Mucosal immune responses in calves orally vaccinated with a live auxotrophic aroA Salmonella dublin strain

The mucosal immune responses were studied in two calves orally vaccinated with the live aroA mutant strain, Salmonella dublin SL5631, and in two non-vaccinated control calves. Intestinal secretions were collected through a permanent fistula in place during a 5-week period. Vaccinated calves responded with high IgM and IgA titres against the S. dublin lipopolysaccharide. Both IgA and the IgM titres appeared already after 3 days and IgM somewhat earlier than the IgA titres. Both antibody titres remained high for 2 weeks after the third and final vaccine dose. The calves also showed marked T-cell responses in lymphocytes collected from mesenterial lymph nodes and the spleen.