Bovine veneral vibriosis: cure of genital infection in females by systemic immunization

Abstract

Cure of female cattle with venereal vibriosis by systemic immunization with killed Campylobacter fetus cells in incomplete Freund adjuvant was investigated. Heifers infected in the cervicovaginal area with a cloned population of C. fetus venerealis were vaccinated subcutaneously 14 and 24 days thereafter with the infecting strain in incomplete Freund adjuvant. Six of eight vaccinated heifers were free of infection 25 to 48 days postinfection. One of the cured animals had an intercurrent infection which precluded interpretation of a vaccine effect. All controls remained infected 48 to 51 days postinfection, when the experiment was terminated. In vaccinated animals, agglutination titers against whole cells of the infecting strain reached peaks varying from 1,280 to 20,480 in serum and from 20 to 5,120 in cervicovaginal mucus (CVM) within days 24 to 32 postinfection. No consistent relationship was noted between levels of whole cell antibodies in serum and those in CVM. Evidence for the occurrence of antigenic variation in the organism after vaccination was sought by comparing the agglutinability of the infecting strain and CVM isolates in serum and CVM extracts. Serum samples of most cured heifers agglutinated whole cells prepared from isolates of the respective heifers to the same extent as cells of the infecting strain. In the corresponding comparisons, those from noncured animals agglutinated isolates to lower titers. CVM extracts from one cured animals agglutinated isolates derived from the same or closely spaced CVM samples to titers comparable with those obtained with the infecting strain. In the remaining animals, CVM extracts which agglutinated the infecting strain produced lower or undetectable reactions with corresponding isolates. It is proposed that the elimination of infection is dependent upon opposing responses of host and parasite, of which the degree of antigenic alteration in the infecting strain and the rate of mobilization and the concentration of specific antibodies in the genital secretions are key factors.

Adherence of Tritrichomonas foetus to bovine vaginal epithelial cells

“…The host does overcome the infection in time, and this elimination by the immune system can be enhanced by increasing IgG antibody responses. This has been done by systemic passive protection with serum antibody (12) and by active systemic immunization (14,22,25,42,43). In fact, systemic immunization has been used to cure cows persistently infected with C. fetus (42,43).…”

“…This has been done by systemic passive protection with serum antibody (12) and by active systemic immunization (14,22,25,42,43). In fact, systemic immunization has been used to cure cows persistently infected with C. fetus (42,43). A similar prophylactic and/or therapeutic approach may be useful for trichomoniasis, since T. foetus and C. fetus cause similar extracellular infections of the bovine female reproductive tract, causing predominantly mild inflammation, transient infertility, and vaginal carrier states.…”

“…A similar prophylactic and/or therapeutic approach may be useful for trichomoniasis, since T. foetus and C. fetus cause similar extracellular infections of the bovine female reproductive tract, causing predominantly mild inflammation, transient infertility, and vaginal carrier states. We have previously shown that systemic immunization protects against Campylobacter infection of the bovine vagina and uterus (22,25,43), so there is a basis for expecting that systemic immunization with surface antigens of T. foetus also will protect the bovine reproductive tract against trichomoniasis.…”

PHYSIOLOGY AND ENDOCRINOLOGY SYMPOSIUM: Uterine infection: Linking infection and innate immunity with infertility in the high-producing dairy cow1,2

“…Indeed, during and after parturition, bacteria readily ascend the female genital tract into the uterus. While the majority of bacterial infection occurs in the postpartum animal, venereal transmitted pathogens including Tritrichomonas foetus and Campylobacter fetus can cause moderate persistent inflammation of 4 the uterus and result in increased pregnancy losses (Corbeil et al, 1975;Schurig et al, 1975;Parsonson et al, 1976;Skirrow and BonDurant, 1990). Similarly, hygiene standards at AI have also been shown impact bacterial contamination and to reduce the likelihood of pregnancy (Bas et al, 2011).…”

Specific antibody to Haemophilus somnus in the bovine uterus following intramuscular immunization

“…Cattle immunized systemically with Campylobacter fetus subsp. venerealis were demonstrated to have specific antibodies in their uterine and cervicovaginal secretions and were protected against genital infection (11,12). Antibody-producing cells are present in the bovine uterus (4), but the relative contributions to antibody in local secretions from circulating antibody and from local synthesis are not known.…”