Efficacy of different adjuvants to potentiate the immune response to mycoplasma strain F-38.

A study was carried out to determine the efficacy of different adjuvants in enhancing antibody response to sonicated F-38 antigens. Goats were immunised against CCPP using antigens incorporated in Freund's incomplete adjuvant (IFA), saponin, aluminium hydroxide gel and buffered saline (PBS) respectively. Antibody responses were determined. The goats were challenged four months after immunisation to assess their immune status. Two of eight goats given antigen in PBS, six of 10 goats given antigen in aluminium hydroxide, seven of eight goats given antigen in IFA and all 10 goats given antigen in saponin withstood the challenge. Saponin and IFA were similar in their immune potentiation ability and were superior to aluminium hydroxide. As IFA has been considered unsuitable for use in food animals saponin may prove valuable in vaccination of goats against CCPP caused by mycoplasma strain F-38.