Influence of antigenic forms and adjuvants on protection against a lethal infection of Aujeszky’s disease virus

The influence of antigenic forms and adjuvant types on protection against a lethal infection of Aujeszky’s disease virus (ADV) in mice was investigated. Antiviral IgG2a antibody response against particulate (inactivated ADV) and soluble antigen (ADV solubilized with deoxychorate–Na) in approximate order of extent was ISA70>QS-21>positively charged liposome>negatively charged liposome>weak negatively charged liposome>ISA25>lablabside F saponin>aluminum phosphate gel>non adjuvant. Particulate antigen induced higher IgG2a antibody production than soluble antigen. Particulate antigen combined with ISA70, ISA25 or positively charged liposome gave 100, 50 and 40% protection to mice, respectively. In contrast, soluble antigen plus ISA70 conferred 30% protection on mice. Immunogens using the other adjuvants gave ≤20% protection to mice. These results indicate that a combination of particulate antigen and an appropriate adjuvant effectively induces the production of antiviral IgG2a antibody and provides protection against a lethal ADV infection in mice.