Immune response in holstein calves vaccinated at six months of age

Background: Calves are agammaglobulinemic and immature at birth and their immunological defense must be improved by colostrum, although, maternal antibodies decrease after two months of age and calves are susceptible to Bovine Respiratory Disease Complex (BRDC). Then, this research evaluated the immune response to BVDV and BoHV-1 in young calves to prevent BRDC.Materials, Methods & Results: Ten male Holstein calves were distributed in two groups with five animals on each: nonvaccinated VAC (-) and vaccinated VAC (+). Calves were vaccinated twice at 180 and 210 days of age. It was selected a commercial multivalent vaccine containing inactivated isolated of BVDV type-1 (strains 5960) and BVDV type-2 (strains 53637), and modified-live BoHV-1 (strains RLB103), with Quil A, cholesterol and Amphigen as adjuvant. The immune response (IR) was evaluated at 180 (T0), 210 (T1) and 240 (T2) days of life by serum neutralization (SN) and immunophenotyping. Specific antibodies to BVDV were detected in 40% (2/5) and 60% (3/5) of vaccinated calves at T1 and T2, respectively. Specific antibodies (Abs) to BoHV-1 were observed in 40% (2/5) at T1 and 100% (5/5) at T2 in the VAC (+) group. Titers of Abs to BoHV-1 increase from T0 to T2 (P = 0.034) in VAC (+). Moreover, geometric mean titer (GMT) to BoHV-1 in VAC (+) group was higher than VAC (-) after secondary IR in T2 (P = 0.006). The proportion of the markers T lymphocytes subpopulation (CD3+ , CD4+ , CD8+ and WC1+ ) and B lymphocytes (CD21+ ) were similar in the two experimental groups, while the expression of the CD25+ marker by gamma-delta (WC1+ ) was higher in VAC (+) at T1.Discussion: Low titers of circulating Abs could be observed just for BoHV-1 in the calves from VAC (-) at T0, probably due to remaining Abs from dams transferred by colostrum intake. This fact indicates the need of appropriate vaccination schedules to prevent the virosis in dairy heifers.[...](AU)

Immune response in holstein calves vaccinated at six months of age

Background: Calves are agammaglobulinemic and immature at birth and their immunological defense must be improved by colostrum, although, maternal antibodies decrease after two months of age and calves are susceptible to Bovine Respiratory Disease Complex (BRDC). Then, this research evaluated the immune response to BVDV and BoHV-1 in young calves to prevent BRDC.Materials, Methods & Results: Ten male Holstein calves were distributed in two groups with five animals on each: nonvaccinated VAC (-) and vaccinated VAC (+). Calves were vaccinated twice at 180 and 210 days of age. It was selected a commercial multivalent vaccine containing inactivated isolated of BVDV type-1 (strains 5960) and BVDV type-2 (strains 53637), and modified-live BoHV-1 (strains RLB103), with Quil A, cholesterol and Amphigen as adjuvant. The immune response (IR) was evaluated at 180 (T0), 210 (T1) and 240 (T2) days of life by serum neutralization (SN) and immunophenotyping. Specific antibodies to BVDV were detected in 40% (2/5) and 60% (3/5) of vaccinated calves at T1 and T2, respectively. Specific antibodies (Abs) to BoHV-1 were observed in 40% (2/5) at T1 and 100% (5/5) at T2 in the VAC (+) group. Titers of Abs to BoHV-1 increase from T0 to T2 (P = 0.034) in VAC (+). Moreover, geometric mean titer (GMT) to BoHV-1 in VAC (+) group was higher than VAC (-) after secondary IR in T2 (P = 0.006). The proportion of the markers T lymphocytes subpopulation (CD3+ , CD4+ , CD8+ and WC1+ ) and B lymphocytes (CD21+ ) were similar in the two experimental groups, while the expression of the CD25+ marker by gamma-delta (WC1+ ) was higher in VAC (+) at T1.Discussion: Low titers of circulating Abs could be observed just for BoHV-1 in the calves from VAC (-) at T0, probably due to remaining Abs from dams transferred by colostrum intake. This fact indicates the need of appropriate vaccination schedules to prevent the virosis in dairy heifers.[...]