Immune responses of goats against foot-and-mouth disease quadrivalent vaccine: comparison of double oil emulsion and aluminium hydroxide gel vaccines in eliciting immunity

The epidemiological role of small ruminants in foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) outbreaks has been generally neglected. Although, the disease in these species is sub-clinical in nature, their role as virus carriers represents a reservoir for further infection and spread of disease. Data on the usefulness of polyvalent FMD vaccine (FMDV) in goats is scant. Thus, the present study was undertaken to evaluate the benefits of a highly potent polyvalent FMDV in goats. In the present investigations, FMDV quadrivalent double oil emulsion (Montanide ISA 206) vaccines were tested in goats at reduced doses of 2 ml per animal (antigen payload 3.5 mug per serotype per dose). The oil adjuvant elicited superior immune response at any given period than aluminium hydroxide gel (AGS) vaccine and the rapidity of development of response was quicker. The duration of immunity also appeared to be maintained for long period. The differences in immune response between two adjuvant groups were statistically significant (P < 0.05). The differences were apparent even in kinetics of immune response. Unlike cattle, goats were found to be late responders for oil-adjuvanted vaccine. Our results indicate possible universal usage of double oil emulsion vaccines for disease control programs irrespective of species of animals. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.