Evaluation of particulate acellular vaccines against Brucella ovis infection in rams

The attenuated Brucella melitensis Rev 1 vaccine, used against brucellosis infection, interferes with serological diagnosis tests, may induce abortions in pregnant animals, and may infect humans. In order to overcome these drawbacks, we developed acellular vaccines based on a Brucella ovis antigenic complex (HS) containing outer membrane proteins and R-LPS entrapped in poly(anhydride) conventional and mannosylated nanoparticles (NP-HS and MAN-NP-HS) or in poly(epsilon-caprolactone) microparticles (HS-PEC) as antigen delivery systems and immunoadjuvants. Brucellosis free rams were vaccinated subcutaneously with a single dose of particles containing 3mg of HS, and challenged 6 months thereafter. Protection was evaluated by clinical, bacteriological and serological examinations, in comparison with non-vaccinated control rams. HS-PEC vaccine induced protection (7 out of 13 animals were infected) equivalent to that induced by the reference Rev 1 vaccine (8/14). In contrast, animals immunized with NP-HS were not protected, showing similar results to that obtained in the control unvaccinated rams. Furthermore HS-PEC vaccine did not interfere against B. melitensis serodiagnostic tests. In summary, HS-PEC microparticles could be used as a safe and effective vaccine against brucellosis in rams.