Abstract
Mastitis is a major problem in dairy farming. Vaccine prevention of mammary bacterial infections is of particular interest in helping to deal with this issue, all the more so as antibacterial drug inputs in dairy farms must be reduced. Unfortunately, the effectiveness of current vaccines is not satisfactory. In this review, we examine the possible reasons for the current shortcomings of mastitis vaccines. Some reasons stem from the peculiarities of the mammary gland immunobiology, others from the pathogens adapted to the mammary gland niche. Infection does not induce sterilizing protection, and recurrence is common. Efficacious vaccines will have to elicit immune mechanisms different from and more effective than those induced by infection. We propose focusing our research on a few points pertaining to either the current immune knowledge or vaccinology approaches to get out of the current deadlock. A possible solution is to focus on the contribution of cell-mediated immunity to udder protection based on the interactions of T cells with the mammary epithelium. On the vaccinology side, studies on the orientation of the immune response by adjuvants, the route of vaccine administration and the delivery systems are among the keys to success.
Highlights
Are Efficacious Mastitis Vaccines Feasible?Bacterial infections of the mammary gland (MG) are a major issue in dairy cows
The question that arises is: can we design new approaches to achieve protection against MG infection through vaccination? Some scientists have asserted that the notion of rational vaccine design is a bogus claim in the current state of knowledge of the immune system and host-pathogen interactions [3]: the rational design of vaccines would be a notion developed by smooth talkers
A similar position was stated in the late 1970s: “Currently the attitude is of exasperated optimism” [4], and the possibility of developing a vaccine against Staphylococcus aureus mastitis has been doubted
Summary
Bacterial infections of the mammary gland (MG) are a major issue in dairy cows. It is the most common reason for antimicrobial use in dairy farms [1]. We must seek to obtain a bacteriological cure (Figure 1) To help improve such an unfortunate state of affairs, the idea that vaccine development would benefit from the injection of more immunology knowledge into empirical vaccinology has been put forward [5]. Several reasons render the development of efficacious mastitis vaccines difficult. Would new advances in immunology and vaccinology make the possible advent of more efficacious vaccines to prevent or even cure mastitis? In a preceding review of the mastitis vaccines that aim to cope with staphylococcal, streptococcal, and coliform bacteria, one common theme was the diversity of surface antigens displayed by the pathogens [2]. It is worth noting that there is no guarantee of proper orientation of the immune response and protective activity associated with such antigens
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
