highly significantp < 0.001
The systemic immune response induced by the rHVT-ND vaccine—that replicates primarily in lymphoid cells—resulted in a strong suppression of the challenge virus dissemination in the body (as indicated by the lack of cloacal shedding in the majority of vaccinated birds), while the suppression of the challenge virus replication on the upper respiratory mucosal surface although was highly significant ( p < 0.001), but less efficient.