To date, all the IBDV isolated in Malaysia are characterised as the vvIBDV, using both the conventional and molecular techniques. Hence, this could explain the failure of the imported IBD vaccines to confer full protection against the disease. This is because the imported vaccines used are developed using the classical strain of IBDV, which is different from the strains of IBDV of the field challenged
A local Malaysian isolate of IBDV identified as UPM 93273 (MyHatch UPM 93) was selected from more than 20 IBDV of local isolates, adapted and successfully attenuated in specific pathogen-free embryonated chicken eggs and tissue cultures for the development and production of the intermediate-plus IBD vaccine. A safe and effective IBDV viral seed was successfully developed to confer protection against vvIBDV of the field isolate in both the SPF and commercial chickens under experimental conditions. The seed virus (MyHatch UPM 93) is effective to be used either via the intraocular, oral or ‘in ovo’ route of vaccination. MyHatch UPM 93 is highly immunogenic and able to neutralise high levels of IBD maternally derived antibodies. It is also able to confer full protection against the vvIBDV field challenged, non-immunosuppressive with mild bursal lesions and bursal recovery.
