Immune responses of Asian elephants (Elephas maximus) to commercial tetanus toxoid vaccine.
Although captive elephants are commonly vaccinated annually against tetanus using commercially available tetanus toxoid vaccines marketed for use in horses and livestock, no data exists to prove that tetanus toxoid vaccination produces measurable antibody titers in elephants. An ELISA test was created to measure antibody responses to tetanus toxoid vaccinations in 22 Asian elephants ranging in age from 24 to 56 years (mean age 39 years) over a 7-month period. All animals had been previously vaccinated with tetanus toxoid vaccine, with the last booster administered 4 years before the start of the study. The great majority of elephants had titers prior to booster vaccination, and following revaccination all elephants demonstrated anamnestic increases in titers, indicating that this species does respond to tetanus vaccination. Surprisingly older animals mounted a significantly higher response to revaccination than did younger animals.
Lindsay
William A
WA
Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Center for Elephant Conservation, 12850 Old Grade Road, Polk City, FL 33868, USA.
Wiedner
Ellen
E
Isaza
Ramiro
R
Townsend
Hugh G G
HG
Boleslawski
Maria
M
Lunn
D P
DP
D000367:Age Factors; D000822:Animal Husbandry / Q000379:methods; D000818:Animals; D000836:Animals, Zoo / Q000276:immunology; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000097:blood; D003017:Clostridium tetani / Q000276:immunology; D004606:Elephants / Q000276:immunology*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000662:veterinary; D005260:Female; D007115:Immunization Schedule; D007117:Immunization, Secondary / Q000662:veterinary; D008297:Male; D013045:Species Specificity; D013742:Tetanus / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000662:veterinary; D013745:Tetanus Toxoid / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D013997:Time Factors
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D013745:Tetanus Toxoid