Short communication: Characterization of the serologic response induced by vaccination of late-gestation cows with a Salmonella Dublin vaccine

Abstract

Diarrhea due to Salmonella infection is an important cause of neonatal calf diarrhea. The acquisition of passive immunity in the calf by vaccinating the dam has shown some success in previous studies; however, no data exists on the use of currently licensed vaccines in the United States. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine whether vaccinating cows in late gestation with a commercially available Salmonella Dublin vaccine would stimulate Salmonella-specific antibodies in the colostrum of cows at calving and whether these antibodies would be transferred to the calf. Thirty Holstein cows were vaccinated 3 wk before the end of lactation with a Salmonella enterica serovar Dublin vaccine, with a second dose given at dry-off. An additional 30 cows received only saline. Calves had a blood sample collected immediately after birth and were then fed fresh colostrum from their dam within 2 h of calving. A postcolostrum blood sample was collected 24 to 48 h later. Salmonella Dublin antibodies in colostrum as well as serum from the cows and calves were measured using an ELISA technique. Results of this study showed that vaccinated cattle had elevated Salmonella Dublin antibody titers at the time of calving (40.3 ± 9.1) as compared with control cows (-9.4 ± 1.1). Calves that received colostrum from vaccinated cattle also had a significant increase in Salmonella Dublin antibodies (88.5 ± 8.9) as compared with calves born to unvaccinated cows (-3.2 ± 1.2). This study demonstrated that the use of a commercially available Salmonella Dublin vaccine can stimulate antibodies that are passed on to the calf via colostral transfer. Further studies need to be done to determine whether these antibodies will offer protection against Salmonella challenge.

Exploratory cohort study to determine if dry cow vaccination with aSalmonellaNewport bacterin can protect dairy calves against oralSalmonellachallenge

“…Yet, as shown in previous studies, 8,9 administration of Salmonella vaccines during the dry period can induce significant increases in both colostral titers and serum titers in calves fed this colostrum from vaccinated cows. Despite the increased titers in VAX calves, we found no evidence of protection after inoculation with Salmonella Typhimurium.…”

Salmonella in Dairy Cattle

“…9 This product can stimulate colostral antibody production when given to dry cows and was not associated with any adverse reactions when given to late pregnant animals. 59 The vaccinated cohort in this study were from a farm with no clinical history of salmonellosis in recent years. 59…”

“…59 The vaccinated cohort in this study were from a farm with no clinical history of salmonellosis in recent years. 59…”

Sensitivity, specificity and predictive probability values of serum agglutination test titres for the diagnosis ofSalmonellaDublin culture-positive bovine abortion and stillbirth

“…Significant antibody titres to Salmonella may be present in animals because of vaccination (Smith, Smith, Zuidhof, & Foster, ). To avoid the influence of vaccinal antibodies in the model, the observations incorporated into the data set were from herds which had not been vaccinated against S .…”