Abstract
Recent studies have shown that immunization with Streptococcus bovis using Freund's complete adjuvant (FCA) may confer protection against lactic acidosis in sheep. The major objective of this study was to compare the antibody responses to S. bovis in a practically acceptable adjuvant (Freund's incomplete adjuvant (FIA); QuilA; dextran sulphate (Dex); Imject Alum; or Gerbu) and in FCA. Thirty-five sheep were randomly allocated to 7 treatment groups. Six groups were immunized with S. bovis in an adjuvant; the other group served as the non-immunization control. The primary immunization was administered intramuscularly on day 0, followed by a booster injection on day 28. Immunization with FCA induced the highest saliva and serum antibody responses. The saliva antibody concentrations in the FIA and QuilA groups were significantly higher than those in the Alum, Dex and Gerbu groups (p<0.01). The serum antibody concentration in the FIA group was significantly higher than those in the QuilA, Alum, Dex and Gerbu groups (p<0.01). Immunization enhanced the antibody level in faeces (p<0.05), but there was no significant difference between the different adjuvant groups (p>0.05). Seven and 14 days following booster immunization, the saliva antibody levels induced by QuilA and/or FIA were comparable with the level stimulated by FCA (p>0.05). There was a strongly positive correlation (R 2 = 0.770, p<0.01) between the antibody concentrations in saliva and serum. Compared with the controls, a higher faecal dry matter content was observed in the animals immunized with either FCA or QuilA. The change in faecal dry matter content was positively associated with the faecal antibody concentration (R 2 = 0.441, p<0.05). These results indicate that FIA and QuilA were effective at inducing high levels of antibody responses to S. bovis, and suggest that either Freund's incomplete adjuvant or QuilA may be useful for preparing a practically acceptable vaccine against lactic acidosis.
Similar content being viewed by others
REFERENCES
ALFA, 1994. Consumption of Feedstuffs, (AMLC/ALFA survey; Australian Lot-Feeders Association, Sydney)
Ahrens, F.A., 1967. Histamine, lactic acid, and hypertonicity as factors in the development of rumenitis in cattle. American Journal of Veterinary Research, 28, 1335-1342
Allison, M.J., Robinson, I.M., Dougherty, R.W. and Bucklin, J.A., 1975. Grain overload in cattle and sheep: changes in microbial populations in the caecum and rumen. American Journal of Veterinary Research, 36, 181-185
Braun, U., Rihs, T. and Schefer, U., 1992. Ruminal lactic acidosis in sheep and goats. The Veterinary Record, 130, 343-349
Colditz, I.G., Watson, D.L., Gray, G.D. and Eady, S.J., 1996. Some relationships between age, immune responsiveness and resistance to parasites in ruminants. International Journal of Parasitology, 26, 869-879
Curtain, C.C., Clark, B.L. and Dufty, J.H., 1971. The origin of the immunoglobulins in the mucous secretions of cattle. Clinical and Experimental Immunology, 8, 335-344
Dawson, K.A. and Allison, M.J., 1988. Digestive disorders and nutritional toxicity. In: P.N. Hobson (ed.), The Rumen Microbial Ecosystem, (Elsevier Science Publishers, London), 445-459
Edelman, R., 1980. Vaccine adjuvants. Review of Infectious Diseases, 2, 370-383
Feedlot Advisory Unit, 1990. The FeedlotManual, (NSW Agriculture and Fisheries, New SouthWales)
Gill, H.S., Shu, Q. and Leng, R.A., 2000. Immunisation with Streptococcus bovis protects against lactic acidosis in sheep.Vaccine, 18, 2541-2548
Gnanasampanthan, G., 1993. Immune responses of sheep to rumen ciliates and the survival and activity of antibodies in the rumen fluid, (PhD thesis, University of Adelaide, Adelaide)
Klieve, A.V., Heck, G.L., Prance, M.A. and Shu, Q., 1999. Genetic homogeneity and phage susceptibility of ruminal strains of Streptococcus bovis isolated in Australia. Letters in Applied Microbiology, 29, 108-112
Mach, J.P. and Pahud, J.J., 1971. Secretory IgA: a major immunoglobulin in most bovine external secretions. Journal of Immunology, 106, 552-563
McCarthy, R.E., Arnold, L.W. and Babcock, G.F., 1977. Dextran sulphate: an adjuvant for cell-mediated immune responses. Immunology, 32, 963-974
Parra, R., 1978. Comparison of foregut and hindgut fermentation in herbivores. In: G.G. Montgomery (ed.), The Ecology of Arboreal Folivores, (Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington, USA), 205
Rowe, J.B. and Pethick, D.W., 1994. Starch digestion in ruminants–problems, solutions and opportunities. Proceedings of the Nutrition Society of Australia, 18, 40-52
Shu, Q. and Liu, A., 1995. Changes in microbial populations in the rumen of sheep after overfeeding with wheat. In: J.B. Rowe and J.V. Nolan (eds), Recent Advances in Animal Nutrition in Australia, (University of New England, Armidale), 182
Shu, Q., Bird, S.H., Gill, H.S. and Rowe, J.B., 1999a. Immunological cross-reactivity between the vaccine and other isolates of Streptococcus bovis and Lactobacillus. FEMS Immunology and Medical Microbiology, 26, 153-158
Shu, Q., Gill, H.S., Hennessy, D.W., Leng, R.A., Bird, S.H. and Rowe, J.B., 1999b. Immunisation against lactic acidosis in cattle. Research in Veterinary Science, 67, 65-71
Shu, Q., Gill, H.S., Leng, R.A. and Rowe, J.B., 2000a. Immunisation with a Streptococcus bovis vaccine administered by different routes against lactic acidosis in sheep. The Veterinary Journal, 159, 262-269
Shu, Q., Hillard, M.A., Bindon, B.M., Duan, E., Xu, Y., Bird, S.H., Rowe, J.B., Oddy, V.H. and Gill, H.S., 2000b. Effects of various adjuvants on efficacy of a vaccine against Streptococcus bovis and Lactobacillus spp. in cattle. American Journal of Veterinary Research, (in press)
Watson, D.L., 1987. Serological response of sheep to live and killed Staphylococcus aureus vaccines. Vaccine, 5, 275-278
Watson, D.L. and Lascelles, A.K., 1973a. Mechanisms of transfer of immunoglobulins into mammary secretion of ewes. Australian Journal of Experimental Biology and Medical Science, 52, 247-254
Watson, D.L. and Lascelles, A.K., 1973b. Comparisons of immunoglobulin secretion in the salivary and mammary glands of sheep. Australian Journal of Experimental Biology and Medical Science, 52, 255-258
Watson, D.L., Colditz, I.G., Andrew, M., Gill, H.S. and Altmann, K.G., 1994. Age-dependent immune response in Merino sheep. Research in Veterinary Science, 57, 152-158
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Shu, Q., Bird, S., Gill, H. et al. Antibody Response in Sheep Following Immunization with Streptococcus bovis in Different Adjuvants. Vet Res Commun 25, 43–54 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1026757917968
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1026757917968