The Use of live cultures of Pasteurella haemolytica Pasteurella multocida to immunize cattle against bovine respiratory disease

Abstract

Bovine respiratory disease is the leading cause of loss to the North American cattle industry. The disease is characterized by a severe fibrinous pneumonia or a suppurative bronchitis and bronchopneumonia. The bacteria most commonly associated with these cases of pneumonia and deaths are Pasteurella haemolytica (PH) and Pasteurella multocida (PM). Attempts to immunize calves with killed bacterins or extracts of these bacteria have been ineffective. Recently several investigators have used live cultures of PH and PM to immunize calves against respiratory disease. The purpose of these investigations was to develop vaccines that effectively immunize calves against pneumonic pasteurellosis. Two vaccines have been developed that contain viable Pasteurella haemolytica (PRECON-PH) or Pasteurella multocida (BOVICON-PM) (A.H. Robins Corporation, Richmond, Va.).