IMMUNIZATION OF CATTLE WITH A BABESIA-BIGEMINA ANTIGEN IN FREUND COMPLETE ADJUVANT

  • 1 January 1980
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 41  (4) , 536-538
Abstract
Three adult intact cattle and 5 splenectomized calves were immunized against B. bigemina by the s.c. injection of an adjuvant-vaccine given twice at 3 and 4 wk intervals, respectively. The antigen consisted of B. bigemina parasites and erythrocytic stroma. The vaccinated adults plus 1 control and the vaccinated splenectomized calves plus 4 comparable controls were challenge exposed at 67 and 33 days, respectively, after the last vaccine injection. All control animals died of acute babesiosis. The intact vaccinated adult cows showed only minimal response and little or no drop in packed cell volume. Of 5 vaccinated splenectomized calves, 3 showed a moderate response to challenge exposure and recovered rapidly.