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Title: IMMUNOLOGIC RESPONSES OF BISON TO VACCINATION WITH FRESH OR LYOPHILIZED BRUCELLA ABORTUS STRAIN RB51

Author
item Olsen, Steven
item RHYAN, J - USDA/APHIS
item Stoffregen, William
item GIDLEWSKI, T - USDA/APHIS

Submitted to: Research Workers in Animal Diseases Conference Proceedings
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/14/2004
Publication Date: 11/14/2004
Citation: Olsen, S.C., Rhyan, J., Stoffregen, W.C., Gidlewski, T. 2004. Immunologic responses of bison to vaccination with fresh or lyophilized brucella abortus strain rb51 [abstract]. Research Workers in Animal Diseases Conference Proceedings. p.98.

Interpretive Summary: Brucella abortus is a disease that causes abortion and associated economic losses in infected cattle herds. The infection of bison with Brucella abortus in Yellowstone National Park pose a risk to the completion of the Brucellosis Eradication Program for cattle. A safe and efficacious vaccine for bison within Yellowstone National Park is needed and would be beneficial in resolving the controversy caused by brucellosis in bison. In this study, we evaluated various dosages of fresh and lyophilized RB51 brucellosis vaccines for their ability to induce immunologic responses in bison. Our data suggest fresh or lyophilized vaccines induce similar immunologic responses in bison and that responses are similar when administered at a dosage above 1 x 10^10 CFU. This data will be of benefit to the National Park Service and the states of Montana, Wyoming, and Idaho in their efforts to resolve the brucellosis problem in the Yellowstone National Park bison. An efficacious vaccine for bison will help prevent transmission of brucellosis to cattle herds and assist in the completion of the Brucellosis Eradication Program.

Technical Abstract: The prevalence of brucellosis in bison within Yellowstone National Park may threaten the Brucellosis Eradication program for cattle. The purpose of this study was to determine if immunologic responses of bison differ between fresh and lyophilized Brucella abortus strain RB51 (SRB51) vaccines. Treatments in adult and yearling bison (n=89) included saline, 4 dosages of a commercially SRB51 vaccine (1.3 to 13.4 x 10^10 CFU), or 4 dosages of freshly grown SRB51 (0.5 to 12.3 x 10^10 CFU). Immunologic responses evaluated included: antibody responses, proliferative responses to killed SRB51, gamma interferon production (IFN), and nitric oxide production . Adult and yearling bison vaccinated with all dosages of fresh or lyophilized SRB51 had antibody responses that were greater than control bison.. In general, adult and yearling bison vaccinated with all dosages of fresh or lyophilized SRB51 had greater proliferative responses and IFN production than control bison. Source of vaccine (fresh or lyophilized) and vaccine dosage did not influence immunologic responses. Our data suggests that vaccination with 1 x 10^10 CFU of SRB51 stimulates immunologic responses in bison for approximately 40 wk after vaccination. Our data also suggests that fresh or lyophilized SRB51 vaccines are similar in their ability to stimulate immunologic responses in bison.