Effect of maternal antibody upon vaccination with infectious bovine rhinotracheitis and bovine virus diarrhea vaccines

This report presents the normal rate of decay of maternal antibody and the influence of maternal antibody on responses to a single vaccination with modified-live bovine virus diarrhea and infectious bovine rhinotracheitis virus vaccines at 196 days of age and on response to vaccinations with the same vaccines given twice at 84 and 196 days of age. Passive immunity decreased to near zero over the first six months of life for both bovine virus diarrhea and infectious bovine rhinotracheitis controls. All calves seroconverted to bovine virus diarrhea vaccine at 84 days of age, even though high levels (greater than 1:32) of maternal antibodies were present. These calves did not seroconvert to infectious bovine rhinotracheitis vaccine at 84 days of age when high levels (less than 1:16) of maternal antibodies were present. Calves responded well to bovine virus diarrhea and infectious bovine rhinotracheitis vaccines given only once at 196 days of age after passive immunity disappeared. Calves which were revaccinated with infectious bovine rhinotracheitis seroconverted showing a more rapid response than the single vaccinates. Those revaccinated with bovine virus diarrhea showed an immediate response of small magnitude.