The evaluation of an experimental porcine herpesvirus 1 (Aujeszky's disease virus) subunit vaccine in mice

Porcine herpesvirus 1 (PHV-1) antigens were extracted from virus-infected cells using the nonionic detergent Triton X-100. A single vaccination with these viral antigens in Freund's incomplete adjuvant resulted in the production of neutralizing antibody and a cellular immune response in mice. An 87% rate of protection was observed in these mice upon challenge with a lethal dose of PHV-1. A second vaccination given at day 21 resulted in higher levels of neutrilizing antibody and 100% protection of vaccinated mice upon challenge with virulent PHV-1.