EFFECTS OF VACCINATION WITH A MORAXELLA-BOVIS BACTERIN ON SUBSEQUENT DEVELOPMENT OF SIGNS OF CORNEAL DISEASE AND INFECTION WITH M-BOVIS IN CALVES UNDER NATURAL ENVIRONMENTAL-CONDITIONS

  • 1 January 1976
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 37  (11) , 1291-1295
Abstract
A vaccination study was conducted for infectious bovine keratoconjunctivitis (IBK) in 440 purebred Hereford cattle (cows and their newborn calves). The cattle were allotted to 4 groups: 60 calves were vaccinated with an autogenous M. bovis bacterin (group 1); 60 calves matched with group 1 calves were designated nonvaccinated matched controls (group 2); 99 calves were peer group nonvaccinated controls (group 3); and 219 cows, the dams of the calves, were nonvaccinated consorts (group 4). The infection rates in cattle groups 1, 2, 3 and 4 during the summer were 96.6, 98.3, 100 and 79.1%, respectively, and the disease rates were 90, 93, 85 and 20%. The infection and the disease rates were significantly (P. < 0.01) different between calves and cows. The disease rate was also significantly different between older and younger cows. A larger percentage of the affected calves and cows had mild or moderate (61%) signs of IBK rather than severe (39%) signs. The rate of body weight gain was reduced in calves with severe signs of IBK. The results seemed to indicate that little would be gained by vaccinating cattle against IBK under the conditions of study.

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