Immunization against Angara disease virus (ADV), a serotype 4 avian adenovirus, and Newcastle disease virus (NDV), an avian
paramyxovirus serotype 1, is the mainstay of a broiler vaccination programme, while polyether ionophores usually form an essential
component of a broiler medication programme in most parts of India and Pakistan. The role of polyether ionophores in the protective
immune responses of broiler chickens vaccinated and challenged with ADV and NDV was investigated. A total of 1600 birds were
divided into eight groups of 200 birds each. First four groups were vaccinated against NDV and ADV, while the remaining four
served as unvaccinated controls. The first 3 groups of birds were administered salinomycin, monensin and cyclophosphamide
(CYP), respectively. The last group served as an untreated control. The same treatment schedule was also followed for the
next four unvaccinated groups. The post-vaccination and post-challenge serological responses to NDV and ADV, body and lymphoid
organ weight gains, post-challenge survival rate and detection of NDV and ADV in the tissues of infected birds were evaluated.
Birds administered salinomycin showed a significant stimulation of protective immune responses against both NDV and ADV as
compared to the untreated and CYP-treated birds. Monensin also enhanced the protective immune responses against both viruses
but the effect was not statistically significant. Thus, it is concluded that monensin and salinomycin augment the anti-NDV
and anti-ADV immune responses in broiler chickens, which supports their use in poultry flocks.
Keywords angara disease virus - antibody response - chickens - immunomodulation - ionophores - mortality - newcastle disease virus