COURSE OF INFECTION AND HUMORAL IMMUNE-REACTION IN CALVES INFECTED ORALLY WITH DIFFERENT SALMONELLA SEROVARS

5 groups of five calves each were orally infected with the salmonella serovar S. agona, S. dublin, S. enteritidis, S. infantis or S. typhimu rium. The course of infection and the humoral immune response against 5 antigen preparations of the homologous and the 4 heterologous salmon ella serovars were monitored in each group. Antibodies against two dif ferent protein antigens and against two differently prepared LPS antig ens were determined by ELISA and the level of H-agglutinine was assess ed by micro agglutination test. All 5 serovars proved to be virulent f or calves. The specificity of antibodies produced following the infect ion are not always consistent with the Kauffmann-White scheme. There w as a relation of age and strain for infection on immune response, wher eas the severity of infection did no correlate with an increase of ant ibody production. The serological tests used were good for investigati on of a defined host-parasite-interaction but not satisfactory for ser ovar specific diagnosis of salmonella infection in cattle.