Vaccination trials against pigeon herpesvirus infection (Pigeon herpesvirus 1)

Vaccination trials were made with live attenuated or inactivated vaccines to control pigeon herpesvirus infection (Pigeon herpesvirus 1, PHV1). Both kinds of vaccine gave similar results. Both of them were able to reduce primary viral excretion and clinical signs after challenge. Nevertheless, neither attenuated nor inactivated vaccines were able to prevent the appearance of carriers since most of the pigeons re-excreted virus after cyclophosphamidetreatment. However, vaccination would help to prevent spontaneous viral reexcretion and therefore to control viral dissemination. When animals were vaccinated with inactivated vaccine after challenge with a virulent strain, re-excretion was also reduced. © 1982.