Protective immunity against pasteurellosis in cattle, induced by Pasteurella haemolytica ghosts

Pasteurella haemolytica is a cattle pathogen of significant economic impact. An effective vaccine against bovine pneumonic pasteurellosis is therefore of high importance. Apart from economic concerns, pasteurellosis caused by P. haemolytica is a serious disease leading to death in cattle if it remains untreated. In this study P. haemolytica—ghosts are presented as a promising vaccine candidate in cattle. To obtain sufficient vaccination material a fermentation protocol for P. haemolytica—ghost production was established. With the obtained experimental P. haemolytica—ghost vaccine, cattle immunization studies were performed based on a Pasteurella cattle challenge model developed specifically for vaccine validation. It was shown that protective immunization of cattle against homologous challenge was induced by adjuvanted P. haemolytica—ghosts. The level of protection was similar to a commercially available vaccine.