Co-administration of Toll-like Receptor (TLR)-3 Agonist Poly I:C with Different Infectious Bursal Disease (IBD) Vaccines Improves IBD Specific Immune Response in Chicken

Abstract Toll-like receptor (TLR) agonists are emerging as promising vaccine adjuvants and immunomodulators in poultry against many diseases. Infectious bursa disease (IBD) still remains as a major threat in poultry industry. Improving the vaccine mediated immune response would help in better protection against IBD virus infection. Adjuvant potential of TLR3 agonist, Poly I:C with different IBD vaccines has been analyzed in chicken in the present study. Intermediate, intermediate plus IBD vaccine, bursaplex vaccine and their respective poly I:C combinations were used for immunization of chicken. IBD specific antibody titre, bursa to body weight ratio, body weight gain and bursal lesion scores were evaluated at weekly interval in different immunization groups. Fold changes in cytokines IL-1β and IFN-γ mRNA expression levels were also analyzed in different groups. Intermediate IBD plus vaccine induced significantly (P≤0.05) higher IBD specific antibody response at 35 days of age than other groups with comparatively lower body weight gain and moderate bursal lesion score. Poly I:C co-administration with intermediate IBD vaccine and bursaplex vaccine improved the IBD specific antibody titres, better body weight gain and moderately less bursal lesion score. However, Poly I:C combination with intermediate plus IBD vaccine did not improve the specific immune response. IL-1β levels were up-regulated in intermediate plus and bursaplex group, whereas IFN-γ m RNA expression levels were upregulated in intermediate IBD with Poly IC group. In conclusion, poly I:C co-administration with intermediate IBD and bursaplex vaccine was beneficial and improved the specific immune response with least immunosuppression and bursal damage.