Efficacy of a modified live intranasal bovine respiratory syncytial virus vaccine in 3-week-old calves experimentally challenged with BRSV

Two experimental bovine respiratory syncytial virus (BRSV) challenge studies were undertaken to evaluate the efficacy of a single intranasal dose of a bivalent modified live vaccine containing BRSV in 3-week-old calves. In the first study, vaccine efficacy was evaluated in colostrum deprived (maternal antibody negative) calves 5, 10 and 21 days after vaccination. Nasal shedding of BRSV was significantly reduced in vaccinated calves challenged 10 or 21 days after vaccination. Virus excretion titres were also reduced in vaccinates challenged 5 days after vaccination but reduction in duration of shedding and total amount of virus shed were not statistically significant. Clinical disease after challenge in this study was mild. In the second study, vaccine efficacy was assessed in calves with maternal antibodies against BRSV by challenge 66 days post-vaccination. Vaccination significantly reduced nasal shedding after challenge and the severity of clinical disease was also reduced.     

Evaluation of efficacy of an inactivated vaccine against bovine respiratory syncytial virus in calves with maternal antibodies

OBJECTIVE: To assess short- and long-term efficacy of an inactivated bovine respiratory syncytial virus (BRSV) vaccine administered i.m. to calves with maternally derived antibodies. ANIMALS: 28 two-week-old calves with neutralizing, maternally derived antibodies against BRSV. PROCEDURE: For evaluation of short-term efficacy, 6 calves were vaccinated i.m. at 2 and 6 weeks of age and challenged intranasally and intratracheally along with a matched group of 4 unvaccinated control calves at 10 weeks of age. For evaluation of long-term efficacy, 2 groups of 6 calves each were vaccinated i.m. at 2, 6, and 18 weeks of age or 14 and 18 weeks of age; these calves were challenged intranasally and intratracheally along with 6 matched unvaccinated control calves at 43 weeks of age. Serum virus neutralizing antibody titer, clinical reactions, and virus shedding in nasal mucus and lung washings were assessed. RESULTS: None of the vaccination regimens resulted in a significant increase in serum virus neutralizing antibody titer. As judged by virus shedding in nasal mucus and lung washings, vaccinated calves were protected against challenge, compared with unvaccinated control groups. Clinical signs attributable to challenge were coughing (short-term efficacy study) and tachypnea and dyspnea (long-term efficacy study). The severity and incidence of disease were significantly lower in the vaccinated groups, compared with that in the unvaccinated groups. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Through vaccination, it is possible to protect vulnerable calves with maternal antibodies against BRSV infection and reduce respiratory tract disease.     

Efficacy of a saponin-adjuvanted inactivated respiratory syncytial virus vaccine in calves

The objective of this study was to determine whether a commercially available, saponin-adjuvanted, inactivated bovine respiratory syncytial virus (BRSV) vaccine would protect calves from experimental infection with virulent BRSV. This was a randomized controlled trial comprising 14, 8- to 9-week-old calves seronegative for BRSV Group 1 calves (n = 8) were not vaccinated and group 2 calves (n = 6) were vaccinated on days 0 and 19 with an inactivated BRSV vaccine. All calves were challenged with virulent BRSV on day 46. Clinical signs, arterial PO2, and immune responses were monitored after challenge. Calves were euthanatized on day 54 (8 d after challenge) and lungs were examined for lesions. Vaccination elicited increases in BRSV-specific immunoglobulin (Ig) G and virus neutralizing antibody titers. Challenge with BRSV resulted in severe respiratory tract disease and extensive pulmonary lesions in control calves, but no signs of clinical disease and minimal or no pulmonary lesions in vaccinated calves. Arterial blood oxygen values on day 53 (7 d after challenge) in control calves were significantly lower than those in vaccinated calves, which remained within normal limits. Control calves shed BRSV for several days after challenge, whereas BRSV was not detected on deep nasal swabs from vaccinated calves. In summary, the results indicated that this inactivated BRSV vaccine provided clinical protection from experimental infection with virulent virus 27 d after vaccination and significantly decreased the prevalence and severity of pulmonary lesions. Efficacy was similar to that reported for other commercial inactivated and modified-live BRSV vaccines.     

Efficacy of an inactivated respiratory syncytial virus vaccine in calves.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether an inactivated bovine respiratory syncytial virus (BRSV) vaccine would protect calves from infection with virulent BRSV. DESIGN: Randomized controlled trial. ANIMALS: 27 nine-week-old calves seronegative for BRSV exposure. PROCEDURE: Group-1 calves (n = 9) were not vaccinated. Group-2 calves (n = 9) were vaccinated on days 0 and 21 with an inactivated BRSV vaccine containing a minimum immunizing dose of antigen. Group-3 calves (n = 9) were vaccinated on days 0 and 21 with an inactivated BRSV vaccine containing an amount of antigen similar to that in a commercial vaccine. All calves were challenged with virulent BRSV on day 42. Clinical signs and immune responses were monitored for 8 days after challenge. Calves were euthanatized on day 50, and lungs were examined for lesions. RESULTS: Vaccination elicited increases in BRSV-specific IgG and virus neutralizing antibody titers and in production of interferon-gamma. Virus neutralizing antibody titers were consistently less than IgG titers. Challenge with BRSV resulted in severe respiratory tract disease and extensive pulmonary lesions in control calves, whereas vaccinated calves had less severe signs of clinical disease and less extensive pulmonary lesions. The percentage of vaccinated calves that shed virus in nasal secretions was significantly lower than the percentage of control calves that did, and peak viral titer was lower for vaccinated than for control calves. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Results suggest that the inactivated BRSV vaccine provided clinical protection from experimental infection with virulent virus and decreased the severity of pulmonary lesions. Efficacy was similar to that reported for modified-live BRSV vaccines.     

Induction of antigen-specific T-cell subset activation to bovine respiratory disease viruses by a modified-live virus vaccine

OBJECTIVE: To determine the efficacy of a modified-live virus vaccine containing bovine herpes virus 1 (BHV-1), bovine respiratory syncytial virus (BRSV), parainfluenza virus 3, and bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) types 1 and 2 to induce neutralizing antibodies and cell-mediated immunity in na?ve cattle and protect against BHV-1 challenge. ANIMALS: 17 calves. PROCEDURES: 8 calves were mock-vaccinated with saline (0.9% NaCl) solution (control calves), and 9 calves were vaccinated at 15 to 16 weeks of age. All calves were challenged with BHV-1 25 weeks after vaccination. Neutralizing antibodies and T-cell responsiveness were tested on the day of vaccination and periodically after vaccination and BHV-1 challenge. Specific T-cell responses were evaluated by comparing CD25 upregulation and intracellular interferon-gamma expression by 5-color flow cytometry. Titration of BHV-1 in nasal secretions was performed daily after challenge. Results-Vaccinated calves seroconverted by week 4 after vaccination. Antigen-specific cell-mediated immune responses, by CD25 expression index, were significantly higher in vaccinated calves than control calves. Compared with control calves, antigen-specific interferon-gamma expression was significantly higher in calves during weeks 4 to 8 after vaccination, declining by week 24. After BHV-1 challenge, both neutralizing antibodies and T-cell responses of vaccinated calves had anamnestic responses to BHV-1. Vaccinated calves shed virus in nasal secretions at significantly lower titers for a shorter period and had significantly lower rectal temperatures than control calves. CONCLUSION AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: A single dose of vaccine effectively induced humoral and cellular immune responses against BHV-1, BRSV, and BVDV types 1 and 2 and protected calves after BHV-1 challenge for 6 months after vaccination.     

Stimulation and analysis of the immune response in calves from vaccinated pregnant cows

The effect of vaccinating pregnant cows with an inactivated vaccine against Mannheimia haemolytica, BRSV and PI3V infections on selected immune responses in their offspring was examined. Blood samples were collected weekly for 12 weeks from six newborn calves from each of vaccinated (experimental) and unvaccinated (control) dams. Specific antibodies to M. haemolytica, BRSV and PI3V and mean values of IgA, IgG concentrations were significantly higher in the experimental calves compared with the controls. However, specific antibody titres to adenovirus type 3, BHV1 and BVDV in the experimental calves had constant levels while the control group levels changed. The IgM, Hp and SAA concentrations generally increased until week 8 in the experimental group, but the control group titres became higher after week 9. This study demonstrates that specific immunisation of cows pre-partum significantly stimulated parameters associated with immunity and it also controlled the acute phase response intensity in their offspring. Therefore the vaccination of dams may provide additional antibody protection against infection to their offspring.     

Antibody response of calves to immunoaffinity-purified bovine respiratory syncytial virus VP70 after vaccination and challenge exposure.

Immunoaffinity-purified bovine respiratory syncytial virus (BRSV) fusion (F) protein elicited anti-BRSV-specific antibody responses in BRSV-seronegative calves. After primary vaccination, all calves seroconverted to BRSV as determined by the virus neutralization (VN) test and developed anti-F protein antibodies detectable by protein immunoblot analyses. Subsequent vaccinations induced greater than twofold increase in VN titer in 3 of 9 (33%) calves, and 1 calf became VN-negative, but still had nonneutralizing antibody detectable by protein immunoblot analysis. This calf remained seronegative after challenge exposure. Two groups of calves were vaccinated IM with immunoaffinity-purified BRSV F protein. Each dose was 2 ml containing 20 micrograms of purified F protein. Freund's adjuvants were used for all vaccinations, with Freund's complete adjuvant used for the primary vaccination and Freund's incomplete adjuvant for subsequent vaccinations. The vaccine was administered to both groups at weeks 0 and 3; the first group received a third vaccination at weeks 21. Group-1 and -2 vaccinated calves and non-vaccinated contact controls were intranasally aerosol challenge-exposed with low cell culture-passage BRSV on weeks 22 and 9, respectively. Eight of 9 vaccinated calves did not develop a humoral anamnestic response following challenge exposure, as demonstrated by VN test and protein immunoblot analyses. Calf 14 from group 1 which had a 1:2 VN antibody titer prior to vaccination, was the only calf that developed an anamnestic response.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

T-cell populations responsive to bovine respiratory syncytial virus in seronegative calves

Calves lacking detectable serum antibodies against bovine respiratory syncytial virus (BRSV) were screened for virus-specific T-cell memory. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were cultured in vitro with live BRSV and analyzed by dual-color flow cytometry for surface expression of CD25 on CD4(+), CD8(+), and gammadeltaT-cells. Significant recall responses were detected in some of the seronegative calves. Modified live BRSV vaccine was administered to these and to a group of non-responding calves. Following vaccination, virus-specific IgG, virus neutralizing antibody, and T-cell recall responses were all elevated more rapidly in the group with BRSV-sensitive T-cells than in the T-cell-negative group, which suggested that calves in the first group were previously exposed to BRSV. This demonstrates that exposure to BRSV can induce T and B cell memory in young calves without causing seroconversion. The calves were presumably exposed to BRSV while they had maternal antibody, which inhibited the calves from developing an antibody response.     

A severe outbreak of respiratory tract disease associated with bovine respiratory syncytial virus probably enhanced by vaccination with modified live vaccine

Summary

A severe outbreak of respiratory tract disease associated with bovine respiratory syncytial virus (BRSV) on a large beef‐fattening farm is described. The outbreak started two days after five‐ to seven‐month‐old calves were vaccinated with a modified live BRSV vaccine. The disease ran a very severe course among five‐ to seven‐month‐old vaccinated calves, but disease was absent in eight‐month‐old an older non‐vaccinated calves. The presence of IgM antibodies in sera of non‐vaccinated calves indicated that BRSV was spreading on the farm between two to 15 days before the day of vaccination. The data indicate that vaccination with modified live vaccine during the course of a natural infection may enhance the severity of disease. The possible pathogenesis of the disease is discussed.     

A severe outbreak of respiratory tract disease associated with bovine respiratory syncytial virus probably enhanced by vaccination with modified live vaccine

A severe outbreak of respiratory tract disease associated with bovine respiratory syncytial virus (BRSV) on a large beef-fattening farm is described. The outbreak started two days after five- to seven-month-old calves were vaccinated with a modified live BRSV vaccine. The disease ran a very severe course among five- to seven-month-old vaccinated calves, but disease was absent in eight-month-old an older non-vaccinated calves. The presence of IgM antibodies in sera of non-vaccinated calves indicated that BRSV was spreading on the farm between two to 15 days before the day of vaccination. The data indicate that vaccination with modified live vaccine during the course of a natural infection may enhance the severity of disease. The possible pathogenesis of the disease is discussed.     

Evaluation of protection against virulent bovine viral diarrhea virus type 2 in calves that had maternal antibodies and were vaccinated with a modified-live vaccine

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy of an adjuvanted modified-live bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) vaccine against challenge with a virulent type 2 BVDV strain in calves with or without maternal antibodies against the virus. DESIGN: Challenge study. ANIMALS: 23 crossbred dairy calves. PROCEDURES: Calves were fed colostrum containing antibodies against BVDV or colostrum without anti-BVDV antibodies within 6 hours of birth and again 8 to 12 hours after the first feeding. Calves were vaccinated with a commercial modified-live virus combination vaccine or a sham vaccine at approximately 5 weeks of age and challenged with virulent type 2 BVDV 3.5 months after vaccination. Clinical signs of BVDV infection, development of viremia, and variation in WBC counts were recorded for 14 days after challenge exposure. RESULTS: Calves that received colostrum free of anti-BVDV antibodies and were vaccinated with the sham vaccine developed severe disease (4 of the 7 calves died or were euthanatized). Calves that received colostrum free of anti-BVDV antibodies and were vaccinated and calves that received colostrum with anti-BVDV antibodies and were vaccinated developed only mild or no clinical signs of disease. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Results indicated that the modified-live virus vaccine induced a strong protective immune response in young calves, even when plasma concentrations of maternal antibody were high. In addition, all vaccinated calves were protected against viral shedding, whereas control calves vaccinated with the sham vaccine shed virus for an extended period of time.     

Response of calves to challenge exposure with virulent bovine respiratory syncytial virus following intranasal administration of vaccines formulated for parenteral administration

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether single-fraction and combination modified-live bovine respiratory syncytial virus (BRSV) vaccines commercially licensed for parenteral administration could stimulate protective immunity in calves after intranasal administration. DESIGN: Randomized controlled trial. ANIMALS: 39 calves. PROCEDURES: Calves were separated from dams at birth, fed colostrum with a minimal concentration of antibodies against BRSV, and maintained in isolation. In 2 preliminary experiments, 9-week-old calves received 1 (n = 3) or 2 (3) doses of a single-component, modified-live BRSV vaccine or no vaccine (8 control calves in each experiment), and were challenged with BRSV 21 days after vaccination. In a third experiment, 2-week-old calves received combination modified-live virus (MLV) vaccines with or without BRSV and calves were challenged with BRSV 8 days later. Calves were euthanized, and lung lesions were measured. Immune responses, including serum and nasal antibody and nasal interferon-alpha concentrations, were assessed. RESULTS: BRSV challenge induced signs of severe clinical respiratory tract disease, including death and pulmonary lesions in unvaccinated calves and in calves that received a combination viral vaccine without BRSV. Pulmonary lesions were significantly less severe in BRSV-challenged calves that received single or combination BRSV vaccines. The proportion of calves that shed virus and the peak virus titer was decreased, compared with control calves. Protection was associated with mucosal IgA antibody responses after challenge. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Single and combination BRSV vaccines administered intranasally provided clinical protection and sparing of pulmonary tissue similar to that detected in response to parenteral delivery of combination MLV and inactivated BRSV vaccines previously assessed in the same challenge model.     

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.

     

Functional analysis of antibody responses of feedlot cattle to bovine respiratory syncytial virus following vaccination with mixed vaccines.

The antibody response of cattle to bovine respiratory syncytial virus (BRSV) immunization was investigated using 4 different commercially available mixed vaccines. Forty, 5-6 month old, beef calves, randomly assigned to groups of 10, were vaccinated on day 0 and 21 with 1 of 3 inactivated vaccines, (3 groups), or a modified live virus (MLV) vaccine. BRSV-specific antibody responses were measured prior to vaccination and on day 35 by using an enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), virus neutralization assay (VN), a fusion inhibition assay (FI); and responses were also measured for their ability to facilitate antibody dependent, complement mediated cytotoxicity (ADCMC) of BRSV infected cells. Sera from day 35 were, in addition, analyzed by use of an IgG1, IgG2 isotype specific ELISA. All vaccines induced significant increases in BRSV specific IgG antibody as measured by ELISA, but only one inactivated and the MLV vaccine induced significant increases in VN titers. Fusion inhibiting antibody titers were low or undetected in calves vaccinated with the inactivated vaccines. Vaccination with modified live virus induced significantly higher titers of fusion inhibiting antibodies, which are considered to be most highly correlated with protection. The VN to ELISA and FI to ELISA ratio of the calves that received MLV vaccine were significantly greater than the calves receiving the 3 inactivated vaccines. Vaccination with MLV induced the highest IgG2/IgG1 ratio. This difference was small, and only significant relative to 2 of the inactivated vaccine groups, which were not significantly different from each other. The higher proportion of IgG2 isotype in the MLV sera was not associated with lower ADCMC, a function not attributed to this isotype. The VN and FI titers, but not the ELISA value of the sera, were most predictive of ADCMC. The inactivation processes apparently alter epitopes and affect the induction of functional antibodies.     

Bovine respiratory syncytial virus (BRSV) pneumonia in beef calf herds despite vaccination.

The present report describes the clinical, pathological, serological and virological findings in calves from 2 larger Danish beef herds experiencing outbreaks of pneumonia. The calves had been vaccinated with an inactivated bovine respiratory syncytial virus (BRSV) vaccine 2 months prior to the outbreak. The clinical signs comprised nasal discharge, pyrexia, cough and increased respiratory rates. A total of 28 calves died in the 2 herds. The laboratory investigations revealed that BRSV was involved and probably initiated both outbreaks. Furthermore, the serological results suggested that the vaccine induced only sparse levels of antibodies probably due to the presence of maternally derived antibodies at the time of vaccination. Necropsy findings in 5 calves revealed changes typical for infectious pneumonia with involvement of BRSV. In conclusion, vaccination of calves against BRSV in 2 Danish beef herds failed to protect the calves against severe or even fatal BRSV mediated respiratory disease 2 months later.     

Efficacy of an intranasal modified live bovine respiratory syncytial virus and temperature-sensitive parainfluenza type 3 virus vaccine in 3-week-old calves experimentally challenged with PI3V

Two experimental parainfluenza type 3 virus (PI3V) challenge studies were undertaken to evaluate the efficacy of a single intranasal dose of an attenuated live vaccine containing modified live bovine respiratory syncytial virus (BRSV) and temperature-sensitive PI3V in 3-week-old calves. In the first study, vaccine efficacy was evaluated in colostrum deprived calves. Nasal shedding of PI3V was highly significantly reduced in vaccinated calves challenged 10 days or 21 days after vaccination. In the second study, vaccine efficacy was assessed in calves with maternal antibodies against PI3V by challenge 66 days post-vaccination. Vaccination also significantly reduced PI3V excretion after challenge in this study. In both studies, clinical signs after challenge were very mild and were not different between vaccinated and control calves.     

Duration of immunity of a quadrivalent vaccine against respiratory diseases caused by BHV-1, PI3V, BVDV, and BRSV in experimentally infected calves

Several laboratory studies assessed the duration of immunity of a quadrivalent vaccine (Rispoval™4, Pfizer Animal Health) against bovine respiratory diseases (BRD) caused by bovine herpes-virus type-1 (BHV-1), parainfluenza type-3 virus (PI₃V), bovine viral-diarrhoea virus type 1 (BVDV), or bovine respiratory syncytial virus (BRSV). Calves between 7 weeks and 6 months of age were allocated to treatment and then were injected with two doses of either the vaccine or the placebo 3 weeks apart. Six to 12 months after the second injection, animals were challenged with BHV-1 (n = 16), PI₃V (n = 31), BVDV (n = 16), or BRSV (n = 20) and the course of viral infection was monitored by serological, haematological (in the BVDV study only), clinical, and virological means for ≥2 weeks. Infection induced mild clinical signs of respiratory disease and elevated rectal temperature in both vaccinated and control animals and was followed by a dramatic rise in neutralising antibodies in all treatment groups. Titres reached higher levels in vaccinated calves than in control calves after challenge with BHV-1, BVDV, or BRSV. On day 3 after PI₃V challenge, virus shedding was reduced from 3.64 log₁₀ TCID₅₀ in control animals to 2.59 log₁₀ TCID₅₀ in vaccinated animals. On days 6 and 8 after BRSV challenge, there were fewer vaccinated animals (n = 2/10 and 0/10, respectively) shedding the virus than control animals (n = 8/10 and 3/10, respectively). Moreover, after challenge, the mean duration of virus shedding was reduced from 3.8 days in control animals to 1 day in vaccinated animals in the BVDV study and from 3.4 days in control animals to 1.2 days in vaccinated animals in the BRSV study. The duration of immunity of ≥6 months for PI₃V, BHV-1 and BVDV, and 12 months for BRSV, after vaccination with Rispoval™4, was associated mainly with enhanced post-challenge antibody response to all four viruses and reduction of the amount or duration of virus shedding or both.     

Effect of maternal antibodies on induction and persistence of vaccine-induced immune responses against bovine viral diarrhea virus type II in young calves

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effect of maternally derived antibodies on induction of protective immune responses against bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) type II in young calves vaccinated with a modified-live bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) type I vaccine. DESIGN: Blinded controlled challenge study. ANIMALS: 24 neonatal Holstein and Holstein-cross calves that were deprived of maternal colostrum and fed pooled colostrum that contained a high concentration of (n = 6) or no (18) antibodies to BVDV. PROCEDURE: At 10 to 14 days of age, 6 seropositive and 6 seronegative calves were given a combination vaccine containing modified-live BVDV type I. All calves were kept in isolation for 4.5 months. Six calves of the remaining 12 untreated calves were vaccinated with the same combination vaccine at approximately 4 months of age. Three weeks later, all calves were challenged intranasally with a virulent BVDV type II. RESULTS: Seronegative unvaccinated calves and seropositive calves that were vaccinated at 2 weeks of age developed severe disease, and 4 calves in each of these groups required euthanasia. Seronegative calves that were vaccinated at 2 weeks or 4 months of age developed only mild or no clinical signs of disease. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Results indicate that a single dose of a modified-live BVDV type-I vaccine given at 10 to 14 days of age can protect susceptible young calves from virulent BVDV type II infection for at least 4 months, but high concentrations of BVDV-specific maternally derived antibodies can block the induction of the response.     

High mortality rate associated with bovine respiratory syncytial virus (BRSV) infection in Belgian white blue calves previously vaccinated with an inactivated BRSV vaccine

In a group of 60 Belgian White Blue calves less than 8 months old still housed in barns, a bovine respiratory syncytial virus (BRSV) outbreak was revealed on the basis of a direct diagnosis (immunofluorescence and virus isolation) performed on the lungs of dead animals, and the kinetics of BRSV neutralizing antibodies. Clinical signs, macroscopical and microscopical pulmonary lesions were also compatible with a BRSV infection. This outbreak is peculiar because the 35 oldest calves (204 +/- 29 days old) had been vaccinated 3-4 months before with an inactivated BRSV vaccine and 30% of these animals had died of respiratory distress. While they experienced a mild respiratory symptomatology, no death was recorded among the 25 youngest calves (69 +/- 29 days old) which had been left unvaccinated. Another peculiarity was found at the histological level where a massive infiltration of eosinophils was demonstrated in the pulmonary tissues of the dead animals. Together these data parallel the dramatic story described 30 years ago in children previously vaccinated with a formalin-inactivated human RSV (HRSV) vaccine upon a natural HRSV challenge. This illustrates that an immunopathological phenomenon also takes place after BRSV vaccination in cattle.     

Vaccination of neonatal colostrum-deprived calves against Pasteurella haemolytica A1.

Colostrum-deprived Holstein calves were vaccinated at 2 and 4 wk of age with a Pasteurella haemolytica A1 culture supernatant vaccine to determine whether active immune responses and protection could be induced in this age group in the absence of maternal antibodies. All calves responded to vaccination with high titers of IgM antibodies to capsular polysaccharide within 1 wk of primary vaccination. Mean titers of IgG1 and IgG2 antibodies to this antigen increased significantly by 2 wk after secondary vaccination, but peak antibody titers were low. All of the vaccinated calves seroconverted with production of leukotoxin-neutralizing antibodies, but peak antibody titers were low. Vaccinated calves experienced considerable lung damage after experimental challenge, but survival rate, clinical scores, and percent lung involvement were significantly better than those of control (placebo-injected) calves.