Production of a highly immunogenic subunit ISCOM vaccine against Bovine Viral Diarrhea Virus

Bovine Viral Diarrhea Virus (BVDV) is a major pathogen of cattle in most co untries. The main reservoir of virus in herds are BVDV persistently infecte d animals, which arise as a result of infection of the bovine fetus early i n gestation. The spread of virus to the unborn fetus may be prevented by Va ccination of the dam. We describe in this report the production and initial testing of an inactivated subunit vaccine against BVDV. The vaccine is bas ed on production of antigen in primary bovine cell cultures, extraction of antigens from infected cells with detergent, chromatographic purification, concentration, and insertion of antigens into immune stimulating complexes (ISCOMs). Vaccines based on two different Danish strains of BVDV were injec ted into calves and the antisera produced were tested for neutralising acti vity against a panel of Danish BVDV strains. The two vaccines induced diffe rent neutralisation responses, which seem to partly complement each other. The implication of these observations for successful Vaccination against BV DV is discussed. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.