Lamb model in the study of immunity to enteropathogenic Escherichia coli infections

Three groups of ewes were vaccinated with formalin inactivated, whole cell, aluminum hydroxide adjuvanted bacterins prepared from capsulated enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EEC). Lambs born to and suckling these ewes, compared with lambs of nonvaccinated control ewes, were highly resistant to homologous EEC challenge exposure. Lambs of ewes vaccinated with products prepared from K99 antigen-positive, noncapsulated E coli were highly resistant to heterologous EEC challenge exposure. In both cases, lambs of vaccinated ewes had significantly (P less than 0.005) less morbidity and mortality, fewer challenge inoculum-type E coli per rectal swab evaluation, and had superior weight gains over a 4-day period. Immunoglobulin assay of 122 lamb sera (collected 12 hours after birth) failed to reveal any correlation between serum immunoglobulin values and morbidity or mortality. When tested by plate agglutination technique, using whole cell antigens, or by reverse radial immunodiffusion, using purified capsular antigens, colostral whey samples of vaccinated ewes did not have increased capsular antibody titers. The K99 serum antibody values of K99 antigen-vaccinated ewes were markedly higher than were those of ewes vaccinated with other bacterins or of control ewes.