The response of vaccinated rams to experimental challenge using Brucella ovis

Authors: Bailey KM, Cooper BS, Bruere AN, West DM
Publication: New Zealand Veterinary Journal, Volume 36, Issue 2, pp 70-72, Jun 1988
Publisher: Taylor and Francis

Animal type: Livestock, Production animal, Ruminant, Sheep
Subject Terms: Animal remedies/veterinary medicines, Bacterial, Disease/defect, Infectious disease, Notifiable organisms/exotic disease, Reproduction, Immune system/immunology, Reproduction - male, Research/development, Vaccination, Zoonosis, Public health
Article class: Scientific Article

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Abstract: One hundred and thirty eight rams were allocated to four experimental groups. An inactivated1 Br. ovis vaccine was administered either once by the intraperitoneal route (1 i/p), twice by the intraperitoneal route (2 i/p), or twice by the subcutaneous route (2 s/c), and the last group was left unvaccinated. They were then challenged by the intravenous inoculation of between 123 and 1.23 x 10⁸ live Br. ovis bacteria. The number of rams that succumbed to infection within the four groups was 4135 (11%) for the 2 s/c, 7133 (21%) for the 2 i/p, 9135 (26%) for the 1 i/p and 18135 (51%) for the unvaccinated rams. Vaccination reduced the number of rams that succumbed to experimental challenge and although there were differences between the vaccinated groups, these were not statistically significant. Following challenge, unvaccinated rams were the first to excrete Br. ovis in their semen three weeks following inoculation. Next, those vaccinated by either one or two doses by the intraperitoneal technique began to excrete the organism (five weeks) and then finally those rams vaccinated twice by the subcutaneous route (seven weeks).

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