Evaluation of a quadrivalent inactivated vaccine for the protection of cattle against diseases due to common viral infections : research report

J.R Patel

doi:10.4102/jsava.v75i3.469

Abstract

Efficacy of an inactivated quadrivalent vaccine containing infectious bovine rhinotracheitis (IBR) virus, parainfluenza type 3 (PI3) virus, bovine virus diarrhoea virus (BVDV) and bovine respiratory syncytial virus (BRSV) was assessed in naive bovine calves to evaluate short-term (4-18 weeks) and long-term (24-38 weeks) protection following the basic intramuscular vaccination regime of 2 inoculations a month apart. Vaccination was staggered between the long-term and the short-term groups by about 5 months so that both groups, along with a matched group of 6 unvaccinated (control) calves, could be challenged at the same time. Sequential challenges at intervals of 3-8 weeks were done in the order: IBR virus (intranasally, IN), PI3 virus (IN and intratracheally, IT), pestiviruses (IN) and BRSV (IN and IT). The IBR virus challenge produced febrile rhinotracheitis (FRT) in control calves but both the severity and the duration of FRT was significantly reduced in both vaccinated groups. The amount and the duration of IBR virus shed by the vaccinated groups was significantly reduced compared to the control group. Although PI3 virus, pooled pestivirus and BRSV challenges did not result in a noteworthy disease, challenge virus shedding (amount and duration) from the upper (all 3 viruses) and the lower (BRSV) respiratory tracts was significantly reduced in vaccinated groups. After pestivirus challenge, sera and leukocytes from all control calves were infectious for 6-9 days whereas virus was recovered only from leukocytes in vaccinated calves and only for 1.6-2.7 days. Thus a standard course of the quadrivalent vaccine afforded a significant protection against IBR virus, PI3 virus, BVDV and BRSV for at least 6 months.

Highlights

In those countries where the raising of cattle has a high economic priority, requiring intensive methods of animal husbandry, respiratory disease in young and adult cattle and infectious reproductive disorders in breeding animals are a major cause of economic loss
bovine virus diarrhoea virus (BVDV) is a common cause of abortions and infertility, and some strains of BVDV could cause severe disease characterised by pyrexia, a marked thrombocytopaenia, profuse diarrhoea, dehydration and even deaths3,6
This paper documents the quality of short and long-term protection afforded by a quadrivalent inactivated bovine vaccine containing infectious bovine rhinotracheitis (IBR) virus, parainfluenza type 3 (PI3) virus, bovine respiratory syncytial virus (BRSV) and BVDV

Summary

Introduction

In those countries where the raising of cattle has a high economic priority, requiring intensive methods of animal husbandry, respiratory disease in young and adult cattle and infectious reproductive disorders in breeding animals are a major cause of economic loss. There are several viruses that commonly infect the bovine respiratory and/or reproductive tract. IBR virus, PI3 virus, BVDV and BRSV are generally considered as important in the aetiology of bovine. IBR virus and BVDV are significant causes of transplacental infections and reproductive losses. Only IBR virus consistently produces febrile respiratory disease natural infections by PI3 virus and BRSV are well-documented causes of severe respiratory disease in cattle. The naturally occurring respiratory disease and bovine pneumonia are considered to be a multi-aetiology syndrome and the best understood interaction in the disease process is that between the primary IBR virus infection and secondary Pasteurella spp. infection in shipping fever. The vaccine is the 1st example of a polyvalent cattle vaccine containing BRSV antigen from a persistently infected, viable bovine cell line

Methods

Results

Conclusion