Effectiveness of a cytolysin-enriched vaccine for protection of cattle against infectious bovine keratoconjunctivitis

Abstract

To determine the immunogenicity of a Moraxella bovis cytolysin-enriched vaccine for prevention of infectious bovine keratoconjunctivitis (IBK). 104 mixed-breed beef calves ranging between 4 and 8 months of age. Vaccines were prepared by the diafiltration of broth culture supernatant from hemolytic M bovis or sterile media. The diafiltered retentate was combined with Quil A adjuvant. Calves were randomly assigned to receive either the cytolysin vaccine (n = 35) or, as controls, adjuvant (35) or saline (0.9% NaCl) solution (34). Eyes of all calves were examined weekly for signs of IBK for 15 weeks. Calves that developed severe IBK were treated SC with florfenicol. Cytolysin vaccine contained 4 proteins with molecular masses ranging between 65 and 90 kd. Cytolysin-vaccinated calves had fewer instances of IBK than control calves. The time of onset of corneal lesions in cytolysin-vaccinated calves that developed IBK was delayed, compared with that of calves in either control group. The cytolysin-Quil A vaccine contained endotoxin, but calves did not have clinical signs of illness after vaccination. Calves that were vaccinated with a cytolysin-enriched vaccine had some resistance to IBK. Vaccines containing concentrated diafiltered M bovis cytolysin could protect beef calves against IBK.