Influence of Route of Vaccine Administration Against Experimental Intramammary Infection Caused by Escherichia coli

¹ Hill Farm Research Station, Louisiana Agricultural Experiment Station, Louisiana State University Agricultural Center, Route 1, Box 10, Homer 71040
² Merial Limited, 115 Transtech Drive, Athens, GA 30601

The route of immunization of a commercially available Escherichia coli J5 bacterin was investigated. Jersey cows were randomly assigned to one of three treatment groups: 1) unvaccinated (control), 2) vaccinated subcutaneously in the neck, and 3) vaccinated in the area of the supramammary lymph node. Cows were vaccinated at drying off and at 2 wk prior to anticipated calving. Two quarters of each cow were challenged with approximately 60 cfu of E. coli at 14 d postcalving. Route of immunization in the neck or the area of the supramammary lymph node did not influence severity of coliform mastitis. However, the mean number of colony-forming units of E. coli recovered from challenged quarters was significantly lower for vaccinated cows than for control cows at 24 h postchallenge. A quicker milk yield recovery following intramammary challenge was also observed for vaccinated cows. Serum immunoglobulin (Ig) G, IgG₁, and IgG₂ and whey IgG₁ and IgG₂ antibody titers against E. coli J5 whole-cell antigens were significantly enhanced in vaccinated cows. Somatic cell counts in milk from challenged quarters and rectal temperatures following intramammary challenge were not different for cows across treatment groups. Immunization did not prevent intramammary infection.

Key Words: immunization • supramammary lymph node • mastitis • Escherichia coli J5

Submitted on December 22, 1997
Accepted on March 23, 1998

This article has been cited by other articles:

				J. S. Hogan, V. B. Cannon, K. L. Smith, C. Rinehart, and S. Miller Effects of Adjuvants on Safety and Efficacy of an Escherichia coli J5 Bacterin J Dairy Sci, February 1, 2005; 88(2): 534 - 542. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]