Development of an effective contemporary trivalent avian influenza vaccine against circulating H5N1, H5N8, and H9N2 in Egypt

Low pathogenicity avian influenza (LPAI) H9N2, highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1, and H5N8 circulate in Egyptian poultry and cause veterinary and public health burdens. In response, AIV vaccines are commonly used. The main objective of this study was to develop a broad, cross-protective, trivalent vaccine based on circulating AIVs in Egypt. We generated highly replicating avirulent AIVs, H5N1, and H5N8, to be used in combination with H9N2 strain for the generation of an inactivated vaccine. Immunogenicity and protective efficacy of this vaccine were tested. Results showed that a single immunization dose enhanced humoral immune responses giving full protection against challenges with LPAI H9N2, HPAI H5N1, and H5N8 viruses. This efficacious vaccine will reduce the cost of vaccination for poultry growers and is expected to be effective in the field as it is based on contemporary viruses currently in circulation among Egyptian poultry.