ARS | Publication request: SEROLOGIC RESPONSES, BIOSAFETY AND CLEARANCE OF BRUCELLA ABORTUS STRAIN RB51 IN 7 MONTH OLD BISON

Submitted to: Research Workers in Animal Diseases Conference Proceedings
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: November 12, 1996
Publication Date: N/A

Technical Abstract: To determine the clearance of Brucella abortus strain RB51 (SRB51), 10 bison were subcutaneously vaccinated in the cervical region with 1.22 x 10(10) CFU SRB51 at 7 months of age. Four bison were SQ vaccinated with saline and housed with the SRB51-vaccinates. Serologic responses were monitored up to 24 weeks post-infection (PI) by use of a dot-blot assay. Clearance of SRB51 from the prescapular lymph node was evaluated in 4 vaccinates and 1 control at 6, 12, 18 and 24 weeks PI. To evaluate shedding of the SRB51 vaccine, nasal, conjunctival, vaginal and rectal swabs were obtained from all bison at 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 12, 18 and 24 weeks PI. Blood cultures were also evaluated in all bison at 2, 4, 6 and 8 weeks PI. Humoral responses were demonstrated in all SRB51-vaccinated bison but not in controls. Culture of biopsies from the prescapular lymph node indicated that SRB51 persisted in some animals until 18 weeks PI. The only culture- positive blood sample was in 1 SRB51-vaccinated bison at 2 weeks PI. SRB5 was not recovered at any time from vaginal, rectal, conjunctival, or nasal swabs obtained from SRB51-vaccinated or non-vaccinated bison. The results of this study suggest that SRB51 is safe as it was not shed from calfhood- vaccinated bison or spread to non-vaccinated bison. Our data also indicate indicates that most bison clear SRB51 from the draining lymph node between 18 and 24 weeks PI.