Vaccination of sheep with cell culture grown orf virus

Orf virus, derived from contagious pustular dermatitis (scabby mouth) lesions in sheep, was adapted to cell culture and subsequently evaluated as a potential vaccine for sheep. The traditional vaccine virus, prepared from the infected scabs of orf virus lesions in sheep, was used to vaccinate sheep by scratching with an applicator (mounted pins) dipped in virus. Less than 10 TCID50 (50% tissue culture infectious doses) of virus was required to produce large lesions (greater than 5 mm diameter) which developed during a period of 10 to 14 d prior to onset of healing which was complete by 28 to 30 d. A serum neutralising antibody response was also detected and protection against challenge by application of virulent virus to abraded skin was demonstrated in that challenge lesions developed and healed more quickly (14 d against 30 d). However, cell culture-adapted virus required more than 10(5) TCID50 to induce even small lesions (less than 2 mm diameter). An antibody response could not be detected and no evidence of protection against challenge with virulent virus was demonstrated. In contrast, a recent field isolate has yielded a cell culture-adapted virus preparation that readily infects sheep, produces large lesions, detectable antibody and protects against challenge. This isolate is distinct from the traditional vaccine strain on the basis of restriction enzyme analysis but provides cross-protection in sheep inmmunisation and challenge studies. These results demonstrate that a cell culture produced scabby mouth vaccine is feasible.