HUMORAL IMMUNE-RESPONSE OF GUINEA-PIGS TO AN EXPERIMENTAL VACCINE AGAINST EQUINE HERPESVIRUS-INFECTION

The aim of this study was to develop an experimental vaccine against h erpesvirus (EHV-1) infection. For vaccine development we used a field strain of the virus isolated from the tissue of an aborted foetus from a horse herd in wich the disedse appeated in the form of mass abortio n. Virus was adapted and multiplied in piglet kidney primary tissue cu lture, utilizing Eagle-s MEM with 2% calf fetal serum. Virus was colle cted 24-48 hours after inoculation, when the complete cell monolayer w as affected by the cytopathogenic process (change). After elimination of cell detritus, virus inactivation was performed with 0,2% formalin solution. A 30% Al(OH)(3) v/v in gel-form was used for virus stabiliza tion. Antigenic properties of the vaccine were examined on 30 guinea p igs weighting 300 to 400 g. Vaccine was administered twice at a twenty -one-day-interval, as a 0,4 mi subcutaneous dose in a knee ridge. The humoral immune response (seroconversion) was chected 14 days after vac cination and re-vacination. using a serum neutralization test with 100 TCID50 viruses on the PK-15 cell line. Values for the antibody titer ranged from 1:4 to 1.64, 14 days after vaccination, while they were si gnificanty higher 1 4 days after re-vaccination, ranging from 1:32 to 1.128.