ARS | Publication request: 1,25-DIHYDROXYVITAMIN D3 ENHANCES MILK ANTIBODY TITERS IN COWS VACCINATED WITH A J-5 VACCINE.

Submitted to: American Dairy Science Association Proceedings
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: March 8, 1996
Publication Date: N/A

Technical Abstract: 1,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D3 has been shown to be an immunomodulatory agent. Recent evidence in cattle and mice has suggested that 1,25- dihydroxyvitamin D3 may stimulate T-lymphocyte differentiation pathways responsible for humoral immunity (TH2). 1,25- Dihydroxyvitamin D3 was tested as an adjuvant for Escherichia coli J-5 vaccine. Ten mid-lactation cows received 2 ml of a commercial J-5 vaccine and were re-vaccinated 6 wk after the 1st vaccine administration. Five cows received 200 ug of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 with the primary vaccine, and received an additional 200 ug intramuscularly of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 1 wk after the primary vaccination. No 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 was administered with the 6- wk vaccine boosters. Mean IgM J-5 titers were 2 times higher in cows receiving 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 than in control vaccinated cows. These differences persisted for the duration of the 8-wk study. 1,25- Dihydroxyvitamin D3 also increased milk IgG J-5 titers. Mean IgG titers were 8 times higher in 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3-treated cows than in control cows at 2 and 8 wk postvaccination. Milk IgA J-5 titers tended to be higher in cows receiving 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 as an adjuvant from wk 2 to 6. These data suggest that 1,25- dihydroxyvitamin D3 significantly enhances cow antibody responses to J-5 vaccine.