This Article Full Text (PDF) Other Versions of this Article: IAI.00691-06v1 75/2/870    most recent Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Reprints and Permissions Copyright Information Books from ASM Press MicrobeWorld Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Biesenkamp-Uhe, C. Articles by Kaltenboeck, B. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Biesenkamp-Uhe, C. Articles by Kaltenboeck, B.

 Previous Article  |  Next Article 

Infect. Immun. doi:10.1128/IAI.00691-06
Copyright (c) 2006, American Society for Microbiology and/or the Listed Authors/Institutions. All Rights Reserved.

Therapeutic Chlamydophila abortus/pecorum Vaccination Transiently Reduces Bovine Mastitis Associated with Chlamydophila Infection

Bayer HealthCare AG., Osterather Straße 1a, D-50739 Köln, Germany.; Department of Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849, USA.; Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut (Federal Research Institute for Animal Health), Naumburger Str. 96a, D-07743 Jena, Germany

^* To whom correspondence should be addressed. Email: kaltebe{at}auburn.edu.

	Abstract

Infections with Chlamydophila (Cp.) abortus and Cp. pecorum are highly prevalent in cattle and have been associated with bovine mastitis. A prospective cohort study was conducted in a herd of 140 Holstein dairy cows to investigate the influence of Chlamydophila spp. infection on subclinical inflammation of the bovine mammary gland as characterized by somatic cell numbers in milk. PCR detection of Cp. abortus and low serum antibody levels against Chlamydophila spp. significantly associated with subclinical mastitis. To examine the effect of the infection by response modification, immune perturbation was used by two subcutaneous administrations of an experimental vaccine preparation of inactivated Cp. abortus/Cp. pecorum elementary bodies. Vaccination against Chlamydophila highly significantly decreased milk somatic cell numbers, thus reduced bovine mastitis, and increased antibody levels against Chlamydophila, but did not eliminate shedding of Cp. abortus in milk as detected by PCR. The disease-protective effect peaked 11 weeks after vaccination, and lasted for a total of 14 weeks. Vaccination with the Chlamydophila vaccine, the mock-vaccine, or a combination vaccine against bovine viral diseases highly significantly increased Cp. abortus shedding in milk for one week, presumably mediated by the vaccine adjuvant. In summary, this study shows an etiological involvement of the widespread Chlamydophila spp. infections in bovine mastitis, a herd disease of critical importance for the dairy industry. Furthermore, this investigation shows the potential for temporary improvement of chlamydial disease by therapeutic vaccination. Chlamydophila vaccination of cattle might serve as testing ground for vaccines against human chlamydial infections.