Treatment of ovine foot-rot by vaccination with the specific aetiological agent Bacteroides nodosus

Accelerated healing of foot-rot cases after vaccination with Bacteroides nodosus confirms the aetiological role of this organism in the disease. There is a variation in the degree of response. It may range from an increased body weight of affected vaccinated sheep to complete resolution of clinical signs and lesions.The degree of response following vaccination is influenced by the adjuvant incorporated in vaccines. Oil emulsion vaccines were superior to aqueous alum-precipitated preparations. A saponin derivative, Quil A, enhanced the effect of alum-precipitated vaccines in a therapeutic experiment.High agglutinin titres to vaccine strains develop in immunised sheep. Recovery from infection has been demonstrated in animals with high agglutinin titres to the immunising B. nodosus but with low titres to the strain of B. nodosus with which sheep were infected. Antibodies other than those directed against the pili of B. nodosus may be involved in the mediation of the demonstrated therapeutic response.     

The effects of antigenic competition on the efficacy of multivalent footrot vaccines

SUMMARY A multivalent footrot vaccine has been developed, containing pilus antigens produced in recombinant Pseudomonas aeruginosa and representing all nine serogroups of Dichelobacter (Bacteroides) nodosus commonly recognised in the field. The responses of sheep to the multivalent vaccine have been compared with those to monovalent vaccines representing only a single serogroup. Antigenie competition between serogroups occurred in sheep immunised with the multivalent formulation, but high levels of protection were still achieved. The study showed that in multivalent footrot vaccines, antigenic competition is predominantly due to the presence of a family of immunologically-related pilus antigens rather than to interference by extraneous proteins.     

Rhodococcus equi (Prescottella equi) vaccines; the future of vaccine development

For decades researchers have been targeting prevention of Rhodococcus equi (Rhodococcus hoagui/Prescottella equi) by vaccination and the horse breeding industry has supported the ongoing efforts by researchers to develop a safe and cost effective vaccine to prevent disease in foals. Traditional vaccines including live, killed and attenuated (physical and chemical) vaccines have proved to be ineffective and more modern molecular‐based vaccines including the DNA plasmid, genetically attenuated and subunit vaccines have provided inadequate protection of foals. Newer, bacterial vector vaccines have recently shown promise for R. equi in the mouse model. This article describes the findings of key research in R. equi vaccine development and looks at alternative methods that may potentially be utilised.     

Risks connected with the use of conventional and genetically engineerd vaccines

Summary

A review is given of real and potential risks connected with the use of conventional and genetically engineered live and dead vaccines. Special attention is given to live carrier vaccines expressing one or more heterologous genes of other microorganisms. Because most carrier vaccines are still in an experimental phase, there is only limited experience with the risks of carrier vaccines. There are three potential risks of live carrier vaccines which will be discussed:

1. Changes in cell, tissue, of host tropism, and virulence of the carrier through the incorporation of foreign genes.

2. Exchange of genetic information with other vaccine or wild‐type strains of the carrier organism.

3. Spread in the environment.

Only limited experimental data are available on changes in biological behaviour of microorganisms through the incorporation of foreign genes. For example, there are indications that vaccinia virus carrying the attachment protein G of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) replicates better in lungs of mice than vaccinia virus carrying other genes of RSV. Poxviruses carry genes that probably determine their replication in different hosts. Exchange of such host tropism genes might alter their host spectrum. Recombination between herpesvirus vaccine or wildtype strains may lead to the appearance of virulent strains with of without heterologous genes. Before carrier vaccines are applied, these risks must be thoroughly evaluated case‐by‐case. Potential methods for the design of safe carrier vaccines are discussed.

This article is based on a contribution to the course ‘Introduction of Genetically Modified Organisms into the Environment: Biosafety Aspects’, 4–14 December 1991, Wageningen, the Netherlands.     

Recent advances in Brucella abortus vaccines

Brucella abortus vaccines play a central role in bovine brucellosis control/eradication programs and have been successfully used worldwide for decades. Strain 19 and RB51 are the approved B. abortus vaccines strains most commonly used to protect cattle against infection and abortion. However, due to some drawbacks shown by these vaccines much effort has been undertaken for the development of new vaccines, safer and more effective, that could also be used in other susceptible species of animals. In this paper, we present a review of the main aspects of the vaccines that have been used in the brucellosis control over the years and the current research advances in the development of new B. abortus vaccines.     

Comparative analyses of humoral and cell-mediated immune responses upon vaccination with different commercially available single-dose porcine circovirus type 2 vaccines

The objective of this study was to compare the induction of humoral and cell-mediated immune responses by four commercially available single-dose porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV-2) vaccines. A total of 50 3-week-old piglets were assigned to five groups (10 pigs per group). Four commercial PCV-2 vaccines were administered according to the manufacturer's instructions and the piglets were observed for 154 days post vaccination (dpv). Inactivated chimeric PCV-1-2 vaccines induced higher levels of PCV-2-specific neutralizing antibodies (NA) and interferon-γ-secreting cells (IFN-γ-SC) in pigs than did the other three commercial PCV-2 vaccines. The proportions of CD4⁺ cells were significantly higher in animals vaccinated with inactivated chimeric PCV-1-2 and PCV-2 vaccines than in animals vaccinated with the two subunit vaccines. To our knowledge, this is the first comparison of humoral and cell-mediated immunity induced by four commercial single-dose PCV-2 vaccines under the same conditions. The results of this study demonstrated quantitative differences in the induction of humoral and cell-mediated immunity following vaccination.     

Comparative serological response in calves to eight commercial vaccines against infectious bovine rhinotracheitis, parainfluenza-3, bovine respiratory syncytial, and bovine viral diarrhea viruses

A field trial was conducted to compare the serological responses in calves to eight commercial vaccines against infectious bovine rhinotracheitis virus (IBRV), parainfluenza-3 virus (PI3V), bovine respiratory syncytial virus (BRSV), and/or bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV). Calves given IBRV, P13V, BRSV, and BVDV vaccines had significantly higher antibodies to these viruses than unvaccinated controls; however, serological responses to killed BVDV vaccines were low. Calves with preexisting antibodies to IBRV, PI3V, BRSV, and the Singer strain of BVDV had lower seroconversion rates following vaccination than calves that were seronegative initially.

Serological responses in calves to IBRV, PI3V, BRSV, and BVDV differed among various commercial vaccines. Antibody titers to IBRV were higher in calves vaccinated with modified-live IBRV vaccines than in those vaccinated with killed IBRV vaccines. Following double vaccination with modified-live IBRV and PI3V vaccines, seroconversion rates and antibody titers to IBRV and PI3V were higher in calves vaccinated intramuscularly than in those vaccinated intranasally. Calves given Cattlemaster 4 had significantly higher titers to BRSV and PI3V, and lower titers to BVDV, than calves given Cattlemaster 3, suggesting that the addition of BRSV to Cattlemaster 4 caused some interaction among antigens.

     

IMMUNISATION AGAINST EXPERIMENTAL STAPHYLOCOCCAL MASTITIS IN SHEEP – EFFECT OF CHALLENGE WITH A HETEROLOGOUS STRAIN OF STAPHYLOCOCCUS AUREUS

SUMMARY Ewes were immunised in late pregnancy with killed Staphylococcus aureus vaccines prepared from organisms grown either under in vitro (vaccine T) or in vivo (Vaccine V) cultural conditions; other ewes were immunised with a live S. aureus vaccine and a further group remained non-vaccinated controls. The animals given either of the killed vaccines developed highest titres of agglutinating antibody in serum; there were only trivial levels of agglutinating antibody in milk from ewes in each treatment group. Ewes immunised with the live vaccine developed significantly greater levels of opsonins in serum than did those immunised with the killed vaccines or non-immunised controls. AT 30 to 35 days post-partum the ewes were challenged by intramammary infusion of one million S. aureus of a strain different to the vaccination strain. In 4 of the 5 control ewes this resulted in the development of acute mastitis and a precipitous decline in milk production, whereas there was a considerable degree of resistance recorded in animals in each of the vaccinated groups. On criteria of milk production data, bacteriological status of milk and clinical signs of acute mastitis it was apparent that animals which had been immunised with the live vaccine were better protected from challenge than those immunised with either killed vaccines T or V.     

Effect of Quil A,a saponin derivative,on the response of sheep to alum precipitatedBacteroides nodosus vaccines

Alum precipitatedBacteroides nodosus vaccines prepared from two antigens with and without the saponin derivative, Quil A, did not induce adverse tissue reactions in sheep injected subcutaneously. Vaccinated, non-infected Merino sheep had higher agglutinin antibody titres when the vaccines included Quil A. Moreover, the recovery rates in vaccinated sheep affected with foot-rot were higher when the vaccines included Quil A.     

Bighorn sheep pneumonia: Sorting out the cause of a polymicrobial disease

Pneumonia of bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis) is a dramatic disease of high morbidity and mortality first described more than 80 years ago. The etiology of the disease has been debated since its initial discovery, and at various times lungworms, Mannheimia haemolytica and other Pasteurellaceae, and Mycoplasma ovipneumoniae have been proposed as primary causal agents. A multi-factorial “respiratory disease complex” has also been proposed as confirmation of causation has eluded investigators. In this paper we review the evidence for each of the candidate primary agents with regard to causal criteria including strength of association, temporality, plausibility, experimental evidence, and analogy. While we find some degree of biological plausibility for all agents and strong experimental evidence for M. haemolytica, we demonstrate that of the alternatives considered, M. ovipneumoniae is the best supported by all criteria and is therefore the most parsimonious explanation for the disease. The strong but somewhat controversial experimental evidence implicating disease transmission from domestic sheep is consistent with this finding. Based on epidemiologic and microbiologic data, we propose that healthy bighorn sheep populations are naïve to M. ovipneumoniae, and that its introduction to susceptible bighorn sheep populations results in epizootic polymicrobial bacterial pneumonia often followed by chronic infection in recovered adults. If this hypothesized model is correct, efforts to control this disease by development or application of vectored vaccines to Pasteurellaceae are unlikely to provide significant benefits, whereas efforts to ensure segregation of healthy bighorn sheep populations from M. ovipneumoniae-infected reservoir hosts are crucial to prevention of new disease epizootics. It may also be possible to develop M. ovipneumoniae vaccines or other management strategies that could reduce the impact of this devastating disease in bighorn sheep.     

Influence of the Th2 immune response established by Nippostrongylus brasiliensis infection on the protection offered by different vaccines against Chlamydophila abortus infection

Chlamydophila abortus is the aetiological agent of enzootic abortion in small ruminants in which it infects the placenta to cause abortion during the last trimester of gestation. In a mouse model, a Th1 immune response involving IFN-γ production and CD8⁺ T cells is necessary for the infection to be resolved. The authors previously demonstrated that infection with Nippostrongylus brasiliensis, a rodent gastrointestinal nematode extensively used in experimental models to induce Th2 responses, alters the specific immune response against C. abortus infection, increasing bacterial multiplication in liver and reducing specific IFN-γ production. The aim of the present work was to clarify whether a Th2 immune response has any influence on the success of vaccination using both inactivated and attenuated vaccines. The results showed that the Th2 response established prior to vaccination did not influence the induction of protection offered by the vaccines. However, the effectiveness of this protective response can be altered, depending on the adjuvant employed in the inactivated vaccines, when the Th2 response is established after vaccination, just before challenge with C. abortus.     

Influence of Temperature on the Efficacy of Homologous and Heterologous DNA Vaccines against Viral Hemorrhagic Septicemia in Pacific Herring

Abstract

Homologous and heterologous (genogroup Ia) DNA vaccines against viral hemorrhagic septicemia virus (genogroup IVa) conferred partial protection in Pacific Herring Clupea pallasii. Early protection at 2 weeks postvaccination (PV) was low and occurred only at an elevated temperature (12.6°C, 189 degree days), where the relative percent survival following viral exposure was similar for the two vaccines (IVa and Ia) and higher than that of negative controls at the same temperature. Late protection at 10 weeks PV was induced by both vaccines but was higher with the homologous vaccine at both 9.0°C and 12.6°C. Virus neutralization titers were detected among 55% of all vaccinated fish at 10 weeks PV. The results suggest that the immune response profile triggered by DNA vaccination of herring was similar to that reported for Rainbow Trout Oncorhynchus mykiss by Lorenzen and LaPatra in 2005, who found interferon responses in the early days PV and the transition to adaptive response later. However, the protective effect was far less prominent in herring, possibly reflecting different physiologies or adaptations of the two fish species.

Received August 1, 2016; accepted March 10, 2017 Published online July 11, 2017     

Immunization with a multisubunit vaccine considerably reduces establishment of infective larvae in a rodent model of Brugia malayi

Although recombinant vaccines have several advantages over conventional vaccines, protection induced by single antigen vaccines is often inadequate for a multicellular helminth parasite. Therefore, immunoprophylactic efficacy of cocktail antigen vaccines comprised of several combinations of three Brugia malayi recombinant proteins BmAF-Myo, Bm-iPGM and Bm-TPP were evaluated. Myosin + TPP and iPGM + TPP provided the best protection upon B. malayi infective larval challenge with ∼70% reduction in adult worm establishment over non-vaccinated animals that was significantly higher than the protection achieved by any single antigen vaccine. Myosin + iPGM, in contrast did not provide any enhance protection over the single recombinant protein vaccines. Specific IgG, IgM level, IgG antibody subclasses levels (IgG1, IgG2a, IgG2b, IgG3), lymphocyte proliferation, reactive oxygen species level and cytokines level were also determined to elucidate the characteristics of the protective immune responses. Thus the study undertaken provided more insight into the cocktail vaccination approach to combat LF.     

Vaccination against staphylococcal mastitis

Extract

Sir:- Immunisation with staphylococcal vaccines is a potential means of increasing the resistance to bacterial invasion of the udder. However, the development of an effective vaccine for control of staphylococcal mastitis in ruminants has proved to be an elusive goal. There have been numerous attempts to develop vaccines against coagulase-positive Staphylococcus aureus mastitis, but very few attempts to develop vaccines using coagulase-negative staphylococci. Development of a vaccine against coagulase-negative staphylococci may help control the sub-clinical mastitis caused by these organisms and assist in the search for an effective vaccine against mastitis caused by the more pathogenic coagulase-positive S. aureus.We describe here an experiment in which ewes were immunised with live coagulase-negative staphylococcal vaccine and challenged during lactation by intramammary infusion of a homologous strain.     

Comparative efficacy of ten commercial Campylobacter fetus vaccines in the pregnant guinea pig: challenge with Campylobacter fetus serotype A.

Efficacy of ten commercial Campylobacter fetus vaccines was tested in pregnant guinea pigs and compared with that of an experimental vaccine prepared from the challenge-exposure strain. If the first lot of vaccine failed to protect 50% of the guinea pigs, one or two additional lots of that vaccine were purchased and retested. Three vaccines for cattle, evaluated, as the most effective of those tested, protected 62%, 72%, and 89% of the guinea pigs from abortion; the experimental vaccine protected 98%. The two vaccines for sheep protected 50% and 61% of the guinea pigs from abortion. With the other five vaccines produced for immunizing cattle, protection was from 0% to 36%, with the exception of one lot of a vaccine that protected 74%. Blood infection was found at necropsy in only 6% of the guinea pigs given vaccines that protected 50% or more from abortion, but was found in 66% of those given vaccines that protected less than 50%. Similarly, tissue infection was found at necropsy in only 18% of the guinea pigs given vaccines that protected more than 50%, but was found in 91% of those given vaccines that protected less than 50% from abortion. Oil-emulsion adjuvants appeared to enhance protection from abortion and infection. Nodules persisted at the injection site in most of the guinea pigs immunized with vaccines containing oil-emulsion adjuvants, but rarely persisted in guinea pigs given aqueous-phase adjuvant vaccines. Comparison of efficacy of the vaccines in guinea pigs with efficacy in sheep and cattle remains to be made.     

Studies onEscherichia coli vaccines: Estimation of endotoxins in veterinary vaccines

Fifteen batches ofE. coli vaccines for pigs, from three different manufacturers, were subjected to a quantitative form of the in vitro Limulusamoebocyte-lysate (LAL) test for their free endotoxin content. A batch of vaccine associated with abortions in pregnant sows was found to contain a much higher level of free endotoxin than batches of vaccine not associated with abortion. The evidence of these assays suggests that they will be useful in the quality control ofE. coli vaccines.     

Current status of foot-and-mouth disease vaccines including the use of genetic engineering

SUMMARY Foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) vaccines are used to protect animals against infection by the 7 FMDV serotypes composed of greater than 60 FMDV subtypes. Because of problems of both live attenuated and inactivated FMDV vaccines and also because of the very large market for an effective safe vaccine, research into other types of vaccines has been undertaken. One of the 4 virus structural proteins, VP1, is believed to be the main protein that stimulates virus neutralising antibodies and studies have concentrated on its potential as a subunit vaccine. Genetic engineering has been used to clone the VF1 gene of FMDV and VP1 synthesised from the cloned gene has been used in experimental vaccine studies. The studies in small numbers of cattle and pigs demonstrated that 2 vaccinations with genetically engineered VP1 could confer protection against FMDV challenge. However, there are a number of areas that need further research before such a genetically engineered vaccine could be used commercially. The use of chemically synthesised antigenic fragments of VP1 has recently been reported, and these synthetic fragments appear to be potentially better at producing immunity to FMDV than the whole genetically engineered VP1 protein, perhaps because of conformational problems in the presentation of whole VP1. Other possible future directions in the research and in the development of safe, effective FMDV vaccines are discussed. In conclusion, although very significant progress has been made in cloning FMDV-VP1 genes, we are still far from a genetically engineered VP1-FMDV subunit vaccine. In the meantime, properly inactivated and safety-tested FMDV vaccines will continue to be used and to be of benefit to the livestock industry in countries where foot-and-mouth is endemic or in combating introductions of the disease.     

Comparison of laboratory techniques for the evaluation of the antigenic potency of foot-and-mouth disease virus cultures and vaccines

Forty-seven suspensions of type A virus grown in surviving bovine tongue epithelium (Frenkel) cultures were compared in a quantitative complement fixation test (CFT) and an antibody combining test (ACT) to evaluate the antigenic mass of the 140 S component, and with three assay methods for infectivity titration.The cultures were then converted into vaccines and the potency of these was measured with a guinea-pig PD₅₀ test and again with the ACT. The relationship between the results obtained with different methods used for titration of infectivity, i.e. baby mice and plaque counting in BHK cells in monolayer (BHK-M) or suspended in agar (BHK-S) was poor and, with the exception of the BHK-S technique, showed little correlation with the results of the serological tests.The correlation coefficient between values obtained by the CFT and the ACT on virus cultures was 0.82 and that between CFT and ACT on vaccines 0.88. The guinea-pig PD₅₀'s of 19 vaccines were compared with the ACT and with the CFT and ACT of the corresponding cultures yielding r values of 0.74, 0.62 and 0.62 respectively. Regression lines are presented for the different relations.An accurate cattle PD₅₀ was determined for two vaccines of the series, using groups of 20 animals per vaccine dilution. The relationship between guinea-pig PD₅₀ (X) and cattle PD₅₀ (Y), expressed by the regression formula Y = 1.05 X + 0.84, showed that differences in cattle PD₅₀'s are of the same magnitude as those observed in the guinea-pig test, provided that sufficient numbers of animals are used for both tests.The results of the quantitative CFT and ACT were in good agreement with the guinea-pig test and as such these tests can provide valuable information on the quality of Frenkel cultures.     

口蹄疫双佐剂灭活疫苗的研究

在口蹄疫二价灭活疫苗（O型、AsiaⅠ型）常规使用法国SEPPIC公司206佐剂的基础上,设计了一种缓释作用更强的双佐剂成分疫苗。通过MTT法检测淋巴细胞增殖能力、液相阻断ELISA法检测口蹄疫抗体效价及攻毒试验测定PD50来评判该双佐剂疫苗与常规疫苗的效果差异。结果显示,双佐剂疫苗组细胞免疫水平（淋巴细胞刺激指数SI为1.235±0.060）比常规佐剂疫苗组（SI为1.115±0.035）和对照组（SI为1.010±0.045）高,与常规疫苗组相比差异显著（P＜0.05）,与空白对照组相比,差异极显著（P＜0.01）。双佐剂疫苗组O型和AsiaⅠ型抗体与常规佐剂疫苗组相比,全剂量组抗原量较充分,两组抗体水平差距不大;1/3剂量组和1/9剂量组由于抗原量较少和强缓释作用,导致抗体水平明显较低。攻毒保护结果为双佐剂疫苗组略高于常规佐剂疫苗组,前者每头份疫苗AsiaⅠ型为9.0 PD50,O型为11.84 PD50,后者每头份疫苗AsiaⅠ型为9.0 PD50,O型为9.0 PD50。由分析结果可见,双佐剂疫苗可引起较好的细胞免疫应答和缓释作用,达到好的攻毒保护效果。     

Vaccines against Aujeszky's disease: Evaluation of their efficacy under standardized laboratory conditions

Summary

A standardized test was developed to compare the efficacy of Aujeszky's disease virus (ADV) vaccines under laboratory conditions. Per test 3 groups of 6 to 8 sero‐negative pigs were used. The first vaccination was done at 10 weeks of age. One group was vaccinated once, another was vaccinated twice and the 3rd served as control. Pigs were challenge exposed to the virulent NIA‐3 strain of ADV 12 weeks after the first vaccination. Apart from mortality, average periods of growth arrest, fever and virus shedding after challenge were used as parameters to evaluate vaccine efficacy.

Two inactivated and 4 attenuated vaccines were tested. Two attenuated vaccine viruses were excreted after vaccination. Despite maximal standardization, a considerable variation still existed between the experiments in mortality and growth arrest periods of control pigs after challenge. However, the controls were always more severely affected than the vaccinated pigs. All vaccines except one were effective in preventing death after challenge, but none conferred complete protection. Most vaccinated pigs still lost weight, developed fever and shed virus after challenge. Revaccination after 3 or 4 weeks had little effect, particularly with the attenuated vaccines. The results of the present study indicate that 2 of the attenuated vaccines conferred the best protection, I attenuated vaccine appeared to be as effective as the 2 inactivated ones, and the 4th attenuated vaccine was least effective.