Antibody responses to lactic acid producing bacteria in sheep immunized with experimental acidosis vaccines

Abstract

Acidosis is an economically important disease of ruminant livestock, involving both reduced productivity and serious animal welfare implications. Major lactic acid producing bacteria in sheep were identified by Al Jassim and Rowe (1999) and it is likely that the proliferation of these bacteria, under certain feeding regimes, leads to acidosis. Antibiotic feed additives are currently used in management of acidosis but there are serious concerns about this approach and, consequently, vaccination against acidosis producing bacteria as a means of preventing the condition is under active investigation in our laboratory. The aim of this trial was to measure antibody responses to a range of acidosis producing bacteria, following administration of experimental vaccines.