Two monovalent vaccines were prepared from the highly toxigenic isolates of C. perfringens type A inducing enterotoxaemia in young calves. Vaccination of pregnant cattle with this vaccine is of much importance for protection of young calves from sudden death. In this study four pregnant cattle were vaccinated with two doses of each vaccine monovalent vaccine (one adjuvanted with montanide oil ISA 206 and the other adjuvanted with aluminum hydroxide gel, the first dose 2 ml s/c following with 2 ml (second dose) with three weeks interval. Blood samples were collected from each group and from their newly born calves one week after birth. The antitoxin values expressed in international units (IU). All pooled serum was determined by serum neutralization test and ELISA. It was found that C. perfringens type A vaccine either adjuvanted with gel or montanide oil gave high antibody titer in pregnant dams. The maternal immunity for calves reached 11 weeks in two vaccines. From these results, it can be concluding that maternal immunity affords good degree of protection of newly born calves against enterotoxaemia. |
