Abstract
The aim of present study was to prepare and evaluate Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus agalactiae
aluminium hydroxide adjuvanted mastitis vaccine in rabbits. For this purpose, isolates of these two bacterial
species were recovered from aseptically collected milk samples (n=95) of mastitic buffaloes, identified and biocharacterized. Pathogenicity, immunogenicity, and antibiotics sensitivity testing of vaccinal organisms was
performed. A bivalent aluminium hydroxide adjuvanted mastitis vaccine was prepared in Mastitis Research
Laboratory, Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery. The vaccine was found stable, sterile and safe to use.
Quality of vaccine and its antibody response was evaluated in rabbits. Rabbits were divided into two groups (GA
and G
s
) of ten rabbits each. Rabbits in group GA were injected with S. aureus and Str. agalactiae aluminium
hydroxide adjuvanted mastitis vaccine while rabbits of group Gs served as non-vaccinated control. Vaccine was
found stable, sterile and safe to use. Indirect haemagglutination inhibition test was performed for determination of
titers against vaccinal S. aureus and Str. agalactiae. Serum antibody titres (GMT) against S .aureus were highest
(78.8) at day 45 in the rabbits of group GA which declined slightly to 73.3 on day 60. The gradual increase in IHA
titre for Str. agalactiae was also observed at day 45 and day 60 post vaccination. Cumulative mean antibody titre
(CMT) was 44.94 for vaccinal S. aureus isolate arid 46.56 for vaccinal Str. agalactiae isolate while in control group
(Gs
) 2.12 CMT was recorded. The antibody response of vaccine in terms of geometric mean titres was
significantly higher in vaccinated group at day 45 and 60 post vaccination as compared to control group.The
results of the study indicated that the bivalent(S. aureus and Str. Agalactiae) aluminium hydroxide adjuvanted
vaccine was immunogenic in rabbits.
