Bovine Viral Diarrhea Virus Antibody Level Variation in Newborn Calves after Vaccination of Late-Gestational Cows

Abstract

This study was conducted to confirm variation in bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) antibody levels transferred to calves from their mother’s colostrum after vaccination of late-gestational cows. Blood samples were drawn from 60 pregnant cows that had been vaccinated more than one year and less than two years previously. The samples were collected six weeks prior to the expected date of delivery. After sample collection, the cows were divided into two groups of 30. One group received 2 mL of BVDV vaccine, and a control group received 2 mL of phosphate-buffered saline (PBS). Blood was collected from the cows three weeks post-administration. Additional blood samples were taken from calves at 1, 4, 8, 12, 16, and 20 weeks after birth. The serum was separated from the collected blood, and BVDV antibody changes were confirmed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. BVDV antibody levels were higher from 8 to 20 weeks of age in calves born to late-gestational BVDV-vaccinated cows than in calves born to control cows (p < 0.0083). Further analysis confirmed a slow decline in BVDV maternal antibodies in calves born to pregnant cows that produced high levels of BVDV antibodies following pre-calving BVDV vaccination. These results suggest that BVDV vaccination of cattle in late pregnancy may help to extend the duration of protection against BVDV infection in newborn calves.