Effect of changes in number of doses and anatomic location for administration of an Escherichia coli bacterin on serum IgG1 and IgG2 concentrations in dairy cows

Objective-To determine effects of injection site on antibody response to J5 Escherichia coli bacterin. Animals-28 adult Holstein cows. Procedures-Cows were randomly assigned as control cattle (n = 4 cows), not administered J5 E coli bacterin; 3X (8), administered 3 doses of bacterin SC in the left side of the neck; 5XN (8), administered 5 doses of bacterin SC in the left side of the neck; or 5XSR (8), administered 5 doses of bacterin SC sequentially in the left side of the neck, right side of the neck, right side of the thorax, left side of the thorax, and left side of the neck. Blood samples were collected from the cows to determine anti-J5 E coli IgG1 and IgG2 concentrations. Results-Vaccinated cows had higher mean serum anti-J5 E coli IgG1 concentrations than did control cows. The 5XN and 5XSR cows had higher mean serum anti-J5 E coli IgG1 concentrations than did 3X cows. Additionally, 5XSR cows had higher mean serum anti-J5 E coli IgG1 concentrations than did 5XN cows. Vaccinated cows had higher mean serum anti-J5 E coli IgG2 concentrations than did control cows. The 5XN and 5XSR cows had higher mean serum anti-J5 E coli IgG2 concentrations than did 3X cows. The 5XSR cows had higher mean serum anti-J5 E coli IgG2 concentrations than did all other groups at 84 days after the fifth vaccination. Conclusions and Clinical Relevance-Sequential doses of core-antigen bacterins administered at different anatomic locations may improve antibody response in dairy cattle. (Am J Vet Res 2010;71:120-124)