EVALUATION OF PARENTERAL VACCINATION METHODS WITH GLYCOPROTEINS AGAINST AUJESZKYS-DISEASE IN PIGS

A comparative evaluation of vaccination methods with glycoproteins for the induction of immune responses and protection of the pig against A ujeszky's disease virus (ADV) was performed. Different vaccination rou tes (intradermal (I.D.) versus intramuscular (I.M.)), inoculation site s (the neck versus the back) and number of inoculation points (2 versu s 6) per site were compared, Body weight (BW) changes and viral excret ion after challenge were compared with virus-neutralizing titers, anti gen-specific IgG and IgA responses in serum and virus-specific lymphop roliferative responses in peripheral blood during the immunisation per iod. According to BW changes better protection was obtained with six-p oint than two-point I.D. injections. I.D. vaccination in the back at s ix points gave similar results as I.M. vaccination in the neck but app eared inferior in the reduction of virus excretion, Regarding the immu nological parameters, the virus-specific IgA response in serum gave th e best indication for protection. It can be concluded that according t o BW changes, six-point I.D. immunisation in the back and I.M. immunis ation in the neck provided the best protection and that six-point I.D. injections resulted in a better vaccination than two-point I.D. injec tions. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science B.V.