Recombinant protein subunit vaccine reduces puerperal metritis incidence and modulates the genital tract microbiome

摘要

The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacyof 3 vaccine formulations containing proteins(FimH, leukotoxin, and pyolysin), inactivated wholecells (Escherichia coli, Fusobacterium necrophorum,and Trueperella pyogenes), or both, in the preventionof postpartum uterine diseases. A randomized clinicaltrial was conducted at a commercial dairy farm; 800heifers were assigned into 1 of 4 different treatmentgroups: control, vaccine 1 (bacterin and subunit proteins),vaccine 2 (bacterin), and vaccine 3 (recombinantsubunit proteins), and each heifer received a subcutaneousinjection of its respective treatment at 240 ± 3and 270 ± 3 d of gestation. Vaccination significantlyreduced the incidence of puerperal metritis when comparedwith control (9.1% vs. 14.9%, respectively; oddsratio 0.51). Additionally, vaccine 3 was found to reducethe incidence of puerperal metritis when comparedwith the control (8.0% vs. 14.9%, respectively; odds ratio0.46). Reproduction was improved for metritic cowsthat were vaccinated, and the effect was stronger forcows that were treated with vaccine 3. In general, vaccinationdecreased the total vaginal bacterial load anddecreased the vaginal load of F. necrophorum by 9 d inmilk. Vaccination reduced the prevalence of puerperalmetritis in the first lactation of dairy cows, leading toless metritic disease and improved reproduction.