Interferon action on avian viruses. I. Oral administration of chicken interferon-alpha ameliorates Newcastle disease

EVIDENCE IS MOUNTING that interferon (IFN) administered orally to mammals in low doses mirrors to varying degrees the effects of IFN administered parentally in high doses as antiviral or antitumor agents, and as immunomodulators. This evidence, coupled with the availability of a type I recombinant chicken interferon (rChIFN- alpha ), and the possibility of administering avian IFN under conditions that accommodate the economics of poultry production, provide the rationale for testing the efficacy of avian IFN delivered orally as an antiviral agent. To this end, we present the results of a study that demonstrates rChIFN- alpha administered to chickens in drinking water ameliorates the effects of Newcastle disease brought on by challenge with Newcastle disease virus (NDV).