Kinetics and type of immune response following intranasal and subcutaneousimmunisation of calves

Protection of animals against respiratory infections has long been known to depend on respiratory mucosal immunity. However, few studies have been rep orted on the immune response following intranasal (i.n.) immunisation with non-living, soluble antigens. This study determined the kinetics of the hum oral and cellular immune responses in calves after Ln. immunisation with Li mulus haemocyanin (LH) with cholera toxin adjuvant, or subcutaneous (s.c.) immunisation with LH in incomplete Freund's adjuvant. A proliferative respo nse of peripheral blood mononuclear cells cultured in vitro with LH was obs erved in animals immunised 7-10 days after i.n. and s.c. immunisations with no significant differences between the two immunised groups. LK-Specific a ntibody was present in the serum of animals immunised s.c. (IgM, IgG1 and I gG2) and i.n. (IgA). Although significant IgA responses were observed, i.n. immunisations in cattle with soluble protein antigens and cholera toxin as an adjuvant did not induce a strong systemic immune response. (C) 2001 Har court Publishers Ltd.