The Humoral Immune Response of Elks (Cervus elaphus nelsoni) and Mice to Vaccination with Brucella abortus Strain RB51

Type of Document Dissertation
Author Colby, Lesley A.
URN etd-5502061974360
Title The Humoral Immune Response of Elks (Cervus elaphus nelsoni) and Mice to Vaccination with Brucella abortus Strain RB51
Degree Master of Science
Department Veterinary Medical Sciences
Advisory Committee
Advisor Name Title
G. G. Schurig DVM, PHD Committee Chair
N. Sriranganathan, BVSc, MVSc, PhD none
S. Ansar Ahmed, BVSc, PHD none
Keywords

* BALB/c
* ELISA
* biobullet
* western blot
* brucellosis

Date of Defense 1997-02-04
Availability unrestricted
Abstract

Vaccine Brucella abortus strain RB51, unlike

the wild strain 2308 and another vaccine strain

(strain 19) does not induce anti-O-chain

antibodies. An efficacious vaccine strain that

fails to produce an O-chain and thus a lack of

an anti-O-chain humoral response greatly

simplifies identification of vaccinated versus field

strain infected animals. The three primary

objectives of this research were the following: 1)

to develop a serological assay to detect

anti-RB51 antibodies in vaccinated elk (Cervus

elaphus nelsoni), 2) to identify potential antigenic

alterations in RB51 after vaccination of elk and

BALB/c mice, and 3) to confirm the general

stability of RB51. Elk were divided into four

groups based upon gender and the route of

inoculation (subcutaneous or ballistic) of RB51

bacteria. This study developed a highly reliable

ELISA (using a monoclonal anti-bovine IgG 1

antibody and acetone killed whole RB51

bacteria) which can identify RB51-vaccinated

elk. Also, isolates recovered from

RB51-vaccinated elk were inoculated into

female BALB/c mice whose spleens were then

cultured. All elk and mice isolates were

bacteriologically, biochemically, and

serologically evaluated. This study showed that

RB51 is a highly stable strain, which does not

revert to smooth morphology or initiate synthesis

of LPS-O-chain, maintains it biochemical

characteristics, does not undergo detectable

antigenic variations, and remains attenuated even

after successive passages in elk and mice.

Overall, this research indicates that RB51 is a

vaccine candidate for the prevention of

brucellosis in elk. Further studies are needed to

determine the protective capabilities of RB51 in

elk.

free literature