ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To determine efficacy of intranasal vaccination of rabbits with Pasteurella multocida A:3 outer membrane proteins (OMP) expressing iron-regulated OMP (IROMP) in conferring protection against experimental challenge exposure. ANIMALS: 52 male New Zealand White rabbits. PROCEDURE: Rabbits were vaccinated intranasally on days 0, 7, and 14; some vaccines included cholera toxin (CT) as an adjuvant. Concentrations of intranasal IgA and serum IgG antibodies against P multocida OMP were determined. In experiment A, rabbits were vaccinated with either phospate-buffered saline solution (PBSS), PBSS-CT, OMP-CT, or IROMP-CT, challenge-exposed intranasally on day 16, and euthanatized and necropsied on day 28. Rabbits were also vaccinated with OMP or IROMP without CT and were not challenge-exposed. In experiment B, rabbits were vaccinated with PBSS, PBSS-CT, IROMP, or IROMP-CT. On day 17, rabbits were challenge-exposed intranasally. Nasal bacteria and antibodies were determined on day 24. RESULTS: In experiment A, OMP-CT vaccination stimulated mucosal and systemic antibody responses to the bacterium and enhanced resistance against challenge exposure. Intranasal bacterial counts were not significantly reduced. Vaccination with IROMP-CT stimulated mucosal and systemic antibodies, enhanced resistance to challenge exposure, and significantly reduced nasal bacterial counts. In experiment B, natural infection was detected in several rabbits at challenge exposure; however, IROMP-CT-vaccinated rabbits had significantly higher serum and nasal antibody responses, compared with other rabbits IROMP-CT-vaccinated rabbits had significantly lower nasal bacterial counts compared to control rabbits. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Intranasal vaccination of rabbits with P multocida outer membranes containing IROMP and CT stimulated immunity against experimental pneumonic pasteurellosis.