The influence of complement on the neutralization of infectious bovine rhinotracheitis virus by globulins derived from early and late bovine antisera.

Calves were inoculated at four week intervals with infectious bovine rhinotracheitis virus (IBRV). Sera were obtained at eight days (early sample) and 21 days (late sample) after each inoculation. Kinetic neutralization was carried out with 7S and 19S globulins derived from these sera, both in the presence and in the absence of guinea pig complement (C). In all instances the 19S neutralizing antibody (AB) was dependent on C for neutralization of IBVR. However, C dependency was not observed with any of the 7S preparations. Neutralizing activity was readily detected in 19S globulins from the early sera after primary and subsequent inoculations but not in any of the late sera. Early sera collected after primary inoculation did not contain any 7S neutralizing AB but it was present in all the other sera tested. The 7S AB when present was always at a considerably higher concentration than 19S AB. Thus it may be possible to determine whether cattle have recently been exposed to IBRV when paired serum samples are not available by determining the presence of C-dependent 19S globulins. In addition, by comparing 19S and 7S levels, a distinction may be made between primary and secondary responses to IBRV.