Comparative evaluation of a bivalent killed Salmonella vaccine to prevent egg contamination with Salmonella enterica serovars Enteritidis, Typhimurium, and Gallinarum biovar Pullorum, using 4 different challenge models

We evaluated a newly developed commercial bivalent killed Salmonella vaccine Oilvax® SET for its ability to decrease contamination with Salmonella enterica serovars Enteritidis and Typhimurium in layer chickens. In either an oral or intravaginal challenge model, the fecal shedding was decreased in vaccinated hens, but egg contamination was not evaluated due to scarcity of contaminated eggs even in the unvaccinated control groups. In contrast, an intravenous and an intraperitoneal challenge resulted in the relatively high level of egg contamination in unvaccinated chickens, which was significantly reduced in vaccinated chickens. In a second experiment, 2 strains of Salmonella serovar Gallinarum biovar Pullorum, which has the common O9 antigen with SE and transmits vertically into eggs, were used to test the efficacy of the Oilvax® SET against egg transmission. Vertical egg transmission by the Pullorum strain was significantly reduced in the vaccinated groups of hens. The Oilvax® SET can be a useful tool in the control of Salmonella egg contamination in laying hens.