Infectious Bursal Disease: Challenges and Solutions

Infectious bursal disease (IBD) is a highly immunosuppressive poultry disease affecting young birds globally, particularly broilers aged 2-5 weeks. With clinical signs ranging from virulent to subclinical manifestations, proper vaccination during the hatchery stage is crucial for disease prevention.

A Highly Contagious Immunosuppressive Disease

Avibirnaviruses primarily target lymphoid tissues, especially the bursa of Fabricius. This organ, located near the bird’s cloaca, is vital for the maturation of immune system cells during the embryonic phase and in the first two weeks post-hatch.

B lymphocytes, crucial for combating pathogens, develop in the bursa and are responsible for producing antibodies, which assist in pathogen clearance.

Identifying IBD clinically poses challenges due to its varying pathotypes, impacting the birds’ viability, feed conversion rates, and overall growth. The accompanying immunodepression increases susceptibility to other infections.

New Strains, New Challenges

Traditional intermediate vaccines often struggle to overcome maternally-derived immunity, allowing wild viruses to invade the bursa before vaccination. Furthermore, current variant and highly virulent strains account for 60-76% of identified viruses globally, alongside emerging reassortant strains since the early 2000s.

This bi-segmented RNA virus can undergo reassortment, leading to the emergence of new strains. Additionally, the virus is resistant to many disinfectants, maintaining persistence in the environment.

Gumboro Hatchery Vaccination

To combat IBD efficiently, early vaccination in the hatchery is essential. Vaccination can be performed via subcutaneous injection or in-ovo methods, ensuring that 100% of chicks develop an adequate immune response.

Using immune complex technology allows vaccination success irrespective of maternal antibody levels, overcoming limitations faced with traditional vaccines.

A New Frozen Solution

To meet the challenges of IBD, Ceva has introduced Nextmune, a frozen vaccine delivered using unique technology. This innovative cold chain management ensures the integrity and efficacy of vaccinations, supported by the Ceva Linilog service.

Since IBD has evolved since 1962, continuous adaptation of vaccines is crucial. Nextmune not only provides immune protection but also reduces virus shedding and limits strain selection, thus controlling field virus presence.

Dovac High Speed Line: Enhancing IBD Control

The Dovac Highspeed Line aims to replace traditional systems, enhancing efficiency in non-automated hatcheries. This optimization can increase vaccination speed by 25% while reducing human resource needs by up to 20%.

Conclusion: A Sustainable Future in IBD Control

Ranked among the top 5 most economically burdensome poultry diseases, IBD affects overall flock performance and production turnover. Continuous innovation in vaccination strategies is essential to effectively confront evolving threats and secure sustainability in poultry production.