Efficacy of an experimental E. coli inactivated vaccine in turkey poults

E. coli infections are responsible for great economic losses in the poultry industry worldwide, bringing serious threat to the turkey industry. The present investigation aimed to prepare a potent vaccine from E. coli serogroups O1 and O78 to aid in control of colibacillosis in turkey. One hundred commercial 14 days-old turkey poults were used and divided into three groups; first group was vaccinated twice with 3 weeks interval by prepared inactivated E.coli vaccine adjuvanted with aluminum hydroxide gel, second group was vaccinated twice with 3 weeks interval by prepared inactivated E.coli vaccine adjuvanted with montanide ISA70, third group was left as unvaccinated control one. The immune response was measured by MAT (Microagglutination test), ELISAand challenge test. It was found that the protection rate for inactivated vaccine with aluminum hydroxide gel and E.coli inactivated vaccine with montanide ISA70 were 80% and 85%  respectively although it was 30% among the unvaccinated group.