Rapid protection of cattle from direct challenge with foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) by a single inoculation with an adenovirus-vectored FMDV subunit vaccine.

We have previously demonstrated that swine vaccinated with one dose of a replication-defective human adenovirus type 5 (Ad5) vector containing the capsid and 3C proteinase coding regions of foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) were protected when challenged 7 days later with homologous virus. In the current study, we have extended this approach to cattle, the most economically important animals susceptible to FMD. Five cattle were vaccinated with the Ad5-FMDV subunit vaccine and these animals and 2 co-housed control animals were challenged intradermolingually 7 days later. Both control animals developed typical signs of FMD including fever and vesicular lesions on all 4 feet. All 5 vaccinated animals were protected against disseminated disease.