A Classical Live Attenuated Vaccine for Sheep Pox

A classical live attenuated sheep pox vaccine was prepared using the Ranipet strain of sheep pox virus (SPV) at the 50th passage in a secondary lamb testicular cell system. The TCID50 and RD50 were 10(9.63)/ml and 10(9.51)/ml. respectively. The SID50 of SPV challenge virus was 10(5)/ml. The vaccine was found to have no adverse effects in laboratory animals, and was safe and effective in SPV seronegative lambs. In the field, 660 sheep were vaccinated with an immunizing dose containing 1 x 10(2) TCID50. Randomly selected vaccinated sheep mounted good cell-mediated immunity and humoral responses as measured by glucose utilization test and serum neutralization test, respectively, for the study period of 6 months.     

The effects of vaccination of Merino ewes with an attenuated Australian bluetongue virus serotype 23 at different stages of gestation

SUMMARY A cell culture attenuated Australian bluetongue virus serotype 23 (BLU23) prototype vaccine was assessed for its effects on pregnant Merino sheep. Seventy-six ewes were vaccinated at 5 different stages of gestation, and the failure to lamb at term was as follows: 35 to 43 days of gestation, 20/36 (56%); 57 to 64 days of gestation, 3/10 (30%); 81 to 88 days of gestation, 3/10 (30%); 109 to 116 days of gestation, 0/10 (0%); 130 to 137 days of gestation, 0/10 (0%). Of 30 ewes vaccinated with a cell culture supernatant fluid control between 35 and 43 days of gestation, 6.7% (2/30) failed to lamb at term. Two ewes vaccinated with BLU23 vaccine between 35 and 43 days of gestation had lambs with hydranencephaly. All other lambs born were clinically normal. Three ewes vaccinated with BLU23 aborted. Two of these were vaccinated between 35 and 43 days of gestation, the 3rd between 81 and 88 days of gestation. Five lambs were born with BLU group antibody. Four of these were from ewes vaccinated between 35 and 43 days of gestation, and 2 of these had hydranencephaly. The fifth was from a ewe vaccinated between 57 and 64 days of gestation. The vaccine did not produce disease in adult sheep, but was a potent cause of early foetal death and to a much lesser extent foetal malformation.     

VI. Animal Transmission Studies

The Cyprus strain of bluetongue virus was successfully transmitted through six passages and the Station strain through one passage in calves. Although the animals developed no visible evidence of infection, viremia as shown by both passage and fluorescent antibody examination of infected foetal bovine kidney culture, and by serological conversion was nevertheless demonstrated. No enhancement of virulence for calves or sheep was shown following bovine passage. A ewe inoculated in late pregnancy with blood drawn from a calf 59 days after its infection, gave birth to a lamb from whose blood the virus was isolated. Significant complement-fixation titres persisted for at least 200 days.     

Vaccines for bluetongue

Isolation of 8 serotypes of bluetongue virus (BTV) in Australia has led to widespread debate on how to prepare for an outbreak of bluetongue disease and the type of vaccine best suited to control bluetongue in Australia. This article describes the vaccine options under consideration by research workers and animal health administrators. The most widely discussed options are live attenuated virus, killed virus and virus-like particles (VLP) generated by recombinant baculoviruses. Attenuated virus vaccines are cheap and easy to produce and are administered in a single dose. They replicate in sheep without causing significant clinical effects and provide protection against challenge with virulent virus of the same serotype. The possibility that insects could acquire vaccine virus by feeding on vaccinated animals and transmit it to sheep or cattle cannot be eliminated. This poses a risk because attenuated viruses are teratogenic if ewes are infected in the first half of pregnancy. In addition, vaccine virus replication in insects and ruminants may lead to a reversion to virulence. Killed virus vaccines have been shown to be efficacious in small laboratory trials and cannot be transmitted to other animals in the field, but are significantly more expensive to produce than attenuated viruses and require at least 2 doses with adjuvant to elicit an immune response. More work is needed to properly assess their effectiveness and determine their cost of production. Recombinant VLP contain the 4 major structural proteins of BTV but no nucleic acid. VLP are relatively easy to isolate, but it is unlikely that the purification methods currently used in laboratories will be adapted for use commercially. Despite the enthusiasm of recent years, little commercial progress appears to have been made. Although scientific research in Australia and overseas has provided a number of options for development of bluetongue vaccines, the decisions on which to use in an outbreak are complex and will require, not only consideration of factors discussed here, but also agreement from industry and government.     

The use of different vaccination schedules for sows to protect piglets against Aujeszky's disease

Several Aujeszky's disease virus (ADV) vaccination protocols of sows were evaluated with regard to the passive protection conferred on piglets in a recently built commercial farm. Three different groups of sows were vaccinated using a Bartha K-61 strain. One group received an inactivated vaccine during pregnancy and the other two groups received attenuated vaccines, either during pregnancy (day 65) or on the seventh day of lactation. At farrowing, sows vaccinated during lactation had lower seroneutralization titres than those vaccinated during pregnancy either with inactivated or attenuated vaccines. Accordingly, their piglets were the ones with lower levels of maternally transferred neutralizing antibodies. At 4 weeks of age, five piglets born of each group of sows were challenged intranasally with a neurotropic strain of ADV. Piglets born of sows vaccinated during pregnancy with inactivated and attenuated vaccines gained 1.50 kg bodyweight and 2.50 kg bodyweight during 7 days, respectively, and did not show clinical signs, while piglets from sows vaccinated during the previous lactation lost 0.60 kg and presented moderate to severe clinical signs of ADV. Vaccination of sows during pregnancy provided more protection against ADV for piglets than sow vaccination before mating. Piglets born from sows vaccinated with attenuated or inactivated vaccines did not present remarkable differences on protection.     

A new freeze-dried living virus vaccine against sheep-pox

A sheep-pox virus strain has been adapted and multiplied in primary lamb kidney cell cultures. The main characteristics of the strain have been verified in vitro after clones were isolated, and the results confirmed its identity. The safety and the potency of the strain have been investigated in sheep.

The inoculation of the strain to sheep was followed by a post-vaccinal reaction materialised by a nodule at the site of inoculation and an increase of temperature by about 1°C. No reactions adversely affecting pregnancy have been noted. Immunisation was demonstrated by an increase in the level of neutralising serous antibodies and protection against the pathogenic virus. The immunity tended to decrease during the second year after primovaccination and a yearly booster vaccination appeared to be necessary. Primovaccination of lambs over 2 months of age produced a better immunity, especially when the lambs were born from vaccinated ewes.

This strain forms the active principle of a freeze-dried vaccine containing no adjuvant of the immunity.     

The effects of challenge on the humoral and cellular immune responses in pseudorabies vaccinated swine.

The effects of challenge exposure on the humoral and cellular immune responses in pseudorabies vaccinated swine were studied in 84 barrows. The pigs were divided into seven groups and challenge exposed to a virulent strain of pseudorabies virus on months 1, 3, 5, 8, 10, 12 and 14 after vaccination. The pigs were vaccinated with commercial attenuated and inactivated pseudorabies virus vaccines. The protection conferred by vaccination was equally effective with both types of vaccines. The levels of cellular and humoral immunity after challenge exposure in pigs vaccinated with either type of vaccine were similar. The cell-mediated immune response can be effectively used for the early detection of pigs exposed to pseudorabies virus. Virus isolation attempts from the brain and spleen in most of the vaccinated pigs were unsuccessful.     

Respiratory tract protection upon challenge of pigs vaccinated with attenuated porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus vaccines

In this study, the efficacy of two attenuated porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) vaccines was assessed. The virological protection in the lungs of vaccinated pigs upon challenge was studied. Also, challenged pigs were exposed to lipopolysaccharide (LPS) to evaluate clinical protection. Six-week-old pigs were immunized intramuscularly with commercial vaccines based on either an attenuated American or an attenuated European virus strain. Non-immunized pigs and pigs intramuscularly inoculated with the virulent Lelystad strain were included as controls. Six weeks after immunization, pigs were challenged either intratracheally or intranasally with the Lelystad strain, and 3 and 6 days later intratracheally exposed to Escherichia coli LPS. After LPS administration, pigs were monitored for clinical signs. At 4 and 7 days after challenge, pigs were euthanized to determine virus quantities in broncho-alveolar lavage (BAL) fluids and in lungs. Challenge virus was recovered from three out of eight pigs that had been primo-inoculated with the Lelystad strain with titers ranging between 0.3 and 3.1 log(10). Fifteen out of sixteen pigs vaccinated with the attenuated American strain were positive for challenge virus and their mean virus titers were similar to those of non-immunized challenge controls. Eleven out of 16 pigs vaccinated with the attenuated European strain were positive for challenge virus and their mean virus titers were 2.0-2.5 log(10) lower than those of non-immunized challenge controls. Thus, the virological protection in the lungs of vaccinated pigs upon challenge was incomplete, but was more pronounced in the homologous situation. Clinical signs upon LPS exposure in both vaccinated groups were not reproducible in two experiments.     

Use of the caprinised strain of rinderpest virus for potency testing an attenuated cell culture rinderpest vaccine

The caprinised strain of rinderpest virus was inoculated into goats to produce a challenge stock. These goats were kept with control animals (goats, sheep, calves). In this trial the caprinised strain was shown to have a mild pathogenicity for goats and it spread to one of two contact goats but not from goats to other species. The caprinised strain was then tested on cattle where a febrile reaction was observed. The caprinised strain also did not spread between cattle. The cattle vaccinated with a freeze-dried vaccine produced from the attenuated Kabete RBKO strain on bovine kidney cells were then challenged with the caprinised strain with good results.     

Vaccination of pregnant sows against transmissible gastroenteritis with two attenuated virus strains and different inoculation routes

Summary Two attenuated transmissible gastro-enteritis (T. G. E.) virus strains were used for vaccination experiments in sows. Four different experiments were carried out (see Table 1). In each experiment, 9 sows were vaccinated during pregnancy and 3 sows served as controls. They were kept together in one farrowing house. The sows were due to farrow at about the same time. The sows and their litters were challenged shortly after farrowing by exposing 3 piglets of 2 control litters to virulent TGE virus. The following vaccination schedules were used (see Table 1): twice intramuscularly with TGE-vac (a commercially available TGE-vaccine), one oral administration followed by an intramuscular vaccination with an attenuated TGE Purdue (Pu) strain, twice orally with Pu strain in enteric coated capsules, and one direct intra intestinal administration followed by 2 intramuscular vaccinations or 3 intramuscular vaccinations with the Pu strain. All sows, except most of those treated with enteric coated capsules, seroconverted demonstrably (Table 2). The geometric mean seroneutralization (SN) titer log 2 varied from 4.1 to 7.5 after the first vaccination and from 7.6 to 10 after the second vaccination. None of the vaccination schedules resulted in an effective lactogenic immunity. The morbidity in the piglets was 100% within 3 to 5 days after challenge. The mortality rate varied from 44 to 80% in litters from vaccinated sows and from 71 to 100% in litters from control sows (see Table 3). Clinical signs were observed in 33,3% of the control sows and in 36% of the vaccinated sows. No correlation was found between the titer of SN antibodies in the sera of the piglets and their survival rate (Table 4). A rapid decrease in antibody concentration was observed, during the first week of lactation in milk samples collected from 4 orally and intramuscularly vaccinated sows (Table 5).     

Detection of wild-type Aujeszky's disease virus by polymerase chain reaction in sheep vaccinated with a modified live vaccine strain

An outbreak of Aujeszky's disease occurred in a flock of sheep which had been housed together with pigs. After the death of five sheep with clinical signs of Aujeszky's disease, the remaining sheep were vaccinated with the Bartha vaccine strain, and the pigs were vaccinated with the 783 vaccine strain of Aujeszky's disease virus. Despite vaccination, however, more sheep died. Brain tissues from four sheep were collected for virus isolation and for immunobistological examinations. Only vaccine virus (gE-negative) was detected in the tissue. After DNA restriction enzyme analysis of the isolated virus, DNA of one or both of the vaccine strains was detected in all sheep. In one sheep field virus DNA was also detected. However, when the polymerase chain reaction was performed on samples prepared from paraffin-embedded tissues, DNA of field virus (gE-positive) was detected in all four sheep. It was probable that the sheep had not yet mounted a sufficient immune response to the vaccine virus, or were already infected with field virus at the time of vaccination. We concluded that the sheep died from field virus infection and not from vaccine virus infection and that only the polymerase chain reaction made it possible to specifically detect even very small amounts of field virus DNA among vaccine virus DNA in all investigated sheep.     

布鲁氏菌弱毒疫苗粘膜免疫及检测方法的研究

为研究布鲁氏菌弱毒疫苗粘膜免疫及其检测方法,本实验采用粘膜点眼途径对健康母羊接种布鲁氏杆菌猪2号疫苗(S2)、牛19号疫苗(A19)和羊强毒株(M16),筛选布鲁氏杆菌病鉴别检测方法。将12月龄～14月龄母羊60只随机分为3组,以常规疫苗推荐剂量进行半量粘膜点眼接种。采集血液、淋巴、脏器进行布鲁氏菌病血清学检测和细菌学分离以及PCR检测。结果表明:布鲁氏菌弱毒疫苗抗体水平持续6个月,其中血清学的试管凝集试验、半胱氨酸凝集试验与补体结合试验的阳性符合率达到100%。细菌分离期为6个月,乳腺、乳腺淋巴、髂淋巴分离率较高;而强毒株M16的抗体水平和细菌分离持续12个月以上。结果显示以常规血清学和细菌学检测方法在点眼免疫布鲁氏菌S2、A19苗6个月后可以进行野毒感染和疫苗免疫畜的鉴别诊断。     

Vaccination of pregnant sows against transmissible gastroenteritis with two attenuated virus strains and different inoculation routes

Summary

Two attenuated transmissible gastro‐enteritis (T. G. E.) virus strains were used for vaccination experiments in sows.

Four different experiments were carried out (see Table 1). In each experiment, 9 sows were vaccinated during pregnancy and 3 sows served as controls. They were kept together in one farrowing house. The sows were due to farrow at about the same time. The sows and their litters were challenged shortly after farrowing by exposing 3 piglets of 2 control litters to virulent TGE virus.

The following vaccination schedules were used (see Table 1): twice intramuscularly with TGE‐vac (a commercially available TGE‐vaccine), one oral administration followed by an intramuscular vaccination with an attenuated TGE Purdue (Pu) strain, twice orally with Pu strain in enteric coated capsules, and one direct intra intestinal administration followed by 2 intramuscular vaccinations or 3 intramuscular vaccinations with the Pu strain.

All sows, except most of those treated with enteric coated capsules, seroconverted demonstrably (Table 2). The geometric mean seroneutralization (SN) titer log 2 varied from 4.1 to 7.5 after the first vaccination and from 7.6 to 10 after the second vaccination.

None of the vaccination schedules resulted in an effective lactogenic immunity. The morbidity in the piglets was 100% within 3 to 5 days after challenge. The mortality rate varied from 44 to 80% in litters from vaccinated sows and from 71 to 100% in litters from control sows (see Table 3). Clinical signs were observed in 33,3% of the control sows and in 36% of the vaccinated sows.

No correlation was found between the titer of SN antibodies in the sera of the piglets and their survival rate (Table 4).

A rapid decrease in antibody concentration was observed, during the first week of lactation in milk samples collected from 4 orally and intramuscularly vaccinated sows (Table 5).     

牛病毒性腹泻病毒弱毒活疫苗免疫持续期的研究

为检测牛病毒性腹泻病毒(BVDV)弱毒活疫苗在免疫牛体内抗体产生及其消长规律,评价弱毒疫苗的保护效力,并确定免疫持续期,本试验对免疫试验牛每头颈部肌肉接种BVDV SM株弱毒疫苗104.5TCID50,监测血清抗体效价,进行免疫持续期的确定。在疫苗免疫后的6个月、9个月和12个月,分别抽取5头免疫组和5头对照组牛,采用BVDV-JL强毒株进行攻毒试验,每头牛攻毒剂量为6×107.0TCID50/mL。结果显示疫苗免疫后12个月时血清中和抗体效价仍维持在1∶1048以上。攻毒结果显示,在3个不同时间点进行强毒攻击后,免疫组所有动物白细胞数量都没有下降也没有分离到病毒,而对照组动物白细胞数下降均超过30%,6个月和9个月时动物血清中均能分离到病毒,而12个月对照组动物由于年龄大,没有分离到病毒,因此暂定此疫苗的免疫持续期为9个月。     

牛病毒性腹泻弱毒活疫苗免疫持续期的研究

为检测牛病毒性腹泻病毒(BVDV)弱毒活疫苗在免疫牛体内抗体产生及其消长规律,评价弱毒疫苗的保护效力,并确定免疫持续期,本试验对免疫试验牛每头颈部肌肉接种BVDV SM株弱毒疫苗10^4.5TCID₅₀/头,监测血清抗体效价,进行免疫持续期的确定。在疫苗免疫后的6、9和12个月分别抽取5头免疫组和5头对照组牛采用BVDV-JL强毒株进行攻毒试验,每头牛攻毒剂量为6×10^7.0 TCID₅₀/mL。结果显示疫苗免疫后12个月时血清中和抗体效价仍维持在1∶1048以上,攻毒结果显示3个时间点强毒攻击后,免疫组所有动物白细胞数量都没有下降也没有分离到病毒,而对照组动物白细胞数下降均超过30%,6和9个月动物均分离到病毒,而12个月对照组动物由于年龄大,没有分离到病毒,因此暂定此疫苗的免疫持续期为9个月。     

伪狂犬病基因缺失疫苗株(SA215)某些生物学特性研究

本试验测定了伪狂犬病ｇＥ－／ｇＩ－／ ＴＫ－／ ＬａｃＺ＋基因缺失疫苗株（ＳＡ２１５）的致细胞病变效应、安全性、免疫原性和免疫期等生物学特性。试验结果显示,该疫苗株能在Ｖｅｒｏ细胞上适应生长,并形成典型的蚀斑。其对１日龄仔猪、怀孕母猪、牛、羊以及家兔安全,无不良接种反应,接种动物不向体外散毒。ＳＡ２１５疫苗接种猪能抵御高剂量（１０７ＰＦＵ）Ｆａ株强毒感染,攻毒后试验猪的发热期、增重受阻天数、散毒滴度均低于Ｂａｒｔｈａ株疫苗接种猪,远远低于对照组猪。ＳＡ２１５接种猪能维持长时间的高水平中和抗体滴度,免疫期可达半年以上。试验结果表明,ＳＡ２１５株是一株安全、免疫原性好、免疫期长的疫苗株。     

Differences in fluorescent antibody staining of bovine respiratory syncytial virus-infected cells by ovine and bovine sera

In indirect fluorescent antibody tests in which sera from cattle and sheep with respiratory disease problems were used to stain foetal bovine lung cells infected with a bovine respiratory syncytial virus strain, differences were noted in the pattern of fluorescence produced by some sheep sera and that produced by positive bovine sera. In serum neutralisation tests, also using a bovine respiratory syncytial virus strain, 4 of 7 sera giving this atypical pattern of fluorescence had very low neutralising antibody titres (highest 1/4), and 3 were negative. It is suggested that two related but antigenically distinguishable respiratory syncytial virus types are present in sheep, one of which is similar to bovine strains.     

牛传染性鼻气管炎病毒LNM株致弱疫苗免疫效力的研究

为检测牛传染性鼻气管炎病毒(IBRV)抗体在免疫牛体内的产生及其消长规律,评价IBRV LNM株致弱疫苗的保护效力,并确定免疫持续期,本实验对免疫试验组牛每头颈部肌肉接种制备的IBRV LNM株致弱疫苗104.5 TCID50/mL,监测血清抗体效价,进行免疫期的确定。在疫苗免疫后的6个月、9个月和12个月分别抽取3头免疫组和两头对照组牛采用IBRV-LN01/08强毒株进行攻毒试验,每头牛的攻毒剂量为107.0 TCID50/mL。结果显示疫苗免疫后12个月时,中和抗体效价仍维持在1∶11以上。攻毒结果显示3个时间点强毒攻击后,疫苗对免疫牛均具有良好的保护力。研究表明IBRV弱毒疫苗可有效地保护免疫牛抵抗IBRV强毒株的攻毒,其免疫持续期最少为12个月。     

Parainfluenza 3 vaccination of sheep

Outbreaks of pneumonia associated with Pasteurella haemolytica have occurred in sheep in the area of Perthshire served by this practice, and on some farms the disease has been an important annual cause of loss. Serological evidence was obtained that parainfluenza 3 (PI3) virus might be implicated as a predisposing factor to pasteurellosis. A live attenuated PI3 virus vaccine licensed for use in cattle was given intranasally to ewes on one farm. Many sheep seroconverted and outbreaks of pneumonia were negligible around the subsequent lambing time. The protection of the flock appeared to last for one season only. Subsequently ewes and lambs on other farms were vaccinated and on these farms there were fewer deaths than expected due to pasteurellosis.