Milk and serum J5-specific antibody responses, milk production change and clinical effects following intramammary Escherichia coli challenge for J5 vaccinate and control cows

Document Type

Article

Journal/Book Title/Conference

Clin and Vaccine Immunol

Volume

14

Issue

6

Publisher

American Society for Microbiology

Publication Date

2007

First Page

693

Last Page

699

Abstract

Holstein dairy cows (four J5 vaccinates and four controls) selected for no recorded intramammary disease and low somatic cell count (SCC) during the previous lactation were challenged by intramammary infusion of Escherichia coli. Vaccination with J5 was at 8 weeks and again 4 weeks before the anticipated calving date. Cows were challenged at 8 to 16 days in milk (DIM). Shedding of E. coli in milk was significantly higher among controls than vaccinates (no shedding) from 6 h to 21 h postchallenge. From 21 h to 132 h postchallenge, SCC in challenged quarters of controls (5,429,000/ml) was significantly higher than that of vaccinates (490,000/ml). On the day after challenge, milk production in control cows was 8 kg less, while vaccinates gained 0.5 kg, a significant difference. In serum immediately prior to challenge, J5-specific immunoglobulin G1 (IgG1) was significantly higher, IgG2 was nearly significantly higher, and IgM was the same in J5 vaccinates relative to controls. Vaccinates had proportionally more IgG2 in serum postcalving and in the first 12 h following challenge and less IgG2 in milk 24 h after challenge than the controls, approaching statistical significance. The ratio of J5-specific IgG1 and IgG2 combined compared to IgM was significantly higher in vaccinates than in controls in prechallenge serum (ratios of 15.8 and 3.2, respectively) and milk (5.0 and 1.3, respectively). Cows with higher IgM titers in milk 12 h postchallenge produced significantly less milk. Vaccination with J5 was significantly associated with higher production of J5-specific IgG1 and IgG2 in early lactation, reduced SCC, faster clearance of E. coli from milk, and less milk production loss following intramammary challenge.

Bovine coliform mastitis is most commonly caused by Escherichia coli and Klebsiella spp. (16, 21, 30, 32). Coliform mastitis can cause abnormal milk, milk production loss, treatment costs, and death of cattle (20, 21, 30).

Vaccination against coliform mastitis with J5 bacterins has been used in the dairy industry for more than 15 years (10, 15). However, the effects of J5 immunization on the bovine mammary immune response have not yet been fully explained (3, 12). It is not clear whether J5 vaccination results in J5 E. coli-specific immunoglobulin M (IgM), IgG1, or IgG2 antibody production or in changes in their relative proportions produced in milk or serum or whether such changes are associated with resistance to coliform mastitis (1, 5, 17, 19, 28, 32). It is generally accepted that either IgM, IgG2, or both isotypes are particularly important in opsonization of bacteria for polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMN) phagocytosis, and increases in these antibodies against the target mastitis pathogens are desired goals of vaccination against mastitis (1, 5).

The primary objectives were to evaluate a commercial J5 vaccine for protection against E. coli challenge and to statistically test for associations between J5 vaccination, outcome measures of clinical mastitis (CM) severity, and J5-specific IgG1, IgG2, and IgM antibodies in milk and serum before and after challenge.

Comments

Clin and Vaccine Immunol 14:6:693-699, 2007

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