Antibody-mediated resistance against duck enteritis virus infection.

Vaccination of ducks with an apathogenic strain of duck enteritis virus resulted in protection against challenge with the virulent Lake Andes strain of duck enteritis virus by intramuscular inoculation or contact exposure. Antisera produced in the vaccinated ducks were able to transfer resistance against the challenge strain to recipient ducks. Antisera against duck enteritis virus were cytotoxic for duck enteritis virus-infected duck embryo fibroblasts in the presence of guinea pig complement. These in vivo and in vitro data suggest that the humoral immune mechanism plays a role in protecting ducks from duck enteritis virus infection.