Antibody response to the epsilon toxin of Clostridium perfringens following vaccination of Lama glama crias

Authors

  • Adriana B. Bentancor Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias Universidad de Buenos Aires, Argentina, Chorroarín 280. Cdad. Autónoma de Buenos Aires
  • Pablo Halperin Histología, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias Universidad de Buenos Aires, Argentina, Chorroarín 280. Cdad. Autónoma de Buenos Aires
  • Myriam Flores Estadística, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias Universidad de Buenos Aires, Argentina, Chorroarín 280. Cdad. Autónoma de Buenos Aires
  • Fabián Iribarren Enfermedades Infecciosas, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias Universidad de Buenos Aires, Argentina, Chorroarín 280. Cdad. Autónoma de Buenos Aires

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3855/jidc.555

Keywords:

Lama glama, C. perfringens type D epsilon toxin, antibodies, vaccine

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Enterotoxaemia produced by Clostridium perfringens A, C and D is an important cause of mortality in young llamas. There is no data on antibody responses following vaccination with epsilon toxin. METHODOLOGY: Twenty-six L. glama crias were divided into four groups which were vaccinated with a commercial vaccine (Mancha Gangrena Enterotoxemia, Instituto Rosembusch Sociedad Anónima, Argentina) on days 0, 21 and 42 or left as unvaccinated controls. An indirect ELISA was compared with the mouse neutralization test (MNT) for measuring titers to C. perfringens type D epsilon toxin and used to determine titers in sera taken before vaccination and 16, 28, 49, 59, and 93 days later. RESULTS: The ELISA gave comparable results to the MNT and showed animals vaccinated once failed to develop raised titers. A week following a second vaccination, mean antibody titers rose significantly (P < 0.05) and 7/12 animals developed high titers which were present in only one animal at the end of the study (day 93). A third vaccination resulted in a decrease in mean antibody titers a week later. CONCLUSIONS: Llamas develop antibodies to Clostridium perfringens type D epsilon toxin after two vaccinations at a 21-day interval. Further studies are indicated to determine if these inoculations protect against enterotoxemia and the most appropriate vaccination schedule.

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Published

2009-09-15

How to Cite

1.
Bentancor AB, Halperin P, Flores M, Iribarren F (2009) Antibody response to the epsilon toxin of Clostridium perfringens following vaccination of Lama glama crias. J Infect Dev Ctries 3:624–627. doi: 10.3855/jidc.555

Issue

Section

Brief Original Articles