Protection Provided by an Encapsulated Live Attenuated ΔabcBAStrain of Brucella ovis against Experimental Challenge in a Murine Model

Abstract

ABSTRACTThis study aimed to evaluate theBrucella ovisΔabcBAstrain as a vaccine candidate in the murine model. BALB/c mice were subcutaneously or intraperitoneally immunized with a single dose or three doses of theB. ovisΔabcBAstrain and then were challenged with wild-typeB. ovis. Single or multiple immunizations provided only mild protection, with significantly smaller numbers of wild-typeB. ovisCFU in the livers of immunized mice but not in the spleens. Encapsulation ofB. ovisΔabcBAsignificantly improved protection against experimental challenges in both BALB/c and C57BL/6 mice. Furthermore, immunization with encapsulatedB. ovisΔabcBAmarkedly prevented lesions in the spleens and livers of experimentally challenged mice. These results demonstrated that the encapsulatedB. ovisΔabcBAstrain confers protection to mice; therefore, this strain has potential as a vaccine candidate for rams.