Potency of ‘Indigenous Vaccine’ Against ‘Caprine Johne's Disease’ VIS a VIS ‘A Commercial Vaccine’ in Caprine

After serial passage for 5 years on solid Herrold's egg yolk medium, protective efficacy of ‘indigenous Johne's disease vaccine’ derived from Indian Bison Type’ strain of MAP (‘S 5’) was re-evaluated and compared with commercial ‘Gudair vaccine’ (CZ Veterinaria, Spain). Forty young kids were divided into three groups; Group I (n=10) was ‘control’, Group II (n=15) received ‘Indigenous vaccine’ and Group III (n=15) was given ‘Gudair vaccine’. All kids were twice challenged with 3 X 10⁹ and 5 X10⁹ bacilli of ‘S 5’ strain on 50^th and 270^th days post vaccination (DPV), respectively. Samples (blood, serum and fecal) were screened for LTT, ELISA and shedding of bacilli and data on live animal traits, mortality and experimental sacrifice were compared. No adverse clinical reaction was observed in any of the goats vaccinated. Goats of both vaccinated groups gained significantly (P<0.01) higher body weight as compared to control. Vaccinated groups also had marked stimulation and sero-conversion for cell mediated and humoral immune response, respectively as compared to control goats. Results of post-challenged fecal culture showed successful restriction of MAP shedding till 200 DPV in both vaccinated groups as compared to control. Mortality due to JD occurred only in control groups (20%). Control goats developed clinical JD and exhibited significant reduction in body weights with depletion of body fat and small intestine was thickened with infiltration of mononuclear cells. There was significant improvement in external and internal body traits and histological lesions in case of vaccinated than ‘Sham-immunized’ group. Overall results showed that both Indigenous as well as Gudair vaccine have similar in almost all the parameters we tested.