The immune response of calves given Mycoplasma bovis antigens

Seven calves seven to 30 days of age were given Mycoplasma bovis antigen by different routes. Immunization was in two phases. The first consisted of single or multiple SC, IV or oral doses of antigen for two to four weeks. The second phase consisted of multiple SC or ID injections given from the eighth to the 19th week. The experiment was terminated at 26 weeks. Antibody titers were followed by indirect hemagglutination, growth inhibition and tetrazolium reduction inhibition. Total serum protein, protein fractions and IgG and IgM concentrations were determined in serums of one calf and the distribution of indirect hemagglutination antibodies in IgG and IgM classes were determined in serums of two of the calves. Indirect hemagglutination titers of 1280 and peak titers of >20,480 occurred after the first and second phases respectively. There was no relationship between total serum IgG or IgM concentrations and indirect hemagglutination titers. In one calf given M. bovis antigen in one dose SC and five weekly doses IV in phase I, indirect hemagglutination antibodies appeared in IgM within one week and IgG by four weeks, IgG antibody activity rose steadily until the 17th week but declined at the 26th week, whereas IgM activity after the initial rise dropped at the 13th week but rose even higher as a result of second phase ID injections. Another calf given six weekly IV doses of M. bovis antigen in phase I developed indirect hemagglutination antibodies in IgM peaking at four weeks then declining but with no IgG response. Activity in both IgM and IgG occurred after the second phase. Growth inhibition antibodies were found only on two occasions in one calf serum and tetrazolium reduction inhibition activity when tested never gave titres exceeding 1:32.