EFFICACY OF FREEZE-DRIED INACTIVATED VACCINE AGAINST RABBIT ENTEROTOXAEMIA

Document Type : Research article

Authors

Department of Anaerobic Bacterial Vaccine Research, Veterinary Serum and Vaccine Research Institute (VSVRI), Agricultural Research Center (ARC), Abbasia, Cairo Egypt.

10.21608/avmj.2025.323070.1407

Abstract

Clostridium (C.) perfringens type A is a leading cause of enterotoxemia in rabbits, significantly affecting outcomes in rabbit farming. It results in a high mortality rate, particularly in weaned rabbits. Vaccination is the most effective control method for this disease. The study focused on preparing and assessing a rabbit bloat vaccine of inactivated toxoid of C. perfringens type A in a lyophilized form that is reconstituted at the time of vaccination using saponin that acts as an adjuvant. The immune response and keeping quality of the prepared vaccine were evaluated in rabbits every 6 months till 24 months of storage at 4 ᵒC and compared to a local vaccine prepared from an inactivated toxoid of C. perfringens type A using aluminium hydroxide gel as an adjuvant. The results showed that all vaccinated rabbits had protective antibodies against C. perfringens, and the results from tested rabbits achieved 4 IU/ml for C. perfringens types A α toxin. It was also found that the lyophilized vaccine prepared from the toxoid of C. perfringens type A gave a higher antitoxic titer than the local vaccine, which lasted protected for up to 24 months; in contrast, the local vaccine lasted only up to 12 months. It was clear that using the lyophilization method not only affects the potency of the vaccine but also increases the duration of preservation of the vaccine and reduces the time spent during vaccine transportation. Also, using saponin as an adjuvant helps in stimulating the immune response.

Keywords

Main Subjects

Assiut Veterinary Medical Journal
Volume 71, Issue 184
January 2025
Pages 643-651

Files

Share

How to cite

Statistics