Comparative Efficacy of Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV) Inactivated Whole-Virus Vaccine and Canarypox Virus-Vectored Vaccine during Virulent FeLV Challenge and Immunosuppression.

Four vaccines for feline leukemia virus (FeLV) are available in the United States. This study's purpose was to compare the efficacy of Nobivac feline 2-FeLV (an inactivated, adjuvanted whole-virus vaccine) and PureVax recombinant FeLV (a live, canarypox virus-vectored vaccine) following FeLV challenge. Cats were vaccinated at 9 and 12 weeks with Nobivac feline 2-FeLV (group A, n = 11) or PureVax recombinant FeLV (group B, n = 10). Group C (n = 11) comprised unvaccinated controls. At 3 months postvaccination, cats were immunosuppressed and challenged with FeLV-A/61E. The outcomes measured were persistent antigenemia at 12 weeks postchallenge (PC) and proviral DNA and viral RNA at 3 to 9 weeks PC. Persistent antigenemia was observed in 0 of 11 cats in group A, 5 of 10 cats in group B, and 10 of 11 cats in group C. Group A was significantly protected compared to those in groups B (P < 0.013) and C (P < 0.0001). No difference was found between groups B and C (P > 0.063). The preventable fraction was 100% for group A and 45% for group B. At 9 weeks PC, proviral DNA and viral RNA were detected 1 of 11 cats in group A, 6 of 10 cats in group B, and 9 of 11 cats in group C. Nucleic acid loads were significantly lower in group A than in group C (P < 0.01). Group A had significantly lower proviral DNA loads than group B at weeks 6 to 9 (P < 0.02). The viral RNA loads were significantly lower in group A than in group B at weeks 7 to 9 (P < 0.01). The results demonstrate that Nobivac feline 2-FeLV-vaccinated cats were fully protected against persistent antigenemia and had significantly smaller amounts of proviral DNA and plasma viral RNA loads than PureVax recombinant FeLV-vaccinated cats and unvaccinated controls.

Pathogenicity and immunogenicity of piliated and nonpiliated phases of Moraxella bovis in calves.

Pathogenicity evaluations of Moraxella bovis strain EPP 63 grown in the piliated and nonpiliated phase indicated that the organism grown in the piliated phase induced clinical keratoconjunctivitis, whereas the organism grown in the nonpiliated phase did not induce disease under identical challenge conditions. Calves inoculated with culture grown in the piliated phase developed significantly (P less than 0.01) higher lesion scores than did calves inoculated with culture grown in the nonpiliated phase. Vaccination/challenge exposure evaluations indicated that calves immunized with vaccine prepared from piliated culture had significantly lower lesion scores than did control calves (P less than 0.001) or calves immunized with vaccine prepared from nonpiliated culture (P less than 0.05). Similarly, calves immunized with piliated vaccine developed a significantly higher antibody titer against purified pili. Nonvaccinated controls and calves immunized with nonpiliated vaccine did not develop a significant increase in antibody titer. The results indicate that M bovis pili constitute an important factor in the pathogenicity of keratoconjunctivitis and may be used as a vaccine in the control of keratoconjunctivitis in cattle.

Serologic and protective characterization of Moraxella bovis pili.

This study was conducted to determine the protective nature of purified M. bovis EPP 63 pili in controlling experimentally induced Infectious Bovine Keratoconjunctivitis, and to determine antigenic similarity of pili isolated from various M. bovis isolates. Ten calves were vaccinated twice, 28 days apart, with 5.0 mg (protein) EPP 63 purified pili. Ten calves were maintained as non-vaccinated controls. All calves were exposed to ultraviolet light prior to challenge. The calves were challenged by instilling approximately 2.0 X 10(8) CFU of EPP 63 piliated organisms into the conjunctival sac. Antisera to respective pili types were prepared by immunizing the rabbits with purified pili from M. bovis strains EPP 63, FLA 64, IBH 68, MED 72 and ATCC 10900. Rabbit serum was evaluated for cross reactivity by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Purity of pili preparations was demonstrated on SDS-PAGE gels. Molecular weight of pili subunit was determined to be approximately 20,000 for EPP 63, 19,500 for IBH 68 and ATCC 10900, and 17,500 for FLA 64 and MED 72. One of 10 (10%) calves vaccinated with EPP 63 purified pili, and 6 of 10 (60%) nonvaccinated controls developed IBK, respectively. Average eye scores for vaccinates and controls were 0.05 and 0.85, respectively. Significant cross-reaction was found between EPP 63 and MED 72 pili. FLA 64 and ATCC 10900 were similar; however, antiserum to IBH 68 pili showed some degree of cross reaction with other pili.

Role of Escherichia coli type 1 pilus in colonization of porcine ileum and its protective nature as a vaccine antigen in controlling colibacillosis.

This study was designed to evaluate the role of Escherichia coli type 1 pili in adherence of the organism to porcine small intestines and the efficacy of pili as a vaccine antigen in controlling neonatal colibacillosis. Our results demonstrated that an E. coli phase cloned to express type 1 pili readily attached to the small intestines of colostrum-deprived newborn pigs. Immunofluorescent staining of intestine sections revealed the presence of E. coli expressing type 1 pili only on the brush border, suggesting involvement of type 1 pili in the colonization process. Administration of anti-type 1 serum to newborn pigs prior to challenge reduced the level of gut-associated E. coli sixfold compared with controls. Purified type 1 pilus vaccine induced significant protection against colibacillosis in newborn pigs following challenge with E. coli expressing type 1 pili. Pigs born to vaccinated gilts scoured less and gained more weight than pigs born to control gilts. Our results demonstrate that type 1 pili are a virulence factor, as well as an effective vaccine antigen.

Effect of antimicrobial agents and corticosteroids on bovine polymorphonuclear leukocyte chemotaxis.

The effect of certain antimicrobial agents and corticosteroids on bovine polymorphonuclear leukocyte chemotaxis was investigated. Peripheral blood was fractioned by density-gradient centrifugation, using Ficoll-Hypaque. The chemotactic assay was performed in modified Boyden chambers, using Micropore filters, and the chemotactic response was measured by the leading-front technique. Tetracyclines, streptomycin, and penicillin had no effect on chemotaxis at concentrations normally achieved in blood during systemic treatment. However, higher concentrations that were achievable with local therapy, such as intramammary injection or topical application, inhibited the chemotactic response. This inhibition was eliminated by serum. Dexamethasone stimulated polymorphonuclear leukocyte chemotaxis with the effect being manifested after the cells were incubated with the drug for 3 hours. Hydrocortisone caused slight inhibition of chemotaxis, whereas prednisone and prednisolone had no effect.

Enhancement of the chemotactic response of bovine polymorphonuclear leukocytes by levamisole.

The effects of levamisole on random migration, chemotaxis, phagocytosis, and intracellular killing by bovine polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) were investigated. Chemotactic assays were performed, using Micropore filters in modified Boyden chambers. Phagocytosis and intracellular killing of Escherichia coli were analyzed by standard viable bacterial counts. Results indicated that levamisole enhanced the chemotactic response of PMN at concentrations ranging from 10(-4) to 5 x 10(-3)M. Phagocytes collected from cows at 90 minutes after IM injection of levamisole also showed enhanced random migration and chemotaxis. Freshly prepared serum was shown to enhance the levamisole-induced stimulation of chemotaxis. Levamisole had no effect on phagocytosis or intracellular killing of E coli by bovine PMN.