Evaluating the efficacy of GalliPro Hatch, GalliPro Fit, and multivalent vaccination in preventing BCO lameness using the aerosol induction model

Authors: ANTHNEY, AMANDA - University Of Arkansas; ALHARBI, KHAWLA - University Of Arkansas; PERERA, RUVINDU - University Of Arkansas; MUHAMMAD, MUHAMMAD - University Of Arkansas; ONYEMA, REGINALD - University Of Arkansas; REICHELT, SARA - University Of Arkansas; MEUTER, ANTONIE - University Of Arkansas; Jesudhasan, Palmy; ALRUBAYE, ADNAN - University Of Arkansas

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/17/2024
Publication Date: 9/26/2024
Citation: Anthney, A.P., Alharbi, K.S., Perera, R., Muhammad, M., Onyema, R., Reichelt, S., Meuter, A., Jesudhasan, P., Alrubaye, A. 2024. Evaluating the efficacy of GalliPro Hatch, GalliPro Fit, and multivalent vaccination in preventing BCO lameness using the aerosol induction model. Abstract. Arkansas Association for Food Proctection, September 24-26, 2024.

Interpretive Summary: Bacterial Chondronecrosis with Osteomyelitis (BCO) is one of the main issues facing the poultry broilers industry, posing major concerns due to food safety, animal production, and animal welfare concerns. Bacterial translocation from compromised gastrointestinal and respiratory tracts paired with microfractures in the developing weight-bearing bones leads to infection, necrosis, lameness, and eventually death. This study aimed to test the effect of using GALLIPRO® Hatch and GALLIPRO® Fit with and without a multivariant e-Baem vaccine on broiler chickens' incidence of BCO lameness. In order to control BCO lameness, we conducted a bird study with the following treatment: (T1) served as the source of infection. Along with a negative control group (T2) on standard feed, the remaining birds were placed in three treatment groups: six pens on GALLIPRO® Hatch and GALLIPRO® Fit (T3), six pens on the multivariant vaccine (T4), and six pens on both the GALLIPRO® Hatch and GALLIPRO® Fit and the multivariant vaccine (T5). We measured cumulative lameness was measured from d21 to d56 through daily evaluation and euthanization of birds determined clinically lame. On d56, cumulative lameness incidence showed that T1 (positive control) has the highest percentage of lame birds (83.00%), followed by T2 (negative control) (71.00%). While there was no significant difference between T3 (43.70%), T4 (40.30%), and T5 (40.70%), all three treatments effectively reduced lameness by approximately 30%. These results indicate that both the GALLIPRO® Hatch and GALLIPRO® Fit and the multivariant vaccine successfully mitigate lameness incidence compared to the negative control (NC) and positive control (PC) groups. Further studies are necessary to conduct in commercial broiler farm.

Technical Abstract: Bacterial Chondronecrosis with Osteomyelitis (BCO) is one of the main issues facing the poultry broilers industry, posing major concerns due to food safety, animal production, and animal welfare concerns. Bacterial translocation from compromised gastrointestinal and respiratory tracts paired with microfractures in the developing weight-bearing bones leads to infection, necrosis, lameness, and eventually death. With 2-5% of birds condemned at marketing age in commercial flocks due to the BCO lameness, producers are experiencing heavy financial losses. Consequently, researching preventative measures for BCO lameness has been a priority for the poultry industry. This study aimed to test the effect of using GALLIPRO® Hatch and GALLIPRO® Fit with and without a multivariant e-Baem vaccine on broiler chickens' incidence of BCO lameness. To mimic the aerosol transmission of bacteria in commercial houses, two wire-flooring pens (T1) served as the source of infection. Along with a negative control group (T2) on standard feed, the remaining birds were placed in three treatment groups: six pens on GALLIPRO® Hatch and GALLIPRO® Fit (T3), six pens on the multivariant vaccine (T4), and six pens on both the GALLIPRO® Hatch and GALLIPRO® Fit and the multivariant vaccine (T5). Cumulative lameness was measured from d21 to d56 through daily evaluation and necropsying of birds determined clinically lame. On d56, cumulative lameness incidence showed that T1 (positive control) has the highest percentage of lame birds (83.00%), followed by T2 (negative control) (71.00%). While there was no significant difference between T3 (43.70%), T4 (40.30%), and T5 (40.70%), all three treatments effectively reduced lameness by approximately 30%. These results indicate that both the GALLIPRO® Hatch and GALLIPRO® Fit and the multivariant vaccine successfully mitigate lameness incidence compared to the negative control (NC) and positive control (PC) groups. Alongside further research regarding the efficacy of using GALLIPRO® Hatch and GALLIPRO® Fit in a commercial broiler production setting, these findings could potentially provide the industry with a successful approach to reducing the incidence of BCO lameness.