Abstract
We aimed to determine the safety, immunogenicity and efficiency of an inactivated equine rotavirus vaccine. The vaccine was prepared with G3 serotype equine rotavirus. A dose of 2 ml was inoculated twice with a 1-month interval into the cervical muscles of 60 pregnant mares (40 on farm T and 20 on farm M). The first vaccination was conducted 2 or 3 months before full term. No abnormal signs were observed in the whole body or the inoculated area in any of the mares vaccinated. Serum neutralization antibody rose in 56 (93.3%) of the 60 vaccinated mares. The 60 foals born to the vaccinated mares possessed neutralization antibody titers of 1:320 to 1:10240. Sixteen foals on farm T developed diarrhea caused by serotype G14 rotavirus infection, but no foals on farm M developed diarrhea. Diarrhea in the foals born to vaccinated mares was a slight illness in comparison with that in foals born to unvaccinated mares. The vaccine is safe and immunogenic for pregnant mares, and vaccine-induced maternal antibody in the foals can reduce the signs of diarrhea caused by rotavirus infection.
