Control of turkey Alcaligenes rhinotracheitis in Utah with a live vaccine

During the 1980 growing season in the Sanpete Valley of Utah, about half of the 250 to 300 flocks of turkeys were vaccinated with an oral vaccine against alcaligenes rhinotracheitis (ART). The vaccine consisted of a temperature-sensitive mutant of Alcaligenes faecalis. Most vaccinated birds developed serum antibodies. No outbreaks of ART occurred in vaccinated flocks, although some outbreaks occurred in unvaccinated flocks. During 1979, when on flocks were vaccinated, over 90% of the flocks experienced outbreaks of ART during late summer.