K88 variants K88ab, K88ac and K88ad in oral vaccination of different porcine adhesive phenotypes. Immunological aspects

Sows of different adhesive phenotypes were vaccinated orally during the last 4 weeks of gestation with K88-positive . Sows susceptible to adhesion by the K88 variant of the vaccination strain produced a significant IgA-class specific anti-K88 response in colostrum and milk and post-farrowing serum. Indications for an IgM and IgG-class specific anti-K88 response were also found in this group but only in milk. In sows resistant to adhesion by the K88 variant of the vaccination strain only an IgA-class specific anti-K88 antibody response was found in mammary secretions and in post-farrowing sera, but titres did not reach the high values of the former group. The response in the second group was attributed to the frequent administration of large quantities of K88-positive which to some extent can be compared with a colonization effect. Specificity for the serological components of the K88 variants was detectable in colostral IgA of sows susceptible to the vaccination strain only

Serodiagnosis of canine leptospirosis by solid-phase enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay

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Determination of specific anti-leptospiral immunoglobulins M and G in sera of experimentally infected dogs by solid-phase enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay

The development and evaluation of an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to detect specific anti-leptospiral IgM and IgG in sera of dogs experimentally infected with Leptospira interrogans serotype canicola are reported. In all dogs specific anti-leptospiral IgM was detected from the second half of the first week after infection, the maximum being attained during the second week. Subsequently the IgM titre gradually decreased. Specific anti-leptospiral IgG was detected later and increased gradually to reach almost the same level as the IgM titre after two to three months. During the initial stage of the infection, when the microscopic agglutination titre was still negative or very low, a high IgM titre was accompanied by a negative or very low IgG titre in every case. After the initial stage a substantial IgG titre was also detectable. It is suggested that the test is suitable for serodiagnostic purposes, particularly for the diagnosis of a current infection in an individual

Humoral immune response of dogs after vaccination against leptospirosis measured by an IgM- and IgG-specific ELISA

An IgM- and IgG-specific ELISA was used to measure the antibody response stimulated in dogs by vaccination with a leptospiral bacterin containing chemically inactivated serotype icterohaemorrhagiae and serotype canicola leptospires. All dogs produced anti-leptospiral IgM and IgG. The IgM production was of the primary response type after each vaccination (primary vaccination, booster vaccination and annual revaccination). A substantial anti-leptospiral IgG response could be demonstrated only after the first booster vaccination and the annual revaccination. Annual revaccination resulted in a higher and much longer persisting IgG response than did the first booster vaccination. A revision of the vaccination scheme is suggested