Antibody response in calves following administration of attenuated infectious bovine rhinotracheitis (IBR) vaccines

Abstract

The serum antibody response of calves vaccinated against infectious bovine rhinotracheitis by the intramuscular route was compared to calves vaccinated subcutaneously. Immunological response in the calves as determined by serum neutralization tests was highly variable; however, a significantly greater percentage (87.5%) of the calves inoculated subcutaneously responded to vaccination by producing a four-week post-vaccinal serum titer of two or higher as compared to only 47.8% of the calves that were vaccinated intramuscularly. Of those calves that were vaccinated a second time, all maintained or had produced titers of two or higher within four weeks after the second immunization. However, the existing circulating serum antibody titers resulting from the first vaccination of nine of 22 calves were lowered by repeat vaccination.