Published in Scientific Works. Series C. Veterinary Medicine, Vol. LXVIII, Issue 1
Written by Elena NEGRU, Anca BULGARU, Horia DINU, Dragoş LUPU, Mihai DANEŞ, Maria-Rodica GURAU, Doina DANEŞ
Clostridium chauvoei is the etiological agent of blackleg, a severe disease of cattle and small ruminants, characterized by necro-hemorrhagic myositis and a superacute evolution. The superacute evolution of the disease does not allow antibiotic therapy to be effective; therefore vaccination remains the main prophylactic measure. The aim of the present study was characterize a C. chauvoei isolate, with the purpose of producing a vaccine against blackleg for small ruminants. The bacterial strain, isolated from a case of blackleg, was identified based on morphological, cultural, biochemical characteristics and PCR. The alpha toxin of the 12 hour anaerobically cultured strain provided a hemolytic titer of 1/1024, and the biological value assessed in vivo on Balb/C mice, calculated as lethal dose 50%, of 16 LD50. The inactivated whole-cell culture absorbed onto aluminum hydroxide was successful in protecting 100% of vaccinated guinea pigs, against death and clinical disease, in the challenge test. The results of the experiments recommend the isolated strain as a candidate for blackleg vaccine production.
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