The Immunizing Effect of Commercial Pigeon Pox Vaccines on Pigeons

Since pigeon fanciers were experiencing difficulty in immunizing their birds against pox, a study was devised to test the antigenic value of present commercial pigeon pox vaccines on pigeons against a challenge by a field strain of pox virus recovered from a natural case of the disease on a pigeon. Four commercial vaccines were studied. These were from: Abbott, A. S. L., Sterwin and Vineland laboratories. During the course of the investigation, intercurrent infections were noted in the form of roundworms, S. typhimurium variety Copenhagen and a mild undiagnosed respiratory problem. This study shows that pigeons vaccinated with the Vineland vaccine received a higher degree of immunity to our field strain of pigeon pox virus than those vaccinated with the other vaccines, as indicated by a challenge at three months post vaccination. It appears that birds vaccinated with the other vaccines presented slightly less challenge reaction to the field strain when compared to the reaction of the challenge virus on unvaccinated controls.