Further investigations into immunization of cattle against rinderpest

Abstract

1. Kabete goat virus was not transmitted from reacting to susceptible cattle under conditions of close contact. 2. A single doubtful transmission was recorded under conditions of open grazing. 3. A febrile condition of unknown aetiology transmissible from cattle to goats was encountered. 4. Urine from reacting animals was non-infective, but faeces in one out of two cases was infective by drenching. 5. Immunity produced by a single injection of formal-glycerine spleen-vaccine had completely disappeared after 8 months. 6. Immunity produced by triple vaccination with formal-saline vaccine had diminished considerably after 8 months. 7. Triple vaccination followed by a single injection of formal-glycerine spleen vaccine 9 months later produced an immunity which persisted for at least 20 months. 8. The rapid production of immunity induced by a single injection of formal-glycerine spleen-vaccine could be used to control the reaction to K.G.V. An interval of 7 days between vaccine and virus appeared to be the optimum. 9. Spleen-vaccine prepared from cattle reacting to K.G.V. has an inferior antigenic potency. 10. The reaction produced by K.G.V. in grade cattle (British breeds of cattle x Zebu) are severe but usually non-fatal. A durable immunity follows the reaction.