Field trial of antibody response to inactivated bacterial vaccine in young Holstein calves: influence of animal health status

Abstract

Introduction Bovine respiratory disease (BRD) is one of the primary causes of death in young calves. Vaccination against infection by the common bacteria causing BRD is possible; however, the physical condition of the young calves that enables antibody production when stimulated by early immunisation remains to be elucidated. Material and Methods Healthy young female Holstein calves on a commercial dairy farm were fed a colostrum replacer and administered primary and booster immunisations with an inactivated vaccine against the bacterial pneumonia agents Histophilus somni, Pasteurella multocida and Mannheimia haemolytica. At each immunisation, the body weight and height at the withers were measured and the body mass index (BMI) was calculated. Blood was sampled immediately before immunisation and 3 weeks following the booster. The calves were divided into positive and negative groups based on the antibody titre at the final blood sampling. Maternal antibody titres at the primary immunisation and BMI, nutritional status and oxidative stress at both immunisations were compared between the two groups. Results Antibody titre at the primary and BMI at both immunisations were significantly higher in the positive than in the negative group (P < 0.05). Additionally, serum gamma globulin was significantly higher in the positive group (P < 0.05), indicating a strong correlation between maternal antibody and serum gamma globulin levels. Conclusion Elevated maternal antibody titre and higher BMI are positive factors for successful early immunisation, for which suitable colostrum may also be fundamental in young calves administered inactivated vaccines.

Antibody response to 1.0 and 0.5 mL doses of an inactivated bacterial vaccine against bovine respiratory disease in young Holstein calves: a field trial

“…In this study, however, the number of calves with positive vaccine responses to M. haemolytica was low even after the booster vaccination. A previous study (6) investigating the same vaccine as used in this research reported that a higher BMI was a positive factor for successful early vaccination and that the calves with positive vaccine responses to M. haemolytica had higher BMIs (mean 70) than those responding positively to H. somni and P. multocida. Although there were slight differences in BMI between the groups, the mean BMI of the calves in this study was similar to that of the M. haemolytica-negative calves in the previous report (6).…”

“…A previous study (6) investigating the same vaccine as used in this research reported that a higher BMI was a positive factor for successful early vaccination and that the calves with positive vaccine responses to M. haemolytica had higher BMIs (mean 70) than those responding positively to H. somni and P. multocida. Although there were slight differences in BMI between the groups, the mean BMI of the calves in this study was similar to that of the M. haemolytica-negative calves in the previous report (6). We therefore presume that the inadequate antibody response to M. haemolytica in this study is due to the low BMI of the recipient calves.…”

“…Similarly, the titres greater than those values at the time of primary vaccination were considered to be high maternal antibody levels (MAL) ( 8 ). Calves were divided into positive and negative groups based on post-vaccination titres of antibodies against H. somni , P. multocida and M. haemolytica , or into high and low MAL groups based on titres at primary vaccination ( 5 , 6 ).…”

“…Furthermore, in newborns and infants aged up to one year, a 0.025 mg dose of intradermal Bacillus Calmette-Guérin induced an immune response comparable with the response to a 0.05 mg dose (13). Therefore, lower doses of the inactivated bacterial BRD vaccine than the 1.0 mL dose administered in previous studies may be suitable for young Holstein calves (5,6). The optimal dose of this vaccine in young Holstein calves has not been investigated thoroughly.…”

“…A previous study ( 6 ) reported that a satisfactory body mass index (BMI) was positively correlated with antibody production following administration of the inactivated vaccine in young Holstein calves. It is therefore necessary to ensure that the BMI at the time of vaccination is similar between groups to study the effect of dosage.…”