§ Mr. Priorasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what basic research is being carried out into fowl pest disease, apart from the testing of existing vaccine.
§ Mr. Scott-HopkinsThe Ministry's Veterinary Laboratory at Weybridge is carrying out research on factors affecting the protection which is given to poultry by vaccination against fowl pest. Strains of virus recovered from field outbreaks are being examined to determine whether strain differences occur. An investigation is being made into the effects of varying doses of vaccine on the level and duration of the protection afforded: and the optimal interval between vaccination and revaccination in birds of different ages is also being studied. In addition, a comparison is being made of the dgree of protection which vaccination affords against infection by different routes—such as by respiratory and digestive systems.
164WResearch work is also being carried out by commercial organisations, and it is understood that much of this is at present related to the study of factors in the young chick which may interfere with the development of protection following vaccination.