Poultry Judging Practice Test

Human vaccines were developed using what type of embryos?

1. Chicken embryos

2. Duck embryos

3. Quail embryos

4. Turkey embryos

The correct answer is: Chicken embryos

The correct answer is chicken embryos. Chicken embryos have been extensively used in the production of human vaccines for several reasons. One of the primary advantages is the ease of obtaining and handling these embryos, along with the ability to cultivate a large number of them. Chicken eggs are an ideal environment for the replication of certain viruses; they provide a nutrient-rich medium and a contained environment that is conducive to viral growth. In vaccine manufacturing, particularly for influenza and other viral vaccines, the viruses are inoculated into the chicken eggs, where they can replicate. After the viruses have multiplied, they can be harvested from the eggs and then inactivated or weakened to create a vaccine that can safely stimulate an immune response in humans. In contrast, while duck, quail, and turkey embryos could theoretically be used in vaccine development, they are not as commonly utilized or as well-established in mainstream vaccine production as chicken embryos. This lack of usage is primarily due to logistical challenges and the established protocols and infrastructure that already exist for working with chicken embryos in the context of vaccine development.