The study was conducted to prepare and evaluate the use of autogenous vaccine from Avibacterium paragallinarum (strain Tan 1-05) in layer chickens. The results showed that all chickens vaccinated with autogenous vaccine with 10(8)CFU/mL in aluminum phosphate gel developed MAT antibodies (GMT of 2.8 log2 to 5.3 log2) against A. paragallinarum infection. Moreover, the results indicated that all chickens (n=6) selected from vaccinated chickens were protected against A. paragallinarum infection after challenge. No A. paragallinarum was isolated from these chickens. Nevertheless, all unvaccinated chickens did not develop antibodies, and all selected unvaccinated chickens (n=6) showed clinical signs consistent with infectious coryza (IC) where two of them died from the disease after challenge. The findings from the present and previous studies showed that the development of an inactivated IC vaccine from local strains if optimized and adopted may be the best possible way of controlling this economically important poultry disease.

The carbohydrate fermentation, antimicrobial drug resistance and serological properties of 40 isolates of Haemophilus paragallinarum from outbreaks of infectious coryza in Mexico are described. Four biochemical biovariants and five antimicrobial drug resistance patterns were recognized. All isolates were serotyped by the Page scheme, with 21 isolates being assigned to serogroup A, five isolates to serogroup B and 14 isolates to serogroup C.

It is suggested that Haemophilus paragallinarum requires at least three haemagglutinins for adhesion during infection. This paper reports the partial purification and characterization of the HA-L haemagglutinin from H. paragallinarum strain 46-C3, a heat sensitive, trypsin sensitive haemagglutinin that has been shown to be the serovar specific haemagglutinin in this organism. Using the pl and molecular mass obtained, it was shown that this protein shares similarities with other types of adhesins found in Gram-negative bacteria. The haemagglutination assay conditions were optimized at pH 7.5 at 37 degrees C. It was also shown that activity is enhanced by the addition of Ca2+ and Mn2+ ions.

Four monovalent experimental vaccines (VI, V2, V3 and V7) containing an Argentinean serovar B strain (H8) of Haemophilus paragallinarum and three different commercial vaccines, either bivalent (V4 and V5) containing serovars A and C, or trivalent (V6) containing serovars A, B and C were administered by subcutaneous or intramuscular routes as a single or double dose (at 3-week intervals) to chickens of between 6 and 10 weeks. Three to 7 weeks after the last vaccination, vaccinated and non-vaccinated chickens were challenged by intrasinus inoculation with Argentinean serovar B strains of H. paragallinarum. When the vaccinated chickens were exposed to a severe challenge with the vaccinal strain (H8) some experimental vaccines protected, whereas all commercial vaccines failed to protect. The experimental vaccines manufactured in broth (V2, V3 and V7) protected more effectively than the vaccine produced in chicken embryos (VI). Failure of the commercial trivalent vaccine V6 to protect may be related to the method of manufacture. Vaccine V7 protected against challenge from either the vaccinal strain (H8) or three Argentinean serovar B strains (H6, Hll and HI2). These results confirm the necessity of including serovar B regional strains in the formulation of local vaccines.

The biochemical and serological properties of 11 isolates of Haemophilus paragallinarum from outbreaks of infectious coryza in the People's Republic of China are described. All 11 isolates had the typical biochemical properties of H. paragallinarum, and all belonged to Page serovar A.

The biochemical and serological properties of Haemophilus paragallinarum isolates recovered from 11 recent outbreaks of infectious coryza in layer hens and one case of swollen-head syndrome in broilers in Argentina are described. Twenty-four isolates had the typical biochemical properties of H. paragallinarum. All isolates were serotyped according to the Page scheme. Ten of the isolates were serovar A, 11 were serovar B, one was serovar C, and two isolates could not be serotyped. The isolates were also examined using a panel of monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) for Page serovars A (one MAb available) and C (three MAbs available). The serovar B isolates all failed to react with any MAb. The serovar C isolate reacted with all three serovar C MAbs but not with the serovar A MAb. Only six of the 10 serovar A isolates reacted with the serovar A MAb. These results indicate that H. paragallinarum isolates from Argentina are antigenically distinct from those examined in other countries, and it is suggested that coryza vaccines intended for use in Argentina may be more effective if based on local strains.

The biochemical and serological properties of 29 isolates of avian haemophili obtained from chickens in Brazil are described. Twenty-seven of the isolates had the typical biochemical properties of Haemophilus paragallinarum. The two remaining isolates had the typical properties of Pasteurella avium, formerly known as Haemophilus avium. All of the H. paragallinarum isolates were serotyped according to the Page scheme using a hemagglutination-inhibition test. Fourteen of the isolates were serovar A, one was serovar B, 11 were serovar C, and one isolate could not be serotyped. The isolates were also examined using a panel of monoclonal antibodies for Page serovars A (one monoclonal antibody available) and C (three monoclonal antibodies available). As expected, the serovar B isolate failed to react with any monoclonal antibody, whereas the 11 serovar C isolates reacted with all three serovar C monoclonal antibodies but not with the serovar A monoclonal antibody. Only eight of the 14 serovar A isolates reacted with the serovar A monoclonal antibody.

Seventeen complicated outbreaks of infectious coryza in layer, broiler-breeder, and broiler flocks were studied. In the layer flock outbreaks, drops in egg production of up to 35% were seen. In the broiler flocks and several of the layer flocks, losses due to persistent mortality and/or culling varied between 2 and 5%. Signs of infectious coryza in both layers and broiler-breeders were typical; in broilers, however, swollen head-like syndrome was seen. Except in one flock, no viral diseases were clinically or serologically detected. Excluding broiler-breeders, birds from most other flocks were serologically positive for Mycoplasma gallisepticum, and some were also positive for M. synoviae. Haemophilus paragallinarum was isolated from all of the outbreaks, but only as a pure culture in three outbreaks. Isolation of H. paragallinarum from sites such as liver, kidney, and particularly tarsal arthritis and ocular globes appears to be reported for the first time. Serovar A was isolated in eight outbreaks, serovar B in six, serovar C in one, and untypable serovars in two. The severity of these infectious coryza outbreaks may have been increased by concurrent salmonellosis, pasteurellosis, and mycoplasmosis, although under certain conditions H. paragallinarum is able to cause septicemia. Ten of the outbreaks occurred in birds vaccinated against infectious coryza; this may be due to the use of vaccines that do not provide protection against the types of H. paragallinarum that affect poultry in the region.

Inactivated infectious coryza vaccines containing different adjuvants were administered to 6-week-old chickens as a single dose containing 10(8) colony-forming units of Haemophilus paragallinarum HP31. After 3 weeks, all chickens were challenged by intrasinus inoculation of HP31. Two vaccines, one containing an aluminum-hydroxide adjuvant and the other a combined aluminum-hydroxide + avridine (a lipoidal amine) adjuvant, were effective. The three remaining vaccines--containing mineral-oil double-emulsion, avridine, or a combination of mineral-oil double-emulsion + avridine--gave much lower levels of protection. No adverse reactions were seen with any vaccine.

Ninety-five isolates of Haemophilus paragallinarum were classified serologically by a hemagglutinin serotyping scheme, and the results were compared with results from agglutinin serotyping of the same isolates. Of the isolates, 65 were from Australia, 5 were from Japan, 6 were from the Federal Republic of Germany, 7 were from the United States, and 12 were from South Africa. Seven hemagglutinin serovars, HA-1 to HA-7, corresponding to agglutinin serovars A (HA-1, HA-2, and HA-3), C (HA-4, HA-5, and HA-6), and B (HA-7) have been described. Only one of the seven hemagglutinin serovars was found among the Australian isolates. This was serovar HA-5, comprising 49 isolates. Fifteen Australian isolates, all from southeast Queensland and northern New South Wales, were found to belong to a new hemagglutinin serovar. This was designated HA-8 and represented a fourth subgroup of agglutinin serovar A. Of the 95 isolates examined, only 1 did not produce a hemagglutinating antigen and was nonserotypeable by the hemagglutinin system. This compared favorably with the agglutinin scheme, which serotyped only 60 of the 95 isolates, with 29 nonserotypeable and 6 autoagglutinating.

A total of 60 isolates of Haemophilus spp. from chickens, including four reference strains of H. paragallinarum and one of H. avium, were examined for their physiological and biochemical properties. The isolates could be placed into two groups. One group was identified as H. paragallinarum and consisted of 43 isolates including the four reference strains of H. paragallinarum. The other group was identified as H. avium and consisted of 17 isolates including the reference strain of H. avium. H. avium can be differentiated from H. paragallinarum by its possession of the enzymes catalase and alpha-glucosidase, capacity to grow in air, production of acid from galactose, and by the fact that its growth is not improved by the addition of chicken serum. In addition, the majority of H. avium isolates, unlike H. paragallinarum, possess a yellow pigment and produce acid from trehalose.

Causes of sickness and death in approximately 30,000 chickens in 5 meat breeder flocks were investigated between May 1979 and April 1980. Approximately 23% of disease was due to neoplasms; 81% of these were Marek's disease despite vaccination against this infection. Other frequent diagnoses included cellulitis (15%), respiratory disease (14%), lesions of the reproductive tract (11%) and tenosynovitis/arthritis (9%). Antibodies to Mycoplasma gallisepticium, avian adenovirus, infectious bursal disease virus and reticuloendotheliosis virus were present in all flocks. Antibody to Newcastle disease virus (NDV) was found in 2 flocks but titres were not considered protective against a virulent NDV challenge. Antibody to egg drop syndrome 1976 virus was found in 2 flocks comprised of the same breed of bird.

Twenty-seven Australian avian Haemophilus isolates were tested for their ability to cause infectious coryza in specific pathogen-free chickens. All 15 isolates, identified as H. paragallinarum, produced infectious coryza, whereas all 12 H. avium isolates were nonpathogenic, but spread to in-contact chickens.

Differently formulated inactivated infectious coryza vaccines were administered to 6-week-old chickens as a single dose of 10(8) colony-forming units of Haemophilus paragallinarum HP31. After 3 weeks, all chickens were challenged by intrasinus inoculation of HP31. Two vaccines, one containing an aluminum-hydroxide adjuvant and the other a combined aluminum-hydroxide + mineral-oil adjuvant, gave the best protection (means of 80% and 90%, respectively). Two vaccines that contained mineral oil as the sole adjuvant gave less protection (50% and 35%). The Quil A vaccine gave no significant protection. Granulomatous swellings developed at the site of injection in birds given mineral-oil adjuvant but not in those that received other adjuvants.

Between 2008 and 2010, 14 isolates of Avibacterium paragallinarum were identified as serovar C-1 in Mexico. All isolates were obtained from commercial laying hens suffering infectious coryza despite a history of vaccination. The enterobacterial repetitive intergenic consensus-based PCR genotyping showed that all isolates had a common pattern. Until recently, serovars A-1, A-2, B-1, and C-2 were the serovars prevalent in Mexico. Serovar C-1 has been identified in Japan and recently in the Americas in Ecuador. Our current study suggests that Av. paragallinarum serovar C-1 is an emerging serovar in Mexico. Our results also indicate that the Mexican isolates of Av. paragallinarum serovar C-1 may have a clonal relationship. Knowledge of the genetic diversity of Av. paragallinarum may be of value in understanding vaccine performance and identifying the best combination to achieve broader protection.

The objective of the present study was to establish a valid transformation method of Haemophilus parasuis, the causative agent of Glässer's disease in pigs, using a novel H. parasuis-Escherichia coli shuttle vector. A 4.2kb endogenous plasmid pYC93 was extracted from an H. parasuis field isolate and completely sequenced. Analysis of pYC93 revealed a region approximately 800bp showing high homology with the defined replication origin oriV of pLS88, a native plasmid identified in Haemophilus ducreyi. Based on the origin region of pYC93, E. coli cloning vector pBluescript SK(+) and the Tn903 derived kanamycin cassette, a shuttle vector pSHK4 was constructed by overlapping PCR strategy. When electroporation of the 15 H. parasuis serovar reference strains and one clinical isolate SH0165 with pSHK4 was performed, only one of these strains yielded transformants with an efficiency of 8.5×10(2)CFU/μg of DNA. Transformation efficiency was notably increased (1.3×10(5)CFU/μg of DNA) with vector DNA reisolated from the homologous transformants. This demonstrated that restriction-modification systems were involved in the barrier to transformation of H. parasuis. By utilizing an in vitro DNA modification method with cell-free extracts of the host H. parasuis strains, 15 out of 16 strains were transformable. The novel shuttle vector pSHK4 and the established electrotransformation method constitute useful tools for the genetic manipulation of H. parasuis to gain a better understanding of the pathogen.

Two isolates of haemophilic bacteria originally isolated in the 1980s from chickens were re-examined. The addition of a 10% sterile filtrate from an overnight culture of Staphylococcus epidermidis allowed growth of both isolates in solid and liquid media that were otherwise not capable of supporting the growth of these isolates. Using the modified media, genotypic and serotypic studies were performed, which confirmed both isolates to be Avibacterium paragallinarum, with one isolate being serovar A and the other serovar C. The unusual growth requirements of these two isolates reinforces the need for careful interpretation by diagnostic laboratories examining chickens showing signs of upper respiratory tract disease.

One hundred and fourteen strains of Pasteurella multocida were isolated from different domestic animals species (cattle, buffalo, sheep, goat, pig, rabbit, dog, cat), avian species (chicken, duck, turkey) and wild animals (deer, tiger, orang utan, marmoset). The serogroups of P. multocida were determined by both conventional capsular serotyping and a multiplex PCR assay targeting specific capsular genes. Based on the conventional serotyping method, the 114 strains of P. multocida were subtyped into 55 species-specific (untypeable strains) P. multocida, 15 serogroup A, 23 serogroup B and 21 serogroup D. Based on the multiplex PCR assay on the specific capsular genes associated with each serogroup, the 114 strains were further divided to 22 species-specific P. multocida (KMT1 - 460 bp), 53 serogroup A (A - 1,044 bp), 33 serogroup B (B - 760 bp) and 6 serogroup D (D - 657 bp). No serogroup E (511 bp) or F (851 bp) was detected among the Malaysian P. multocida. PCR-based typing was more discriminative and could further subtype the previously untypeable strains. Overall, there was a significant and positive correlation between both methods in serogrouping P. multocida (r = 0.7935; p<0.4893). Various serogroups of P. multocida were present among the livestock with 75% of the strains belonging to serogroups A or B. PCR serotyping was therefore a highly species-specific, sensitive and robust method for detection and differentiation of P. multocida serogroups compared to conventional serotyping. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report from Malaysia of the application of a PCR to rapidly define the species-specific P. multocida and its serogroups as an important zoonotic pathogen in Malaysia.

1. Litter samples were collected at the end of the production cycle from spread litter in a single shed from each of 28 farms distributed across the three Eastern seaboard States of Australia. 2. The geometric mean for Salmonella was 44 Most Probable Number (MPN)/g for the 20 positive samples. Five samples were between 100 and 1000 MPN/g and one at 10(5) MPN/g, indicating a range of factors are contributing to these varying loads of this organism in litter. 3. The geometric mean for Campylobacter was 30 MPN/g for the 10 positive samples, with 7 of these samples being <100 MPN/g. The low prevalence and incidence of Campylobacter were possibly due to the rapid die-off of this organism. 4. E. coli values were markedly higher than the two key pathogens (geometric mean 20 x 10(5) colony forming units (cfu)/g) with overall values being more or less within the same range across all samples in the trial, suggesting a uniform contribution pattern of these organisms in litter. 5. Listeria monocytogenes was absent in all samples and this organism appears not to be an issue in litter. 6. The dominant (70% of the isolates) Salmonella serovar was S. Sofia (a common serovar isolated from chickens in Australia) and was isolated across all regions. Other major serovars were S. Virchow and S. Chester (at 10%) and S. Bovismorbificans and S. Infantis (at 8%) with these serovars demonstrating a spatial distribution across the major regions tested. 7. There is potential to re-use litter in the environment depending on end use and the support of relevant application practices and guidelines.

HASH(0x1ea8b160)

Infectious coryza is an acute respiratory disease of chickens caused by Avibacterium paragallinarum, and this infection is associated with growth retardation and reduced egg production. Previous studies have shown that HMTp210, a 210-kDa outer-membrane protein, is the major protective antigen of Av. paragallinarum both serovars A and C. Region 2 is a serovar-specific domain in the HMTp210 protein. Although the serovar C region 2 has been reported to be an effective vaccine antigen for infectious coryza, there have been no reports on the efficacy of region 2 from serovar A. In the current study, region 2 from serovars A and C was expressed as a fusion peptide. Chickens inoculated with vaccine consisting of 0.6μg of the fusion peptide showed no clinical signs of disease after challenge with either serovar A or C, and there were no side effects such as swelling at the injection site. These results demonstrate that the recombinant fusion peptide derived from HMTp210 could be useful for producing effective and safe vaccines against infectious coryza in chickens.

In this study, we have compared the protection afforded by a recombinant turkey herpesvirus vaccine expressing the H5 gene from a clade 2.2 H5N1 strain (rHVT-H5) and a Mexican-origin H5N2 inactivated vaccine, alone or in combination, against two antigenically divergent H5N1 Egyptian strains isolated in 2007 and 2008. Our results confirm the existence of a major antigenic drift among the Egyptian H5N1 strains such that, although protection against the "classical" 2007 HPAI H5N1 Egyptian strain could be obtained with both types of vaccines, only vaccination with the rHVT-H5 vaccine protected against challenge with the "variant" 2008 HPAI H5N1 Egyptian strain.

Two experiments were performed to evaluate the protective effect of various vaccination combinations given at 5 and 9 weeks of age against experimental challenge with Salmonella enterica serovar Enteritidis (SE) phage type 4 at 12 weeks of age. In Experiment 1, groups of commercial layers were vaccinated by one of the following programmes: Group 1, two doses of a SE bacterin (Layermune SE); Group 2, one dose of a live Salmonella enterica serovar Gallinarum vaccine (Cevac SG9R) followed by one dose of the SE bacterin; Group 3, one dose of each of two different multivalent inactivated vaccines containing SE cells (Corymune 4K and Corymune 7K; and Group 4, unvaccinated, challenged controls. In Experiment 2, groups of broiler breeders were vaccinated by the same programmes as Groups 1 and 2 above while Group 3 was an unvaccinated, challenged control group. All vaccination programmes and the challenge induced significant (P < 0.05) seroconversion as measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Overall, in both experiments, all vaccination schemes were significantly effective in reducing organ (spleen, liver and caeca) colonization by the challenge strain as well as reducing faecal excretion for at least 3 weeks. Vaccinated layers in Groups 1 and 2 and broiler breeders in Group 2 showed the greatest reduction in organ colonization and the least faecal excretion. In Experiment 1, layers vaccinated with multivalent inactivated vaccines containing a SE component (Group 3) were only moderately protected, indicating that such a vaccination programme may be useful in farms with good husbandry and housing conditions and low environmental infectious pressure by Salmonella.

The safety and efficacy of a novel trivalent inactivated Salmonella vaccine consisting of Salmonella Enteritidis (SE), Salmonella Typhimurium (ST), and Salmonella Infantis (SI) was evaluated with chickens. Chickens were injected subcutaneously with 0.5 ml per dose of the vaccine with an oil adjuvant. To assess the efficacy of the vaccine, vaccinated and unvaccinated chickens were challenged by oral inoculation of SE, ST, SI, and Salmonella Heidelberg (SH) virulent strains 4 wk after vaccination. The vaccinated chickens showed no clinical abnormalities, and the body weight gain after vaccination was comparable to that of unvaccinated chickens. The shedding of SE from the vaccinated chickens at 4, 7, 10, and 14 days postchallenge were significantly reduced in comparison with those of the unvaccinated chickens. The efficacy of the vaccine against ST and SI was comparable to that against SE. The shedding of SH at 4, 7, 10, and 14 days postchallenge was also significantly reduced in the vaccinated chickens compared with those in the unvaccinated suggesting that the vaccine could be effective against different serotype strains having O antigens homologous to those of the vaccine strains. These results suggest that the novel trivalent inactivated vaccine can be an effective tool for controlling the Salmonella infections of O4, O7, and O9 groups in chicken farms.

Peptide vaccine was found to be an effective and powerful approach to a variety of pathogens. To explore multi-epitope based peptide vaccines against infectious bronchitis virus (IBV), the immunogenic peptides were fused to the 3' terminal of glutathione S transferase gene (GST) and expressed in Escherichia coli. ELISA and Western blot analysis showed that the purified fusion proteins had excellent immune activity with chicken anti-IBV serum. During the vaccination course, the candidate peptide vaccines induced strong humoral and cellular response, and provided up to 80.0% immune protection, while all non-immunized chickens in the negative control group manifested obvious typical symptoms and died after virus challenge. Our finding provides a new way to develop multi-epitope based peptide vaccine against IBV.

AIM To study chitozan as an adjuvant for inactivated vaccines against A/H5 influenza viruses. MATERIALS AND METHODS Avian A/H5 influenza viruses were grown on chicken embryos or on MDCK cell line; viruses-containing fluid was inactivated with formalin. Mice were vaccinated intramuscularly with inactivated avian influenza virus mixed with chitozan and then levels of hemagglutination-inhibiting and neutralizing antibodies as well as protective efficacy against both homologous and drifted strains of avian influenza viruses A/H5 were measured. RESULTS Addition of chitozan to inactivated preparations of A/H5 avian influenza viruses for immunization of mice significantly increased levels of hemagglutination-inhibiting and neutralizing antibodies to both homologous and drifted variants of A/H5 influenza viruses, including those containing neuraminidase from other subtype as well as strains isolated 10 - 20 years earlier than virus used for vaccination. Chitozan significantly improved protective efficacy of inactivated avian influenza vaccines against infection with both homologous and drifted variant of the virus. Vaccination with inactivated avian influenza viruses A/H5 and chitozan induced high levels of antibodies even after single immunization as well as after administration of 8-fold reduced dose of preparation. CONCLUSION Chitozan is a perspective adjuvant for inactivated vaccines against avian influenza viruses, which could significantly improve immune response and protective efficacy against both homologous and drifted variants of avian influenza viruses A/H5.

Bluetongue has become a major animal health issue in the European Union. The member states and Switzerland have agreed on a vaccination strategy. Three different inactivated monovalent vaccines against bluetongue virus serotype 8 were selected for the compulsory vaccination program carried out in Germany in 2008. The efficacy of these vaccines was evaluated in a pilot study in sheep immunised under field conditions by clinical, virological and serological examination before and after experimental challenge infection with a BTV-8 field isolate. Antibody levels prior to challenge infection differed between the vaccinated groups, but all seroconverted animals were fully protected against clinical disease and virus replication. Only one vaccinated animal was very weakly positive in the real-time RT-PCR at day 10 after challenge infection, and one seronegative sheep in one of the vaccine groups was not protected.

Four monovalent experimental vaccines (VI, V2, V3 and V7) containing an Argentinean serovar B strain (H8) of Haemophilus paragallinarum and three different commercial vaccines, either bivalent (V4 and V5) containing serovars A and C, or trivalent (V6) containing serovars A, B and C were administered by subcutaneous or intramuscular routes as a single or double dose (at 3-week intervals) to chickens of between 6 and 10 weeks. Three to 7 weeks after the last vaccination, vaccinated and non-vaccinated chickens were challenged by intrasinus inoculation with Argentinean serovar B strains of H. paragallinarum. When the vaccinated chickens were exposed to a severe challenge with the vaccinal strain (H8) some experimental vaccines protected, whereas all commercial vaccines failed to protect. The experimental vaccines manufactured in broth (V2, V3 and V7) protected more effectively than the vaccine produced in chicken embryos (VI). Failure of the commercial trivalent vaccine V6 to protect may be related to the method of manufacture. Vaccine V7 protected against challenge from either the vaccinal strain (H8) or three Argentinean serovar B strains (H6, Hll and HI2). These results confirm the necessity of including serovar B regional strains in the formulation of local vaccines.

Infectious coryza is an upper respiratory tract disease of chickens with the major impact occurring in multi-age flocks. We investigated the relationship between the level of antibodies, as detected by a haemagglutination-inhibition (HI) assay, in infectious coryza-vaccinated chickens and the protection against challenge in those chickens. In one experiment, chickens given a single dose of either of two infectious coryza vaccines lacked a detectable HI response to vaccination but showed significant levels of protection 11 weeks after vaccination. In contrast, in chickens given two doses of an infectious coryza vaccine and challenged 3 weeks after the second vaccine dose, there was a strong serological response with 36/40 birds having a HI titre of 1/20 or greater. In this trial there was an apparent relationship between titre and subsequent protection, with none of the 32 chickens with a titre of 1/40 or 1/80 showing any clinical signs and only one of the same group yielding the challenge organism on culture. In contrast, three of the four vaccinated chickens with a HI titre less than 1/5 developed the typical clinical signs of coryza and yielded the challenge organism on culture. Overall, our results suggest that HI titres cannot be regarded as a definitive predictor of vaccine efficacy. We suggest that the vaccination-challenge trial is the gold standard for the evaluation of the immune response to infectious coryza vaccines.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the efficacy of an inactivated bovine herpesvirus-1 (BHV-1) vaccine to protect against BHV-1 challenge-induced abortion and stillbirth. DESIGN Prospective study. ANIMALS 35 beef heifers. PROCEDURES Before breeding, heifers were vaccinated with a commercially available BHV-1 inactivated vaccine SC or IM. The estrous cycle was then synchronized, and heifers were artificially inseminated 30 to 60 days after vaccination. Heifers (n = 21) were challenge inoculated IV at approximately 180 days of gestation with virulent BHV-1. Fourteen control heifers were not vaccinated. Clinical signs of BHV-1 infection were monitored for 10 days following challenge; serologic status and occurrence of abortion or stillbirth were evaluated until time of calving. RESULTS 18 of 21 (85.7%) heifers that received vaccine were protected from abortion following challenge, whereas all 14 control heifers aborted. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Results indicated that an inactivated BHV-1 vaccine can protect against abortion resulting from a substantial challenge infection, with efficacy similar to that of modified-live BHV-1 vaccines.