Temporal trends in antibody production in captive grey, harp and hooded seals to a single administration immunocontraceptive vaccine

Abstract

The temporal production of antibody to a single-administration immunocontraceptive vaccine, known to be immunocontraceptive in free-ranging female grey seals ( Halichoerus grypus), was studied in captive grey seals, harp seals ( Phoca groenlandica) and hooded seals ( Cystophora cristata). The vaccine is based on liposome delivery of porcine zona pellucida antigens. When measured by antigen capture, the response of hooded and harp seals to the vaccine was similar to the response of grey seals. Determination of antibody production by ELISA with protein A, ELISA with rabbit anti-seal immunoglobulin sera and SDS-PAGE after affinity chromatography confirmed the similarity in response to the vaccine by grey and harp seals, but suggested lower titers in hooded seals. The vaccine produced titers in captive, juvenile grey and harp seals known to be immunocontraceptive in wild, adult grey seals.