Evaluation of combined vaccines against bovine brucellosis

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Department of Zoonosis, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Benha University

2 Veterinary Serum and Vaccine Research Institute, Sera and Antigens Department, Abbasia, Cairo

Abstract

Ten female local breed cows proved to be brucella free (six of them were pregnant, parturated and lactate
during the experiment time) were subdivided into two subgroups, the first one vaccinated with
combination of HS and OMPs subunit vaccines combined with conjunctival vaccination with Br. abortus
strain 19 vaccine and the second group was vaccinated with combination of HS and OMPs subunit
vaccines beside vaccination with Br. abortus strain RB51 (S/C). From first day post vaccination to 60
days, saliva, vaginal discharge, fecal and milk samples were collected and examined for the presence of
the vaccinal strains. Also, blood samples were collected from vaccinated animals and the serum tested
serologically using RBPT, MAT and ELISA. In addition, cell mediated immune response was evaluated
using Brucellin test. The results revealed that no vaccinal strains was detected in the different body
secretions and the humoral immune response of vaccinated cows reached its peak at the 4th week post
vaccination then decreased gradually and disappeared at the end of the 10th week. Also, cell mediated
immune response revealed that cows vaccinated with the combination of HS and OMPs subunit vaccine
combined with conjunctival vaccination with Br. abortus strain 19 vaccine showed remarkable increase
in the cell mediated immune response in comparison with in cattle vaccinated with the same combination
beside subcutaneous vaccination with Br. abortus strain RB51.

Keywords