Efficacy Evaluation of a Combined Hemorrhagic Septicemia-Mastitis Vaccine in Dairy Cows and Buffaloes.

Hemorrhagic septicemia (HS) and mastitis caused by Pasteurella (P.) multocida , Staphylococcus (S.) aureus and Streptococcus (Str.) agalactiae are important ailments of the dairy industry especially in South Asia. The present study evaluates the efficacy of a locally prepared hemorrhagic septicemia (HS) and mastitis combined vaccine. To this end, a total of 70 HS, S. aureus and Str. agalactiae -free lactating (early stage of lactation) buffaloes (n = 45) and cows (n = 25), and 50 lactating (early stage of lactation) cows (n = 25) and buffaloes (n = 25) positive for S. aureus / Str. agalactiae were subjected to two doses of HS-mastitis combined vaccine with an interval of 21 days. Antibody response was monitored by ELISA up to six months (180 days). Antibody titers against HS and mastitis were significantly ( p ˂ 0.05) higher in vaccinated groups as compared to the non-vaccinated groups. Cumulative mean somatic cell counts and mastitis severity scores in vaccinated groups were significantly lower ( p < 0.05), and milk yield was significantly higher ( p < 0.05) than those in the respective non-vaccinated controls. In conclusion, Montanide ® -adjuvanted HS-mastitis combined vaccine showed significant immunogenic effects in dairy cows and buffaloes. However, challenge studies remain overdue.