Rybnikar A., V. Vrzal, J. Chumela: Protective Efficacy of Vaccine Against Bovine Trichophytosis After Intramuscular, Subcutaneous and Intradermal Administration. Acta vet. Bmo, 1997,66:57-60. Protective efficacy of TRICHOBEN A V vaccine against experimental infection with Trichophyton verrllcosum after intramuscular and subcutaneous administration proved satisfactory, the proportions of calves thus protected being 100% and 9.+,7%, respectively. After intradermal administration only 62,S '7c of the calves were protected. Trichophyton verrUCOSllm, mode of vaccination, experimental infection Vaccination of cattle against trichophytosis is a major tool for combatting the disease in a number of European countries (Gudding and Lund 1995). Several commercial vaccines are available. In Russian LTF-130 vaccine (Sarkisov 1976), Polish vaccines Trichovac and Bovitrichovac (Wawrzkiewicz and Chrol 1977, Wawrzkiewicz and Wawrzkiewicz 1984) and Czech vaccines TRICHOBEN and TRICHOBEN AV (R Y b n i kaf et al. 1996) intramuscular administration has been recommended. Our present objective was to find whether a satisfactory protective effect could also be achieved after subcutaneous and intradermal vaccination against trichophytosis. The experiment was carried out with TRICHOBEN A V vaccine containing a living avirulent Trichophyton verrucosum strain. Materials and Methods The protective efficacy ofTRICHOBEN A V vaccine (manufactured by Bioveta. pIc., Ivanovice na Ham~, Czech Republic) was tested using the challenge method similarly to the procedure used in our previous report (Rybnik:H etaI.1993). The experimental animals were 4-to-6-week-old calves of the Bohemian Pied breed, in good health and nutritional status. kept under the stanchion barn system. They were divided into the following four groups: Group I animals were vaccinated intramuscularly twice into the gluteal muscle. Group 2 animals were vaccinated subcutaneously twice in the neck region. Group 3 animals were vaccinated intradermally twice in the neck region. The vaccine used in these three groups was TRICHOBEN A V of the same batch. In Groups I and 2 it was administered in prophylactic doses of 2,5 ml per animal. Group 3 animals were vaccinated at the rate of 0.25 ml per animal, the inoculated amount of the vaccination strain being the same as in Groups I and 2 (use was made of ten times concentrated vaccine). The interval between the vaccinations was 14 days in all three groups. Group 4 animals were not vaccinated and served as controls. Thirty days after revaccination all the vaccinated animals and non-vaccinated controls were each challenged by epicutanous inoculation of the suspension of T. verrllCOSlIm challenge culture at the rate of 5 million CFU into a 10 x 10 cm clipped and gently scarified area of the right flank. The animals were then observed for clinical skin changes twice to three times a week for 32 days after challenge. At the end of the experiment skin lesion specimens were collected from clinically positive calves and examined by culture and microscopically (Rybnikar et al. 1993). 58 Results The results are presented in Table 1 showing, for the sake of clarity, only the data concerning the major phases of the experiment, i.e. the onset of clinical skin mycotic changes (day 14 after challenge), their spread in the controls and disappearance in the majority of the vaccinated calves (day 23 after challenge) and the outcome of the final examination (day 32 after challenge). Table I Test of the protectin efficacy of TRICHOBEN A V vaccine after intramuscular, subcutaneous and intradermal administration Mode Clinical skin changes after cpal\enge. No. calves No. of Group immunianiDay 14 Day 23 zation mals ± + ++ I Intramus20 10 5 5 0 cular 2 Subcuta19 10 5 4 0 neus 3 Intra16 2 8 6 0 dermal 4 Control 14 6 7 1 0 group No skin mycotic changes. ± Minute skin changes, scales. papillae. + Solitary alopetic foci. +++ ±