Kg. Whithear, CONTROL OF AVIAN MYCOPLASMOSES BY VACCINATION, Revue scientifique et technique - Office international des epizooties, 15(4), 1996, pp. 1527-1553
Vaccination is an option for controlling Mycoplasma gallisepticum or M
. synoviae when biosecurity measures fail to prevent the infection of
poultry flocks with these mycoplasmas. Both killed vaccines (bacterins
) and living vaccines are currently in commercial use. Bacterins usual
ly contain an oil emulsion adjuvant and are administered by subcutaneo
us or intramuscular injection. They can reduce the decline in egg prod
uction associated with M. gallisepticum, although they do not prevent
infection. Newer adjuvants, such as immune stimulating complexes, may
provide effective immunity without the tissue lesions caused by oil em
ulsion adjuvants. Living M. gallisepticum vaccines include the F strai
n and attenuated strains ts-11 and 6/85. F strain is administered in d
rinking water or by aerosol. This strain reduces the decline in egg pr
oduction and has been used to displace endemic strains in multiple-age
flocks. The major disadvantage is the inherent virulence of F strain.
Strain ts-11 is less virulent and less infectious than F strain and p
rovides a somewhat weaker but usually effective, long-term protective
immunity, which is vaccine-dose dependent. This strain is administered
by eye drop, persists in the chicken for long periods and stimulates
a detectable although variable systemic antibody response. Strain ts-1
1 can be used safely in combination with respiratory virus vaccines. S
train 6/85 also stimulates a weaker protective immune response than F
strain and is of low virulence and infectivity. This strain is adminis
tered by aerosol, appears not to persist in vaccinated birds and may f
ail to stimulate a detectable systemic antibody response. Strain MS-H
is currently being evaluated as a live vaccine against M. synoviae in
meat chicken breeder flocks and is often used in conjunction with stra
in ts-11.