title: Humoral immunity and injection-site reactions in cattle vaccinated with a multivalent clostridial vaccine administered via subcutaneous injection or via transdermal needle-free injection.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate injection-site reactions and serum antibody titers in cattle vaccinated with a clostridial vaccine administered SC or via needle-free transdermal injection.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixteen 11-to 12-month-old Herefords.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cattle in 2 groups were vaccinated on days 0 and 28 with a commercially available multivalent clostridial vaccine administered SC or transdermally Injection sites and serum antibody titers were evaluated at several time points after vaccination. Serum antibody titers against Clostridium perfringens beta toxin, Clostridium novyi alpha toxin, and Clostridium septicum alpha toxin were determined with an ELISA; Clostridium sordellii lethal toxin titers were determined with a toxin neutralization assay.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Firm injection site swellings developed in cattle vaccinated via either route; however, at several observation times, swellings were significantly smaller in cattle vaccinated transdermally. Serum titers against C perfringens beta toxin and C septicum alpha toxin did not differ significantly between groups after vaccination; serum titers against C novyi alpha toxin were not significantly different between groups, except on days 10 and 56, when they were significantly higher in cattle vaccinated SC. Titers against C sordellii lethal toxin were significantly higher in cattle vaccinated SC on several days after vaccination, but titers were not significantly different after day 49.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Transdermal vaccination of cattle resulted in serum antibody titers that were similar to those induced via SC vaccination and caused injection-site reactions that were significantly smaller. Transdermal vaccination may be an effective technique for vaccinating cattle against clostridial diseases while minimizing local reactions that often develop after clostridial vaccination.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Large Animal Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA. awoolums@uga.edu
authors.forename: Amelia R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Woolums
authors.forename: Douglas T
authors.initials: DT
authors.lastname: Ensley
authors.forename: Patrick A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Tanner
authors.forename: Rebecca
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Fankhauser
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.forename: J Glenn
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Songer
authors.forename: A Timothy
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Leard
authors.forename: Francis W
authors.initials: FW
authors.lastname: Milward
authors.forename: Mel E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Pence
authors.forename: David J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Hurley
mesh_terms: D000279:Administration, Cutaneous; D000818:Animals; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D001428:Bacterial Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000276:immunology*; D002417:Cattle / Q000276:immunology*; D003013:Clostridium / Q000276:immunology*; D003015:Clostridium Infections / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000662:veterinary*; D005260:Female; D056724:Immunity, Humoral; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous; D008297:Male; D011897:Random Allocation; D014611:Vaccination / Q000662:veterinary
chemical_list: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D001428:Bacterial Vaccines