Avian metapneumovirus (aMPV), Newcastle disease virus (NDV), and infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) are important respiratory pathogens of chickens. To achieve early posthatch protection against all three diseases it would be helpful to deliver live aMPV, IBV, and NDV
vaccines simultaneously at 1 day of age. However, previous work has indicated that the efficacy of aMPV
vaccines may be affected when codelivered with IBV or NDV
vaccines. The efficacy of an aMPV
vaccine when codelivered to chickens in a trivalent combination with an NDV and an IBV
vaccine was examined. The serological antibody response to the aMPV
vaccine given with the IBV and NDV
vaccine was significantly lower than when the aMPV
vaccine was given alone. However, the aMPV
vaccine did not affect the serological response to the IBV and NDV
vaccines. Irrespective, the efficacy of the aMPV
vaccine was not affected based on clinical signs postchallenge. This is the first report showing aMPV, IBV, and NDV
vaccines can be codelivered without affecting the efficacy of the aMPV
vaccine.