Randomized controlled field trial to assess the efficacy of an intranasal cytotoxin vaccine against naturally occurring infectious bovine keratoconjunctivitis.

BACKGROUND

Infectious bovine keratoconjunctivitis (IBK; pinkeye) is generally considered to be caused by corneal infections with . Previous studies demonstrated that cytotoxin-specific mucosal immune responses in the bovine eye can be stimulated by intranasal vaccination with a recombinant cytotoxin subunit adjuvanted with polyacrylic acid.

METHODS

A randomized controlled field trial (two-arm parallel design with blinding) was conducted in beef steers in Northern California to determine if this vaccine could prevent naturally occurring IBK and/or reduce morbidity rates associated with this disease. Beef steers were vaccinated intranasally on days 0 and 21 with either a recombinant cytotoxin subunit adjuvanted with polyacrylic acid (Vaccine group) or adjuvant alone (Control group). Eye examinations were performed on all steers every 7 days for 16 weeks to document the occurrence of IBK and to determine sizes of corneal ulcers. Serum and tear samples were collected on days 0, 42, and 112 from a subset of animals to measure changes in systemic and ocular immune responses to cytotoxin.

RESULTS

The cumulative proportion of steers that developed IBK after 16 weeks did not differ between groups. Variables related to disease severity were numerically lower in steers that received the experimental vaccine. IBK-affected Vaccine group steers had a significantly lower number of observation weeks with severe ulcers versus Control group steers. Cytotoxin-specific tear IgA was significantly higher in Vaccine group compared to Control group steers on day 112. Although the proportion of animals that developed corneal ulcers associated with IBK did not differ between groups, the lowered metrics of disease severity in vaccinated steers suggests that intranasal vaccination with recombinant cytotoxin can reduce the severity of IBK in cattle.