The Effects of the Conjunctival Brucella Vaccine on Some Biochemical Parameters in Sheep

Abstract

The genus Brucella causes significant economic losses due to infertility, abortion, stillbirth or weak calves, and neonatal mortality in livestock. Brucellosis is still a zoonosis of public health importance worldwide. In the past, vaccination was administered subcutaneously and nowadays, the conjunctival vaccine is administered. There is no definite information about the changes of the biochemical parameters and antibody response after conjunctival vaccination. In this study, the investigation of the changes in the levels of some biochemical parameters due to the conjunctival vaccination for brucellosis was aimed. Thirty sheep were used as an animal material. The vaccine was done single dose against Brucella melitensis and the blood was drawled from Vena jugularis during 4 months. Antibody levels were determined by serum tube agglutination test. Alkaline phosphatase (ALP), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), glucose, total protein, and albumin levels were measured using commercial autoanalyzer in sera. The antibody titers (p < 0.001) increased significantly at first month compared to the pre-vaccination, but at the second month began to fall. There was no statistically significant changes in glucose, AST, ALT activity after vaccination (p > 0.005). The significant amount of total protein and ALP decreased after vaccination (p < 0.005). LDH levels and total protein levels were significantly increased (p < 0.005). In conclusion, conjunctival vaccine was considered to be used as a safe to protect the sheep from brucellosis and the results of the study may be used to improve the efficiency of brucellosis eradication programs within livestock management. © 2018, Springer Nature B.V.