Effects of challenge dose on the clinical and immune responses of cattle vaccinated with reduced doses of Brucella abortus strain 19.

Fifty-seven pregnant beef heifers that were unvaccinated or previously vaccinated with Brucella abortus S19, at a dose of either 10(9) or 10(10) colony-forming units (CFU), were challenge-exposed intraconjunctivally with virulent B. abortus S2308 at a dose of 9.4 X 10(6) CFU (Experiment 1) or 5.2 X 10(7) CFU (Experiment 2). In Experiment 1, S19 afforded significant protection (P less than 0.01) against challenge exposure in that 8 of 9 unvaccinated heifers, 1 of 11 vaccinated with 10(9) CFU, and 3 of 10 vaccinated with 10(10) CFU aborted or delivered weak, non-viable calves. In Experiment 2, vaccination did not afford significant protection (P greater than 0.05) in that 9 of 9 unvaccinated heifers, 8 of 10 vaccinated with 10(9) CFU, and 8 of 8 vaccinated with 10(10) CFU aborted. Serologic responses to B. abortus were determined by three standard tests, as well as a quantitative fluorometric immunoassay (FIAX) and an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. In Experiment 1, the early serologic response, 0-8 weeks after challenge, appeared greater for controls than for vaccinates, but in Experiment 2, the early response, 0-6 weeks after challenge exposure, appeared greater for vaccinates than for controls. The lymphocyte blast transformation assay, using heat-killed B. abortus as an antigen, was performed sequentially after challenge exposure. In general, mean responses were significantly higher (P less than 0.05) for vaccinated than for non-vaccinated heifers. For individual heifers, an association could not be established between the lymphocyte blast transformation assay and the clinical response to challenge exposure.