Superior Efficacy of Apathogenic Genotype I (V4) over Lentogenic Genotype II (LaSota) Live Vaccines against Newcastle Disease Virus Genotype VII.1.1 in Pathogen-Associated Molecular Pattern-H9N2 Vaccinated Broiler Chickens

A comparison of the efficacy of apathogenic genotype I (V4) and lentogenic genotype II (LaSota) strains of live Newcastle disease virus (NDV) vaccines was performed following vaccination with pathogen-associated molecular pattern (PAMP) H9N2 avian influenza vaccine and challenge with velogenic NDV genotype VII.1.1 (vNDV-VII.1.1). Eight groups (Gs) of day-old chicks were used (n = 25). Groups 1–4 received a single dose of PAMP-H9N2 subcutaneously, while Gs (1, 5) and (2, 6) received eye drops of V4 and LaSota, respectively, as two doses. All Gs, except for 4 and 8, were intramuscularly challenged with vNDV-VII.1.1 at 28 days of age. No signs were detected in Gs 1, 5, 4, and 8. The mortality rates were 0% in Gs 1, 4, 5, and 8; 40% in G2; 46.66% in G6; and 100% in Gs 3 and 7. Lesions were recorded as minimal in Gs 1 and 5, but mild to moderate in Gs 2 and 6. The lowest significant viral shedding was detected in Gs 1, 2, and 5. In conclusion, two successive vaccinations of broilers with a live V4 NDV vaccine provided higher protection against vNDV-VII.1.1 challenge than LaSota. PAMP-H9N2 with live NDV vaccines induced more protection than the live vaccine alone.