Systemic antibodies administered by passive immunization prevent generalization of the infection by foot-and-mouth disease virus in cattle after oronasal challenge

• Published in: Virology (New York, N.Y.) N.Y.), 2018-05, Vol.518, p.143-151
• Main Authors: Barrionuevo, Florencia, Di Giacomo, Sebastián, Bucafusco, Danilo, Ayude, Andrea, Schammas, Juan, Miraglia, M. Cruz, Capozzo, Alejandra, Borca, Manuel V., Perez-Filgueira, Mariano
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aerogenous infection; Cattle; Foot-and-mouth disease; Protective immunity; Vaccines
• ISSN: 0042-6822; 1096-0341
• DOI: 10.1016/j.virol.2018.02.012

The role of passively transferred sera in the protection against aerogenous foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) virus infection in cattle was evaluated using vaccine-induced immune serum preparations obtained at 7 and 26 days post-vaccination (dpv). We showed that circulating antibodies were sufficient to prevent disease generalization after oronasal infection in animals passively transferred with 26-dpv serum but not with the 7-dpv serum. Conversely, conventional FMD vaccination provided clinical protection at 7 dpv, promoting fast and robust antibody responses upon challenge and even though antibody titers were similar to those found in animals passively immunized with 7-dpv serum. These results demonstrate that presence of antigen-specific antibodies is critical to prevent the dissemination of the virus within the animal. Conventional FMD vaccination additionally promoted the deployment of rapid, high titer and isotype-switched antibody responses at systemic and mucosal levels after infection, thus conferring protection even in the presence of low pre-challenge antibody titers. •Systemic antibodies may prevent generalization of aerogenous FMDV infection in cattle.•Systemic vaccination also promoted enhanced antibody responses after challenge.•Post-infection responses allowed protection from FMD even at early times post-vaccination.