Clinical Study on Live Infectious Bursal Disease Vaccine Gumbokal® Im Forte Spf in Broilers

Numerous viral diseases are capable of seriously affecting poultry. Some of them, including infectious bursal disease (IBD), are currently of a great concern in many countries. Economic importance of this disease is manifested in two ways, mortality and immune suppression of infected chickens. Concern regarding IBD is focused towards classical, variant and very virulent ABSTRACT. Immunogenic properties and side effects of GUMBOKAL® IM FORTE SPF, a live infectious bursal disease vaccine, have been studied under field conditions. A commercial Ross 308 broiler flock of 10,350 chickens was vaccinated via drinking water on day 12 of life. Antibody titres of the infectious bursal disease virus were assessed using FlockCheck ELISA kit on day 5, 12, 17, 26 and 40 of life. At the age of 12 days, when the vaccine was administered, most of the birds had negative specific antibody titres whereas significant increase in antibody titres was recorded afterward, reaching relatively high and uniform mean antibody titre at the age of 40 days (mean titre = 2049, standard deviation = 824). Histological examination performed on day 5 as well as on day 28 after vaccination did not reveal either significant fibrosis or inflammation of the bursa of Fabricius. Furthermore, post-vaccinal Newcastle disease virus antibodies were at protective levels showing no adverse effect of GUMBOKAL® IM FORTE SPF to the vaccination against Newcastle disease. No other adverse or side effects of the vaccine were noticed. Mortality rate (overall for 42 days = 3.85%) and average body weight (final body weight on day 42 = 2,147 g) were within standards for the hybrid. GUMBOKAL® IM FORTE SPF is an immunogenic vaccine against infectious bursal disease, which does not cause any adverse effects in broiler production under field conditions.