Research Targets Improved Poultry Vaccines Against Respiratory Disease

With avian Metapneumovirus (aMPV) threatening livestock health and production across the Midwest, a $250,000 joint effort between The Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research, South Dakota State University, and USPOULTRY is accelerating vaccine development for U.S. poultry producers.

The highly contagious respiratory virus—whose A and B subtypes emerged in late 2023—has dealt heavy financial blows to egg and turkey operations. Researchers are testing spray, oral, and eye-drop application methods for imported vaccines while refining a new candidate made from a U.S. subtype B isolate.

Critical safety, dosage, and long-term efficacy trials are underway to equip Midwest growers with practical field solutions.