Fowl Cholera: Comparison of Serologic and Immunogenic Responses of Chickens and Turkeys

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Abstract
The immune status of chickens and turkeys to Pasteurella multocida could not be determined by the passive-immunity test in mice, or by the agar double-diffusion test or serumplate-agglutination test. Immune and hyperimmune chicken serums did not induce passive immunity in mice. Strains of P. multocida of avian origin that differed in their fermentation, agglutination, immunogenic, and pathogenic characteristics could not be differentiated on the basis of the agar double-diffusion test. The agglutination test did not clearly indicate the immune status of the birds that were vaccinated, tested, and exposed with homologous cultures. There was very little cross agglutination with some cultures, but there was cross immunity. Vaccines containing only one strain of P. multocida gave better immunity in turkeys to homologous challenge than bivalent or trivalent vaccines. However, all vaccines gave good protection in chickens, except those challenged intravenously. Turkeys were more susceptible to P. multochida than chickens, and mature chickens were more susceptible than young chickens.