The effect of neonatal vaccination for bovine respiratory disease in the face of a dual challenge with bovine viral diarrhea virus and Mannheimia hemolytica.

Bovine respiratory disease is the greatest threat to calf health. In this study, colostrum-fed dairy X beef calves were vaccinated at ∼30 days of age with an adjuvanted parenteral vaccine containing modified live bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) type 1 and type 2, bovine herpesvirus 1 (BHV-1), bovine parainfluenza type 3 virus (PI3V) and bovine respiratory syncytial virus (BRSV) andM. haemolyticatoxoid (Group 1), or intranasal temperature-sensitive BHV-1, BRSV and PI3V concurrently witha parenteral vaccine containing modified live BVDV type 1 and type 2 andM. haemolyticatoxoid (Group 2) or a placebo (Group 3). The calves were challenged ∼150 days post vaccination intranasally with BVDV 1b and then 7 days later intratracheally withM. haemolytica. The calves wereeuthanized 6 days after theM. haemolyticachallenge. Clinical signs following BVDV infection were similar in all groups. There was increased rectal temperatures in the Groups 2 and 3 on day 3 and in Group 3 on days 8-13. Group 1 animals had a slight leukopenia following BVDV infection while Groups 2 and 3 had greater leukopenia. BVDV type 1 and 2 serum titers increased in Group 1 following vaccination while these titers waned in Groups 2 and 3. There were higher levels of BVDV in the buffy coats and nasal samples in Group 2 and Group 3 versus Group 1 (p < 0.01). Interferon-gamma response was higher (p < 0.01) in Group 1 animals than Groups 2 and 3. Group 1 had the lowest percent pneumonic tissue (1.6%) while Group 2 vaccinates had 3.7% and the control Group 3 was 5.3%. Vaccination in the face of maternal antibody with a parenteral adjuvanted vaccine resulted in better protection than the regimen of an intranasal vaccine anda parenteral adjuvanted BVDV andM haemolyticacombination vaccine in a BVDV-M. haemolyticadual challenge.

Protection against bovine respiratory syncytial virus in calves vaccinated with adjuvanted modified live vaccine administered in the face of maternal antibody.

Bovine respiratory syncytial virus (BRSV) is major viral contributor to bovine respiratory disease (BRD). BRD is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in all classes of cattle but particularly young beef and dairy calves. Passive antibodies not only help protect the calf against infection, but may interfere with the immune responses following vaccination. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of an adjuvanted modified live virus (MLV) vaccine in the presence of well-defined maternal passive immunity. Calves were vaccinated at approximately 1 month of age and challenged ~90 days later when BRSV systemic antibodies were ≤1:4. Body temperature was lower at 6 and 7 days post challenge and other clinical signs were also lower in the vaccinates. Nasal viral shed was 3-4 times lower in the vaccinated animals as measured by virus isolation and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and peaked 5 days post challenge compared to the controls (who peaked at days 6 and 7). On day 8 following challenge, animals were necropsied, and lung lobes were scored and tested for virus by PCR and indirect fluorescent assay (IFA). There was a 25-fold reduction in PCR virus detection in vaccinates and two of the vaccinated calves' lungs were PCR negative. Only 29.4% of vaccinated calves were BRSV positive on IFA testing at necropsy, while 87.5% of control calves were BRSV positive. Vaccinated calves developed a mucosal BRSV IgA response with over 50% of the vaccinated calves having IgA prior to challenge and all vaccinated calves were positive following challenge. Additionally, vaccination stimulated the production of Interferon gamma (IFN-γ) in mononuclear cells to prime the immune system. This study established that an adjuvanted MLV vaccine could provide protection against BRSV as measured by clinical, virological, and pathological parameters while also activating both mucosal and systemic immunity.

Protective effects against abortion and fetal infection following exposure to bovine viral diarrhea virus and bovine herpesvirus 1 during pregnancy in beef heifers that received two doses of a multivalent modified-live virus vaccine prior to breeding.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether administration of 2 doses of a multivalent, modified-live virus vaccine prior to breeding of heifers would provide protection against abortion and fetal infection following exposure of pregnant heifers to cattle persistently infected (PI) with bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) and cattle with acute bovine herpesvirus 1 (BHV1) infection. DESIGN: Randomized controlled clinical trial. ANIMALS: 33 crossbred beef heifers, 3 steers, 6 bulls, and 25 calves. PROCEDURES: 20 of 22 vaccinated and 10 of 11 unvaccinated heifers became pregnant and were commingled with 3 steers PI with BVDV type 1a, 1b, or 2 for 56 days beginning 102 days after the second vaccination (administered 30 days after the first vaccination). Eighty days following removal of BVDV-PI steers, heifers were commingled with 3 bulls with acute BHV1 infection for 14 days. RESULTS: After BVDV exposure, 1 fetus (not evaluated) was aborted by a vaccinated heifer; BVDV was detected in 0 of 19 calves from vaccinated heifers and in all 4 fetuses (aborted after BHV1 exposure) and 6 calves from unvaccinated heifers. Bovine herpesvirus 1 was not detected in any fetus or calf and associated fetal membranes in either treatment group. Vaccinated heifers had longer gestation periods and calves with greater birth weights, weaning weights, average daily gains, and market value at weaning, compared with those for calves born to unvaccinated heifers. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Prebreeding administration of a modified-live virus vaccine to heifers resulted in fewer abortions and BVDV-PI offspring and improved growth and increased market value of weaned calves.

Humoral immunity and injection-site reactions in cattle vaccinated with a multivalent clostridial vaccine administered via subcutaneous injection or via transdermal needle-free injection.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate injection-site reactions and serum antibody titers in cattle vaccinated with a clostridial vaccine administered SC or via needle-free transdermal injection. ANIMALS: Sixteen 11-to 12-month-old Herefords. PROCEDURES: Cattle in 2 groups were vaccinated on days 0 and 28 with a commercially available multivalent clostridial vaccine administered SC or transdermally Injection sites and serum antibody titers were evaluated at several time points after vaccination. Serum antibody titers against Clostridium perfringens beta toxin, Clostridium novyi alpha toxin, and Clostridium septicum alpha toxin were determined with an ELISA; Clostridium sordellii lethal toxin titers were determined with a toxin neutralization assay. RESULTS: Firm injection site swellings developed in cattle vaccinated via either route; however, at several observation times, swellings were significantly smaller in cattle vaccinated transdermally. Serum titers against C perfringens beta toxin and C septicum alpha toxin did not differ significantly between groups after vaccination; serum titers against C novyi alpha toxin were not significantly different between groups, except on days 10 and 56, when they were significantly higher in cattle vaccinated SC. Titers against C sordellii lethal toxin were significantly higher in cattle vaccinated SC on several days after vaccination, but titers were not significantly different after day 49. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Transdermal vaccination of cattle resulted in serum antibody titers that were similar to those induced via SC vaccination and caused injection-site reactions that were significantly smaller. Transdermal vaccination may be an effective technique for vaccinating cattle against clostridial diseases while minimizing local reactions that often develop after clostridial vaccination.

Prevalence of Mycoplasma bovis in backgrounding and stocker cattle operations.

OBJECTIVE: To characterize the prevalence of Mycoplasma bovis infection in backgrounding and stocker cattle operations and compare bacteriologic culture with PCR assay for detection of M bovis. DESIGN: Prospective descriptive study. ANIMALS: 432 calves, 3 to 9 months old, from 9 operations. PROCEDURES: 2 nasal swab specimens were collected from each calf. Swab specimens were evaluated via bacteriologic culture and PCR assay for organisms of the class Mollicutes and M bovis. Culture results were considered negative if no growth occurred within 21 days. Positive results were indicated by characteristic colony formation with PCR assay confirmation. Deoxyribonucleic acid was extracted from 1 swab specimen for direct PCR assay for Mollicutes and M bovis. RESULTS: Of 432 calves, 374 (87%) had positive results for Mollicutes via PCR assay and 63 (15%) via culture. Seven (2%) calves had positive results for M bovis via PCR assay and 10 (2%) via culture. Prevalence of Mollicutes at the farm level ranged from 54% to 100% via PCR assay and from 0% to 59% via culture. Prevalence of M bovis at the farm level ranged from 0% to 4% via PCR assay and from 0% to 6% via culture. Calves that shed M bovis were significantly more likely to have a fever than were calves that did not shed M bovis. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: M bovis was detected at a low level in recently purchased backgrounded and stocker calves in Georgia. Although slightly more infected calves were detected via culture and PCR assay together, PCR assay appeared to accurately identify M bovis at the farm level.