毒感染该活组织模型后半量换液1、4、8 d的培养上清中,检测到p24的含量升高;同时,该组织模型活性可灵敏地反映出N-9浓度的变化. 结论 成功建立一种人体结直肠活组织HIV-1体外感染模型,可模拟人体HIV-1黏膜感染的生物学过程.

Abstract：

Objective To establish human colorectal tissue model in HIV-1 mucosal infection and by using pseudotyped virus to simulate the biological process of HIV-1 mucosal infection from HIV-1 entrying into mucosa to local infection establishment. Methods Tumor adjacent normal colorectal tissues were obtained with informed consent.After excised the muscularis externa,the mucosa and submucosa were dissected into the same blocks and cultured in 12-well cell culture plates.The cultured tissue structure and morphology were observed from day 0 to day 13 by staining with the hematoxylin eosin (HE),and the tissue activity was detected by 3(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay.The established tissues explants were infected by a single cycle replicated pseudotyped virus and propagated for 6-7 days,then subjected to the detection of p24 production within supernatant to verify the applicability of the model for the studying of HIV-1 mucosal infection.The applicability of the established explants for safety and reactivity evaluation of mucosa topical drugs was conducted by the using of first generation antiseptic Nonoxynol-9(N-9) as an example. Results HE staining showed the structure of colorectal tissue was remained well until 5th day and still evident until 13th day.The tissue activity of cultured mucosa was above 80% at day 4,and still remained over 50% at day 7 as detected by MTT assay.After infected by pseudo virus,the increased level of p24 was detected from supernatant collected on 1st,4th,8th day,which indicated a local infection was created.In addition,the dose changing of N-9 was reflected sensitively by the activity of this model. Conclusion Ex vivo human colorectal tissue model mimic HIV-1 mucosal infection was established that can be used to replicate the bioprocess of human HIV-1 mucosal infection.     

Protection of red-legged partridges (Alectoris rufa) against West Nile virus (WNV) infection after immunization with WNV recombinant envelope protein E (rE)

West Nile virus (WNV) is maintained in nature in an enzootic transmission cycle between birds and mosquitoes, although it occasionally infects other vertebrates, including humans, in which it may result fatal. To date, no licensed vaccines against WNV infection are available for birds, but its availability would certainly benefit certain populations, as birds grown for restocking, hunting activities, or alimentary purposes, and those confined to wildlife reservations and recreation installations. We have tested the protective capability of WNV envelope recombinant (rE) protein in red-legged partridges (Alectoris rufa). Birds (n = 28) were intramuscularly immunized three times at 2-weeks interval with rE and a control group (n = 29) was sham-immunized. Except for 5 sham-immunized birds that were not infected and housed as contact controls, partridges were subcutaneously challenged with WNV. Oropharyngeal and cloacal swabs and feather pulps were collected at several days after infection and blood samples were taken during vaccination and after infection. All rE-vaccinated partridges elicited anti-WNV antibodies before challenge and survived to the infection, while 33.3% of the sham-immunized birds succumbed, as did 25% of the contact animals. Most (84%) unvaccinated birds showed viremia 3 d.p.i., but virus was only detected in 14% of the rE vaccinated birds. WNV-RNA was detected in feathers and swabs from sham-immunized partridges from 3 to 7 d.p.i., mainly in birds that succumbed to the infection, but not in rE vaccinated birds. Thus, rE vaccination fully protected partridges against WND and reduced the risk of virus spread.     

Persistent infection is a rare sequel following infection of pigs with swine vesicular disease virus

Nine isolates from pigs persistently infected with a recent Italian isolate of swine vesicular disease (SVD) virus, ITL/9/93, were collected sequentially over 121 days and were characterized antigenically and biochemically. There was an accumulation of amino acid (aa) substitutions in the capsid proteins throughout the carrier state that could be correlated with alterations in antigenicity in virus isolates collected late stage in infection. The aa substitutions detected mainly occurred in VPI and antigenic changes were detected in late isolates both at antigenic site 1, resulting in loss of binding of Mab 4GO7, and at a closely located site which has not yet been named, recognized by Mab C29. In further experiments groups of pigs were exposed to a range of SVD viruses, but no virus was isolated beyond 16 days post infection (dpi) nor viral RNA detected beyond 42 dpi. Attempts to transfer infection to sentinel pigs introduced some time after initial infection of the original pigs were largely unsuccessful. The carrier state was established in only one out of five experimental infections of pigs with SVD virus and can therefore be considered a rare sequel toinfection with SVD virus and is of limited significance in the epidemiology of the disease.     

HBV阳性血清体外感染HepG-2细胞方法建立

目的建立乙型肝炎病毒(HBV)阳性血清体外感染人肝癌细胞系HepG-2的方法。方法低温同步化处理HepG-2细胞后用高浓度HBV阳性血清与含有4%聚乙二醇的无血清伊格尔极限必需培养基(MEM)共孵育HepG-2细胞,设阴性对照组和空白对照组;18 h后加入含10%胎牛血清的MEM继续培养6 d,每隔24 h收集细胞和培养上清,荧光定量PCR检测HBV DNA,间接免疫荧光技术检测细胞内乙型肝炎病毒表面抗原(HBsAg)。结果 HBV阳性血清感染组HepG-2细胞内和培养上清中在感染后第1 d可检测到HBV DNA,分别为(16.04±7.99)×103、(8.84±3.97)×103 copies/mL,细胞内DNA含量在第2 d达到(3.51±1.86)×105 copies/mL,然后逐渐下降,在第4 d降到检测下限以下,而培养上清中病毒DNA在检测的时间内逐渐升高,在第6天达到(8.41±5.34)×105 cop-ies/mL;间接免疫荧光检测感染组细胞膜和胞浆中均有HBsAg表达;传代培养感染细胞后,在第1代细胞培养上清和细胞内均可检测到HBV DNA(3.58×105、7.34×105 copies/mL),第2代培养上清中可检测到少量HBV DNA(2.89×103 copies/mL),但细胞内检测到HBV DNA低于检测下限(896 copies/mL),第3代细胞的上清和细胞内均未检测到HBV DNA。结论 HBV阳性血清在一定条件下可以感染HepG-2细胞,病毒能在细胞内进行短期复制。     

Comparison of techniques for demonstrating antibodies to Rift Valley fever virus

Nine serological techniques were compared by monitoring the response to infection with Rift Valley fever (RVF) virus in three sheep. Antibodies were monitored daily for the first 14 days after infection, then weekly and later fortnightly up to week 24. The earliest antibody response was detected in one sheep on day 3 by a plaque reduction neutralization test, and by day 6 antibodies were demonstrable in all three sheep by haemagglutination-inhibition, reversed passive haemagglutination-inhibition, immunodiffusion, indirect immunofluorescence (IF), enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and neutralization of cytopathic effect in cell cultures. Antibodies were demonstrable by complement fixation on day 8 at the earliest. IF and the two neutralization techniques produced the highest titres, but all tests could be used satisfactorily for the serological diagnosis of RVF. Inactivated antigen could be used for all except the neutralization tests. A radioimmunoassay technique using 125I-labelled staphylococcal protein A detected antibodies on day 8 at the earliest and produced lower mean titres than some of the other techniques. This was probably because sheep immunoglobulins bind protein A poorly.     

Comparison of techniques for demonstrating antibodies to Rift Valley fever virus.

Nine serological techniques were compared by monitoring the response to infection with Rift Valley fever (RVF) virus in three sheep. Antibodies were monitored daily for the first 14 days after infection, then weekly and later fortnightly up to week 24. The earliest antibody response was detected in one sheep on day 3 by a plaque reduction neutralization test, and by day 6 antibodies were demonstrable in all three sheep by haemagglutination-inhibition, reversed passive haemagglutination-inhibition, immunodiffusion, indirect immunofluorescence (IF), enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and neutralization of cytopathic effect in cell cultures. Antibodies were demonstrable by complement fixation on day 8 at the earliest. IF and the two neutralization techniques produced the highest titres, but all tests could be used satisfactorily for the serological diagnosis of RVF. Inactivated antigen could be used for all except the neutralization tests. A radioimmunoassay technique using 125I-labelled staphylococcal protein A detected antibodies on day 8 at the earliest and produced lower mean titres than some of the other techniques. This was probably because sheep immunoglobulins bind protein A poorly.     

An inactivated H5N2 vaccine reduces transmission of highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza virus among native chickens

Vaccination against H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza in endemically affected areas is a potentially attractive option for local prevention and control. In Indonesia the majority of local outbreaks have occurred in back yard flocks with native chickens, and it is therefore of interest to determine whether these birds can be protected against infection by vaccination. To this end two transmission experiments were carried out with H5N1 virus (A/chicken/Legok/2003) in vaccinated and unvaccinated native chickens. The vaccine contained an inactivated heterologous H5N2 strain (A/turkey/England/N28/73 H5N2). Birds were vaccinated at 4 and 7 weeks of age and challenged at 10 weeks of age. During 10 days post-challenge tracheal and cloacal swabs were taken for virus isolation, and serum blood was collected regularly to measure haemaglutinin inhibiting (HI) antibody responses. The results show that transmission of H5N1 virus was rapid and efficient in unvaccinated birds, that infection and transmission were completely prevented in vaccinated birds, and that vaccinated birds that were exposed to unvaccinated inoculated birds were still protected from infection. These findings indicate that vaccination with a heterologous H5N2 vaccine is able to prevent virus transmission in flocks of native chickens.     

中国流行性出血热自然疫源地结构和传播机理研究 Ⅵ.流行性出血热病毒感染黑线姬鼠和褐家鼠后病毒血症和分泌物、排泄物中带病毒情况实验观察

流行性出血热(EHF)病毒感染黑线姬鼠和褐家鼠实验结果表明:经肌肉和腹腔接种病毒,褐家鼠可于第7～9天检出肺抗原,第9～17天检出血清IgG抗体;接种病毒后第1天即可出现病毒血症,且持续到第10天。黑线姬鼠可于第5～15天检出肺抗原,第5天开始检出血清IgG抗体;接种病毒后第5天出现病毒血症,同时唾液中带有病毒。该实验未证实鼠尿、粪带有病毒,有待重复实验。     

Preparation and use of monoclonal antibodies in the detection of Trichinella spiralis circulating antigen

In the present study, a trial was made to evaluate the monoclonal antibody produced as a tool in the detection of circulating antigen. For the preparation of monoclonal antibodies, four Balb/C mice were immunized with Trichinella spiralis larvae. Immunized spleen cells were prepared and a suitable mutant NS1 myeloma cell line was used for fusion. Eighty white swiss albino mice were orally infected with 500 L1 T. spiralis larvae. Their serum was collected at different periods i.e. 5, 11, 18 and 28 days post infection for the detection of circulating antigen which was done by the ELISA technique. Circulating antigen could not be detected on day 5 post infection, while on day 11 it was clearly identified; on day 18 it could be detected but at a lesser O.D. reading however the antigen disappeared completely on the 28th day. This study confirmed that monoclonal antibodies may be a valuable tool in the early diagnosis of trichinosis by the detection of specific antigens, even in small amounts whenever present in the circulation.     

Role of terrestrial wild birds in ecology of influenza A virus (H5N1)

House sparrows, European starlings, and Carneux pigeons were inoculated with 4 influenza A (H5N1) viruses isolated from different avian species. We monitored viral replication, death after infection, and transmission to uninfected contact birds of the same species. Sparrows were susceptible to severe infection; 66%-100% of birds died within 4-7 days. High levels of virus were detected from oropharyngeal and cloacal swabs and in organs of deceased sparrows. Inoculation of starlings caused no deaths, despite high levels of virus shedding evident in oropharyngeal swabs. Least susceptible were pigeons, which had no deaths and very low levels of virus in oropharyngeal and cloacal swabs. Transmission to contact birds did not occur frequently: only A/common magpie/Hong Kong/645/2006 virus was shown to transmit to 1 starling. In summary, recent influenza (H5N1) viruses are pathogenic for small terrestrial bird species but the rate of intraspecies transmission in these hosts is very low.     

Specific IgM and IgG responses in primary and secondary dengue virus infections determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay

IgM- and IgG-capture ELISAs are widely used as diagnostic tests for confirmation of dengue virus infection. The positive rate of anti-dengue IgM and IgG detection was examined in primary and secondary dengue virus infections in the setting of a provincial hospital using IgM- and IgG-capture ELISAs. Disease day 1 was defined as the day of onset of symptoms. In total, 232 plasma samples were collected from 106 confirmed dengue cases consisting of 12 primary and 94 secondary infections. In primary infection, anti-dengue IgM was detected in 4 out of 5 samples collected on disease day 5 and in all the 21 samples collected on disease day 6 or later. Specific IgG was detected in 2 out of 5 samples collected on day 12, and in 5 out of 6 samples collected on disease days 13-15, but was not detected in samples collected on disease day 10 or earlier. In secondary infection, IgM was not detected in the samples on disease days 2 and 3, but detected in 20 out of 79 samples collected on days 4-6, in 44 out of 65 on disease days 7-11 and in 40 out of 51 samples on disease days 12-14. In contrast, specific IgG was detected in 21 out of 60 samples on disease days 4 and 5, in 13 out of 19 on disease day 6, in 62 out of 65 on disease days 7-11 and in all the samples collected on disease day 12 or later. The result indicate that seroconversion rates of IgM and IgG are different between primary and secondary infections, and suggest that detection of specific IgM and IgG is necessary for determining dengue virus infection and for differentiating primary and secondary dengue infections.     

Effect of H7N1 vaccination on highly pathogenic avian influenza H7N7 virus transmission in turkeys

This study describes the results of a transmission experiment with highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H7N7 virus in 12-week-old turkeys. Cloacal and tracheal swabs as well as serum samples were taken to monitor the infection both in inoculated and in susceptible contact turkeys, which were all either unvaccinated, vaccinated once or vaccinated twice with H7N1. Swabs were tested by real-time RT-PCR and serum samples with hemagglutination inhibition test (HI). Unvaccinated contact birds had a mean infectious period of 6.2 days, and an estimated transmission rate parameter of 1.26 per infectious bird per day. However, no virus shedding was found in inoculated vaccinated turkeys and thus we concluded that vaccination with H7N1 protected against challenge with HPAI H7N7 virus.     

Protection of chickens against overt clinical disease and determination of viral shedding following vaccination with commercially available Newcastle disease virus vaccines upon challenge with highly virulent virus from the California 2002 exotic Newcastle disease outbreak

During 2002-2003, exotic Newcastle disease (END) virus caused a major outbreak among commercial and backyard poultry in southern California and adjacent states. The outbreak raised concerns regarding the protective immunity of commercially available vaccines for prevention and control of this virus in poultry. We sought to determine if existing commercial live and inactivated Newcastle disease virus (NDV) vaccines could provide protection against the 2002-2003 END virus, and whether current commercial NDV-vaccination programs for broiler-breeders (BB) and broilers (Br) would protect against END-challenge. In the first experiment, birds received a single dose of either inactivated or live B1-type vaccine at 2 weeks-of-age and were challenged 2 weeks post-vaccination with a lethal dose of END. In the second experiment, a high (10(6.9)EID50/bird) or low (10(3.9)EID50/bird) dose of live B1 was applied to 8-week-old chickens, followed by lethal END challenge. In the third experiment, NDV field-vaccinated commercial BB (65 weeks-of-age) and Br (36 days-of-age) were challenged against END virus. Results indicated that both the live and inactivated vaccines protected against morbidity and mortality and significantly reduced the incidence and viral titers shed from chickens in comparison with sham controls, but did not prevent infection and virus shedding. In addition, both doses of live vaccine protected birds and significantly decreased the number of birds shedding virus. All unvaccinated control chickens challenged with END died within 6 days post-challenge (pc). Protection from disease correlated with the presence of antibody titers (determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) or hemagglutination inhibition (HI)) at day of challenge. Commercial BB were protected from disease and exhibited low incidence and titer of challenge virus shed. In contrast, commercial Br exhibited 66% mortality and shed significantly more virus than the BB birds. These results underscore the need to develop new NDV vaccines and vaccine strategies for use during outbreak situations to protect birds from both disease and infection to reduce virus shedding.