The effects of vaccination with a high dose of BHV1 marker vaccine in pregnant heifers: virological, bacteriological, immunological en pathological findings

To determine a possible relationship between the compulsory vaccination aga inst bovine herpesvirus 1 (BHV1) and cattle wasting disease, the effects of BHV1 vaccination on heifers were investigated. Twenty heifers in the third trimester of pregnancy were randomly allotted to a vaccine and a control g roup. The vaccine group was vaccinated twice with a 50-fold dose of BHV1 va ccine and the control group was inoculated with the diluent. The experiment was performed double blind. After vaccination, the cows were examined dail y and condition scores were determined weekly. Blood, milk, and faeces samp les were collected weekly for virological, bacteriological, and immunologic al investigation. The heifers were euthanized either 9 or 13 weeks after th e first inoculation and pathological, virological, and bacteriological exam ination was performed. No differences were detected between the vaccine group and the control grou p. No concurrent infections were detected and there were no indications of immunosuppression after vaccination. No relationship between the BHV1 vacci nation and wasting disease in cattle was detected.