Effects of vaccination against foot-and-mouth disease virus on reproductive performance of Bos indicus beef cows

Abstract

This study compared reproductive performance of cows vaccinated against the foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) virus before timed AI or during early pregnancy (Exp. 1), as well as rectal temperature (RT) and plasma concentrations of the acute-phase protein haptoglobin in cattle vaccinated or not against the FMD virus (Exp. 2). Cattle utilized in Exp. 1 and 2 originated from herds with no historical occurrences of FMD and that received vaccination against the FMD virus biannually. In Exp. 1, 604 lactating, multiparous, nonpregnant Nelore cows were randomly assigned on d -31 of the experiment to receive 1) vaccination against the FMD virus on d ≥ 31 (VACPRE; = 291) and 2) vaccination against FMD virus on d 30 (VACGEST; = 313). From d -11 to 0, all cows were assigned to an estrus synchronization + timed AI (d 0) protocol. Pregnancy status to AI was verified on d 30 and 90 via transrectal ultrasonography. A treatment × day interaction was detected ( < 0.01) for pregnancy rates to AI, which were similar ( = 0.17) between VACPRE and VACGEST on d 30 (61.8% vs. 56.2%, respectively; SEM = 2.8) but greater ( < 0.01) for VACPRE on d 90 (59.4% vs. 46.9%, respectively; SEM = 2.8). Pregnancy loss from d 30 to 90 was greater ( < 0.01) in VACGEST compared with VACPRE (16.5% vs. 3.9%, respectively; SEM = 2.2). In Exp. 2, 40 pregnant Nelore females (20 nulliparous and 20 multiparous cows; BCS = 4.73 ± 0.12) were ranked by parity and assigned to receive (VAC; = 20) or not receive (NOVAC; = 20) vaccination against the FMD virus. Blood samples were collected and RT was recorded before (h 0) and 24, 72, 120, and 168 h after treatment administration. Treatment × day interactions were detected ( < 0.01) for RT and plasma haptoglobin. The RT was greater ( < 0.01) in VAC compared with NOVAC at 24 h after treatment administration and was similar ( ≥ 0.31) between treatments at all other sampling hours. Plasma haptoglobin concentration was similar ( = 0.98) between VAC and NOVAC before treatment administration ( = 0.48) and greater ( < 0.01) in VAC at 24, 72, 120, and 168 h after treatment administration. In summary, vaccinating beef cows against the FMD virus resulted in a 4-fold increase in pregnancy loss when the vaccine was administered 30 d after timed AI compared with 31 d before timed AI. These outcomes can be associated with inflammatory and acute-phase reactions elicited by the FMD vaccine, which are known to impair pregnancy maintenance in cattle.

Welfare Benefits of Intradermal Vaccination of Piglets

“…Therefore, the inflammation caused by intramuscular needle-syringe compared to IDAL vaccination resulted in higher levels of CRP and Hp 28 h after vaccination. Needle-free injections have been reported to reduce muscular damage and carcass defects [ 24 , 25 ]. Lower levels of APPs in the IDAL piglets 28 h after vaccination may indicate a reduced inflammation and muscular trauma due to the injection.…”

“…Besides representing a substantial economic loss, the presence of tissue damage at the site of injection in pig carcasses is an indicator that pain occurred. Contrary to Houser et al [ 21 ] who did not report a significant difference in carcass lesions between vaccination methods, carcass defects (such as granuloma, abscess, and fibrosis) resulting from intramuscular injections of vaccines have been reported in some studies [ 24 , 25 ]. Needle-free injections might be expected to prevent possible tissue damage and bacterial contamination caused by needles.…”

Serum concentration of acute phase proteins and cytokines in vaccinated pigs challenged with foot-and-mouth disease virus serotype O

“…In addition, Stenfeldt et al (2011) reported a substantial induction of SAA, haptoglobin, and type 1 interferon in serum samples upon infection, which can be used as a marker of acute FMD virus infection in cattle. Furthermore, plasma haptoglobin was found to be maintained at higher levels in cattle vaccinated against FMD compared with the non-vaccinated control group at 7 dpv (Ferreira et al, 2016). Arthington et al (2013) noted that in both non-vaccinated steers or heifers and those vaccinated against Mannheimia haemolytica, APP (i.e., fibrinogen or haptoglobin) were elevated and plateaued at 3 dpi.…”

Reduction in Lesion Incidence in Pork Carcass Using Transdermal Needle-free Injection of Foot-and-Mouth Disease Vaccine

“…However, the vaccine administered by a needle syringe results in adverse effects such as pain, stress, broken needle residue in the carcass, tissue damage, and incidence of lesions at the injection sites such as neck and ham (Chase et al, 2008). A previous study found lesions such as granuloma, abscess, and fibrosis at the vaccination site in animal carcasses (Ferreira et al, 2016; Yeruham et al, 2001). In addition, Ko et al (2018) reported that the incidence of lesions in pork butt severely increased after FMD vaccination.…”