Use of a fluorometric immunoassay to determine antibody response to Pasteurella haemolytica in vaccinated and nonvaccinated feedlot cattle

Abstract

A retrospective study of the antibody response to Pasteurella haemolytica was conducted by using sera from 368 feedlot cattle divided among five experiments. In three experiments, live vaccines or a bacterin were administered to some of the cattle and others were left as nonvaccinated controls. In two experiments, cattle were not vaccinated. Clinical signs of disease with subsequent recovery developed in 48.0% of the cattle, and 10.3% of the cattle died. Vaccination had no apparent effect on morbidity or mortality. At the time of purchase, 78% of the cattle had low antibody titers (less than 25) as measured by a quantitative fluorometric immunoassay. In most groups of cattle (both vaccinated and nonvaccinated), there was a significant rise in mean antibody titers between the time of purchase and days 28 to 32 in the feedlot. The antibody titers at the time of shipment and health status of cattle. The antibody ratios were significantly greater for cattle that became sick and then recovered compared with those of cattle that remained healthy. Although significance could not be established, antibody titers at the time of shipment were higher for cattle that remained healthy compared with cattle that became sick and then recovered.