A study of the effect of chitosan in the vaccine on the immune response against Newcastle disease in broiler chickens

Chitosan is a natural polymer that is produced from chitin of crustaceans by partial deacetylation of N-acetyl-D-glucosamine, safe, biocompatible, and has sorption properties [5]. Live vaccines against Newcastle bird disease, which are actively used in poultry farming, are reactogenic and have a relatively short protection period. Intranasal administration of chitosan together with the vaccine antigen can increase the immunogenicity of the vaccine, while reducing its reactogenic properties. The immunomodulatory activity of chitosan in combination with a vaccine against Newcastle disease was studied. Data on the effect of chitosan, when co-administered intranasally with a live vaccine containing an avelogenic enteropathogenic strain of the Newcastle disease virus in birds, on the formation of an immune response in chickens are presented. Data on the effect of chitosan, when co-administered intranasally with a live vaccine containing an apathogenic pneumotropic strain of the Newcastle disease virus, on the formation of an immune response in chickens are presented. Antibody titers and duration of intense immunity to the Newcastle disease virus were determined. It was found that the antibody titers in chickens immunized with the Newcastle disease vaccine with chitosan were significantly higher than in the control group. The prospects of using chitosan as a vaccine adjuvant in poultry farming are considered.