Evaluating a poultry-derived H5N1 vaccine for use in endangered California Condors
The study evaluated the safety and immunogenicity of a conditionally licensed H5N1 poultry vaccine in black vultures (Coragyps atratus) and critically endangered California condors (Gymnogyps californianus) in response to a 2023 outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) that killed over 21 condors. The goal was to determine whether a poultry-derived vaccine could be used as an emergency conservation tool to mitigate disease impact on threatened avian species.
Two vaccination strategies were tested (single 1.0 mL vs. prime-boost 0.5 mL x2), and antibody responses were measured using ELISA and hemagglutination inhibition (HI) assays. Black vultures served as a surrogate species prior to trials in condors.
This study represents a critical step in applying poultry vaccine technology to endangered wildlife. While results were promising in both surrogate and target species, condors showed more variability in immune response. The trial's success prompted the first-ever U.S. HPAI vaccination campaign for a wild endangered bird, marking a new frontier in wildlife disease management.
