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ARS Home » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #85218
Title: EFFECT OF MICROENCAPSULATION OF ANTIGEN ON BOVINE ANTIBODY ISOTYPE AND AVIDITY

Author
item OBRIEN, CELIA - UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND
item Guidry, Albert
item WESTOFF, D - UNIV OF MARYLAND

Submitted to: Journal of Dairy Science
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/15/1997
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: Currently available vaccines require several injections to produce and effective immune response. This is impracticle under most livestock management systems. The single injection vaccine protocol reported in this study yielded an effective immune response that lasted one year. It also resulted in more potent antibodies that would be more effective in preventing disease caused by the organisms included in the vaccine. This vaccine protocol will allow farmers and ranchers to vaccinate their livestock with a single injection of vaccine, that could be scheduled during routine management practices, i.e., breeding, castration, weaning, etc. It may also be used effectively in wildlife management, particularly with regard to endangered species.

Technical Abstract: Conventional vaccination protocols require multiple injections of vaccine. Vaccine delivery systems that give a large initial dose of vaccine and continue to supply smaller doses of antigen over long periods of time are replacing the booster injections associated with conventional vaccine protocols. Single injection vaccine protocols are especially desirable in farm operations, i.e., cattle, sheep, swine, etc. and wildlife management. This study was conducted to determine the effect of antigen in poly (D,L-lactide-co-glycolide) biodegradable microspheres on duration, isotype and affinity/avidity of the antibody response in the cow. Four cows each were injected with microspheres containing mouse gamma globulin - two with microspheres suspended in NaCl and two with microspheres emulsified in FICA. Cows were monitored for 52 weeks. Only cows immunized with microspheres in FICA elicited an antibody response. Antibody titers rose rapidly then decreased slightly, but remained significantly higher than prebleed to the end of the study. As antibody titers decreased antibody avidity increased steadily to the end of the study. There was a highly significant increase in IgG1 > IgG2 > IgM. Cows immunized with antigen in microspheres in NaCl showed no response.