Neutralizing antibodies to bovine herpesviruses types 1 (BHV-1) and 5 (BHV-5) induced by an experimental, oil-adjuvanted, BHV-1 vaccine

Abstract

An experimental oil-adjuvanted, inactivated vaccine against bovine herpesvirus type 1 (BHV-1.1), was produced and evaluated in its capacity to induce neutralizing antibodies against bovine herpesvirus type 1 (BHV-1, subtypes 1.1 and 1.2) and bovine herpesvirus type 5 (BHV-5). Cattle were vaccinated and revaccinated 90 days later. Antibodies were measured at days 0, 30, 90, 120, 180, 270 and 450 days after the first dose of vaccine (DPV). Antibody titres to BHV-1.1 and BHV-1.2 were significantly higher than to BHV-5 throughout the experiment. While all calves seroconverted to BHV-1.1 and BHV-1.2 after the first dose of vaccine, only two out of 23 (8,7%) calves seroconverted to BHV-5. However, after the booster injection all animals seroconverted to the three virus types. At 450 DPV, 79% (15/19 cattle) and 84% (16/19) were still positive for antibodies to BHV 1.1 and BHV 1.2, whereas 50% (10/19) of the calves remained seropositive for BHV-5. It was concluded that although a potent BHV-1 vaccine may induce crossreactive neutralizing antibodies to BHV-5, the levels of such antibodies are significantly lower and of shorter duration than antibodies to BHV-1.1 or BHV-1.2.