Humoral Immune Response Induced by Various Foot
and Mouth Disease Vaccines in Buffalo Calves
Aatka Jamil1, Rabaab Zahra2,
M.Abubakar3, M. Javed Arshed1, Ehtisham-ul-Haq
Khan1, Tasnim Akhter4 and M Afzal1*
1FAO Project “Progressive Control of Foot and Mouth
Disease”, FAO Pakistan Office, NARC Premises, Islamabad; 2Department of Microbiology,
Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad; 3National Veterinary Laboratories, Islamabad; 4Buffalo Research Institute,
Pattoki, Qasur, Pakistan *Corresponding author: muhammadimam.afzal@fao.org
Abstract
Humoral immune response to 5 FMD vaccines (3
imported and 2 locally manufactured) available in Pakistan was studied in 90
buffalo calves over seven months period. All vaccines were trivalent and
contained serotypes A, O and Asia-1. Sera were analyzed for the presence of
antibodies against non-structural proteins (NSP) and structural proteins (SP)
using commercially available 3ABC-trapping indirect ELISA and liquid phase
blocking ELISA, respectively. Maternal NSP antibodies waned by 5th
month of age in most of the buffalo calves. Vaccine induced NSP antibodies were
seen in only two animals, both vaccinated with locally manufactured unpurified
vaccines. All three imported vaccines induced significantly higher titers
against SP than local vaccines. These titers seemed to stay at protective level
for almost six months in two imported vaccines which had aluminum hydroxide and
saponin as adjuvant. Peak titers of both local vaccines were highest on day 30
post booster dose but these titers declined sharply and by day 60 post booster
dose, the titers were much lower than the protective level. Oil adjuvanted FMD
vaccines (both local and imported) did not induce sustained higher immune
response in buffalo calves that are normally seen in cattle with these vaccines.