Evaluation of anti-Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae IgG response in bottlenose dolphins Tursiops truncatus to a commercial pig vaccine

Abstract

Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae is the causative agent of erysipeloid in humans and of erysipelas in various animals, including bottlenose dolphins Tursiops truncatus, in which an infection has the potential to cause peracute septicemia and death. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of using an off-label porcine (ER BAC PLUS®, Zoetis) E. rhusiopathiae bactrin in a bottlenose dolphin vaccination program by determining the anti-E. rhusiopathiae antibody levels in vaccinated dolphins over a 10 yr period. Serum samples (n = 88) were analyzed using a modified fluorescent microbead immunoassay from 54 dolphins, including 3 individuals with no history of vaccination and 51 dolphins with an average of 5 vaccinations, 3 of which had previously recovered from a natural E. rhusiopathiae infection. A mean 311-fold increase in the immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibody index was measured in a subsample of 10 dolphins 14 d after the first booster vaccination. Serum IgG antibody titers were influenced by number of vaccines received (r2 = 0.47, p < 0.05) but not by age, gender, history of natural infection, adverse vaccine reaction, vaccination interval or time since last vaccination. The commercial pig bacterin was deemed effective in generating humoral immunity against E. rhusiopathiae in dolphins. However, since the probability of an adverse reaction toward the vaccine was moderately correlated (p = 0.07, r2 = 0.1) with number of vaccines administered, more research is needed to determine the optimal vaccination interval.

Swine Erysipelas; It’s Epidemiology, Diagnosis, Treatment and Control and Preventive Measures, Comprehensive Review

“…Mitral valve is more frequently affected, infarction of kidney and liver, arthritis may involve joints of one or more legs or the intervertebral articulations; the joint enlargement is proliferative but non suppurative, and tags of granulation tissue form in the articular cavity. There may be proliferation and erosion of the articular cartilage; this may be followed by fibrosis and ankylosis of the joint [36].…”

Erysipelothrix Spp.: Past, Present, and Future Directions in Vaccine Research

“…Besides their usage in farmed animals, Erysipelothrix spp. vaccines are occasionally used off-label in other species, including marine mammals, with encouraging results (111,112). Marine mammals are highly susceptible to Erysipelothrix spp.…”

“…A study using conventional pigs found that vaccination of pigs with a commercial inactivated vaccine in the presence of antibiotics may result in a decrease (ceftiofur, doxycycline, tiamulin) or enhancement (amoxicillin, tulathromycin) in the production of specific antibodies as measured by a commercially available E. rhusiopathiae ELISA (106). During assessment of a large vaccination program in various marine mammals by a modified FMIA, a mean 311-fold increase in the IgG antibody index was detected 14 days after the first booster vaccination (112). In that study serum IgG antibody titers were influenced by the number of vaccinations received but not by age, sex, history of natural infection, adverse vaccine reaction, vaccination interval or time since last vaccination (112).…”

“…During assessment of a large vaccination program in various marine mammals by a modified FMIA, a mean 311-fold increase in the IgG antibody index was detected 14 days after the first booster vaccination (112). In that study serum IgG antibody titers were influenced by the number of vaccinations received but not by age, sex, history of natural infection, adverse vaccine reaction, vaccination interval or time since last vaccination (112). When investigating vaccine responses in endangered species, it may be necessary to develop a novel assay.…”

Pathological and Genomic Findings of Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae Isolated From a Free-Ranging Rough-Toothed Dolphin Steno bredanensis (Cetacea: Delphinidae) Stranded in Korea

“…Clinical symptoms of E. rhusiopathiae infection in cetaceans have been reported in the classic dermatologic (12) and acute septicemic forms (13)(14)(15)(16)(17); however, the disease course is predominantly acute and commonly fatal (18). Although several experimental vaccination trials against E. rhusiopathiae in captive cetaceans have yielded encouraging results (19,20), the potential diversity between the isolates from captive cetaceans has been previously addressed using spa-typing and comparative genomics (9,21). However, the microbiological and genomic features of E. rhusiopathiae isolates causing fatal infection in free-ranging cetaceans remain unclear owing to the limitations of post-mortem analyses of stranded individuals and the lack of reports describing its isolation.…”