J. S. Hogan 1,
K. L. Smith,
P. Schoenberger,
S. Romig,
L. Thompson
The Ohio State University Department of Animal Sciences
The effect of immunization schedule on responses of antibody titers was tested following vaccination with an Escherichia coli J5 bacterium. Eighteen cows were equally distributed among three immunization schedules: 1) subcutaneous injection at 14 days prior to the end of lactation, intramammary immunization at seven days after drying off, and subcutaneous injection at 30 days into the dry period; 2) subcutaneous injections at drying off, at 30 days into the dry period, and within 12 hours after calving; and 3) unimmunized controls. Intramammary immunization increased rectal temperatures at 12 hours after infusion compared with unimmunized controls. Subcutaneous injections did not induce febrile responses. Intramammary immunization enhanced immunoglobulin G (IgG) titers in serum and whey on day 0 of lactation compared with subcutaneous immunizations. Serum IgG titers also were greater at day 30 of the dry period and at days 14 and 21 of lactation in cows that received intramammary immunization compared with cows that were vaccinated by subcutaneous injections only. Immunoglobulin M (IgM) titers in whey and serum on day 21 of lactation were greater in cows that received intramammary immunizations compared with cows that were immunized by subcutaneous injection only.
1 For more information, contact at: The Ohio State University, Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center, 302 Pounden Hall, 1680 Madison Ave., Wooster, OH 44691; 330-263-3801; e-mail: hogan.4@osu.edu