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. 2017 Nov;95(11):4820-4834.
doi: 10.2527/jas2017.1793.

Evaluation of responses to vaccination of Angus cattle for four viruses that contribute to bovine respiratory disease complex

L M Kramer, M S Mayes, E Fritz-Waters, J L Williams, E D Downey, R G Tait, A Woolums, C Chase, J M Reecy

Evaluation of responses to vaccination of Angus cattle for four viruses that contribute to bovine respiratory disease complex

L M Kramer et al. J Anim Sci. 2017 Nov.

Abstract

Although vaccination is an effective measure in reducing the risk of bovine respiratory disease complex (BRDC) in cattle, BRDC losses remain significant. Increasing the efficacy of vaccination depends on elucidating the protective immune response to different antigens included in vaccines, determining the best timing for vaccination, and understanding the impact of the age of the calf on vaccination. This study measured the serum antibodies present in calves following vaccination against 4 viruses commonly associated with BRDC: bovine viral diarrhea virus type 1 and 2 (BVDV1 and BVDV2), bovine respiratory syncytial virus (BRSV), and bovine herpesvirus 1 (BHV1). Serum antibody titers were measured in more than 1,600 calves at 3-wk intervals starting at the time of the first vaccination. This first vaccination occurred at weaning for approximately half of the individuals and 3 wk before weaning for the other half. Dam age (years), time of weaning (initial vaccination or booster vaccination), and age of calf within year-season (days within year-season) classification all were found to have a significant effect on measured traits such as the initial titer and overall response. An increased initial titer was negatively correlated with each response trait (initial, booster, and overall response). Calves that were weaned at initial vaccination had greater overall antibody response to BVDV1 and BVDV2 compared with calves weaned 3 wk before initial vaccination. In contrast, calves given their initial vaccination 3 wk before weaning had greater overall antibody response to BRSV and BHV1 compared with calves that were vaccinated at weaning. Furthermore, the circulating antibody titer at which each virus needed to be below for an individual calf to positively respond to vaccination was determined (log titer of 0.38 for BVDV1, 1.5 for BVDV2, 3.88 for BRSV, and 1.5 for BHV1). This information can be used to improve vaccination protocols to allow for a greater response rate of individuals to vaccination and, hopefully, improved protection.

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Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Timeline of serum sample collection. Prevaccination time point (−3 wk) samples were tested for only bovine viral diarrhea virus type 1 and bovine viral diarrhea virus type 2.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
Average initial antibody concentration by dam age in years for (A) bovine viral diarrhea virus type 1 (BVDV1), (B) bovine viral diarrhea virus type 2 (BVDV2), (C) bovine respiratory syncytial virus (BRSV), and (D) bovine herpesvirus 1 (BHV1). Prevaccination titers by dam age included for BVDV1 and BVDV2. a–hDifferent letters indicate significantly different dam ages at P < 0.05.
Figure 3.
Figure 3.
Initial antibody titer (wk 0) by calf age in days averaged across year–season classification for bovine viral diarrhea virus type 1 (BVDV1), bovine viral diarrhea virus type 2 (BVDV2), bovine respiratory syncytial virus (BRSV), and bovine herpesvirus 1 (BHV1) and extrapolated between 50 and 200 d of age.
Figure 4.
Figure 4.
Weighted average of maternal antibody decay rate (titer units/d) by prevaccination age of calf for bovine viral diarrhea virus type 1 (BVDV1) and bovine viral diarrhea virus type 2 (BVDV2) and extrapolated between 50 and 200 d of age.
Figure 5.
Figure 5.
Change in average overall antibody response by weaning time point for bovine viral diarrhea virus type 1 (BVDV1), bovine viral diarrhea virus type 2 (BVDV2), bovine respiratory syncytial virus (BRSV), and bovine herpesvirus 1 (BHV1). A,BSignificant differences between weaning classification are represented with different letters above error bars (P < 0.05).
Figure 6.
Figure 6.
Estimated response traits and final antibody titers by calf age in days for bovine viral diarrhea virus type 1 (BVDV1; n = 1,654), bovine viral diarrhea virus type 2 (BVDV2; n = 2,231), bovine respiratory syncytial virus (BRSV; n = 1,631), and bovine herpesvirus 1 (BHV1; n = 1,631). (A) Initial vaccination response, (B) booster vaccination response, (C) overall vaccination response, and (D) final antibody titer. Covariates of weaning at initial vaccination: pink eye = yes and dam age = 5 yr. The slope indicates the weighted average effect of age and the vertical shift indicates the weighted average year–season effect.
Figure 7.
Figure 7.
Response traits and final antibody titers normalized by starting titer for bovine viral diarrhea virus type 1 (BVDV1; n = 1,654), bovine viral diarrhea virus type 2 (BVDV2; n = 2,231), bovine respiratory syncytial virus (BRSV; n = 1,631), and bovine herpesvirus 1 (BHV1; n = 1,631). (A) Initial vaccination response, (B) booster vaccination response, (C) overall vaccination response, and (D) final antibody titer. Covariates of weaning at initial vaccination: pink eye = yes and dam age = 5 yr. The slope indicates the weighted average effect of base titer and the vertical shift indicates the weighted average year–season effect.
Figure 8.
Figure 8.
Average titer over time for each of 4 viruses. Trend fit using model [1] and removing any nonsignificant factors. BVDV1 = bovine viral diarrhea virus type 1; BVDV2 = bovine viral diarrhea virus type 2; BRSV = bovine respiratory syncytial virus; BHV1 = bovine herpesvirus 1.
Figure 9.
Figure 9.
Titers across serum collection time points. (A) Bovine viral diarrhea virus type 1 (n = 1,654), (B) bovine viral diarrhea virus type 2 (n = 2,231), (C) bovine respiratory syncytial virus (n = 1,631), and (D) bovine herpesvirus 1 (n = 1,631). The average titer level is plotted in green and all individuals are plotted in gray.
Figure 10.
Figure 10.
Individuals with a final titer of 0. (A) Bovine viral diarrhea virus type 1 (n = 367), (B) bovine viral diarrhea virus type 2 (n = 100), and (C) bovine herpesvirus 1 (n = 468). Average titer level across all individuals measured is plotted in green. (D) Bovine respiratory syncytial virus (n = 132) shows individuals with the minimum titer calculated at wk 6 (3 on a log2 scale). Although it is not the same trend as shown in panels A, B, and C, it was included to allow comparison.
Figure 11.
Figure 11.
Trends within individuals with measured bovine viral diarrhea virus type 1 data. Four clusters were generated, with n = 163 calves for cluster 1, n = 524 calves for cluster 2, n = 136 calves for cluster 3, and n = 809 calves for cluster 4. The x-axis shows titer measurement time points (before vaccination, initial vaccination, booster vaccination, and booster response). The y-axis represents average titer of cluster, calculated proportional to other time points, with a score of 1 being the reference. Black lines represent mean titer trends and red lines represent the 95% confidence interval.
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