Comparative efficacy of various toxoids against salmonellosis in poultry.

An attempt was made to develop a vaccine against salmonellosis in poultry by formalizing the Salmonella toxins (enterotoxin plus cytotoxins) that have been found to be the main virulent products of the organisms. Formalized (FT) and carbonated (CT) toxoids were prepared from partially purified toxins of Salomella enteric subspecies enterica ser. Weltevreden (BM-1643) and S. enterica ser. Gallinarum (L-19/a). There was no mortality in birds vaccinated with formalized toxoid of serovar Weltevredenplus Freund's complete adjuvant (FCA) following homologous or heterologous (S. enterica ser. Gallinarum and S. enterica ser. Typhimurium) challenges. Protection ranged from 50% to 83.3% in thegroups immunized with other preparations of S. enterica ser. Weltevreden, i.e. with FT without FCA or with CT with or without FCA. Formalized toxoid prepared from S. entrica ser. Gallinarum (FTSG) toxins given with FCA afforded 100% protection against homologous challenge, but not against heterologous serovars. In the control group. only 16.7% of the birds survived in a subgroup challenged with S. enterica ser. Gallinarum. and none withstood challenge with S enterica ser. Weltevreden or S. enterica ser. Typhimurium. No untoward reactions were observed in any of the immunized groups. Thus, the vaccine was considered to be potent and safe.