OESOPHAGOSTOMUM-RADIATUM - THE EFFECT OF DIFFERENT ADJUVANTS ON VACCINATION WITH A PARTIALLY PURIFIED PROTECTIVE ANTIGEN

The components of a soluble extract of adult Oesophagostomum radiatum were separated into four fractions by gel filtration chromatography on a Superose-12 column. The second fraction had a molecular weight rang e of approximately 60 000-65 000 as judged by SDS gel electrophoresis. Vaccination of calves with this fraction significantly (P<0.05) reduc ed faecal egg output after challenge infection. In addition, the packe d cell volume of vaccinated calves was higher than that of control cal ves (P<0.05). The effect of three adjuvants on the vaccine activity wa s compared. Fraction 2 presented in dextran sulfate reduced the faecal egg count by 93.6% (P<0.05), Fraction 2 in Freund's complete adjuvant reduced the faecal egg count by 27% (P = N.S.). Quil A was ineffectiv e as an adjuvant.