Immunisation of the equine uterus against Streptococcus equi subspecies zooepidemicus using an intranasal attenuated Salmonella vector.
Attenuated Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium MGN707, expressing the SzP protective protein of the MB9 serovar of Streptococcus equi subspecies zooepidemicus (SzP-MB9) was tested for its safety and efficacy as a nebulised intranasal vaccine against streptococcal uterine infections in mares. In a preliminary study, vaccinated mares (n=5) displayed serum, nasal and uterine responses (P<0.05) to S. Typhimurium lipopolysaccharide (St-LPS). Subsequently, vaccinated mares (expressor group, n=7), but not mares vaccinated with the vector only (control group, n=7), displayed significant increases in SzP-MB9 antibodies in serum, nasal and uterine washes (P<0.05). Assuming the uteri of all nine mares were free of streptococci prior to challenge with 6.3 x 10(9) colony forming units of S. e. zooepidemicus MB9, significantly fewer S. e. zooepidemicus were cultured from the uterine flushings of expressor-vaccinated mares (n=4) compared to control-vaccinated mares (n=5) (P<0.001). The only adverse reaction to vaccination was nasal haemorrhage in one mare.
Causey
Robert C
RC
Department of Animal and Veterinary Sciences and the Maine Agriculture and Forestry Experiment Station, University of Maine, Orono, ME 04469-5735, USA.
Artiushin
Sergey C
SC
Crowley
Ian F
IF
Weber
James A
JA
Homola
Alma D
AD
Kelley
Antoinette
A
Stephenson
Lisa A
LA
Opitz
H Michael
HM
Guilmain
Sarah
S
Timoney
John F
JF
D000281:Administration, Intranasal; D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D005822:Genetic Vectors / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D006734:Horse Diseases / Q000276:immunology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006736:Horses; D011897:Random Allocation; D012486:Salmonella typhimurium / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000662:veterinary*; D018502:Streptococcus equi / Q000276:immunology*; D014599:Uterus / Q000382:microbiology; D014611:Vaccination / Q000662:veterinary*; D014613:Vaccines, Attenuated
D014613:Vaccines, Attenuated