Canine adenovirus type 2-induced immunity to two canine adenoviruses in pups with maternal antibody.

Twenty-four Beagle pups with high levels of maternal antibody to canine adenovirus type 1 (CAV-1) and canine adenovirus type 2 (CAV-2) were oronasally inoculated with CAV-2 at 4 weeks of age. The CAV-2 was isolated from pharyngeal swabs on postinoculation days 2 through 6. In spite of the infection, maternal antibody continued to decrease for 4 to 8 postinoculation weeks, and then homologous CAV-2 neutralizing antibody and, to a lesser extent, CAV-1 neutralizing antibody began to increase. When these pups were challenge inoculated with CAV-1 and CAV-2 at a time when maternal antibody to CAV-1 would normally have disappeared, they were immune. In addition, 3 pups with maternal antibody to CAV-1 and CAV-2 were intramuscularly inoculated with CAV-2 at 3 weeks of age. Virus was not isolated from these pups, and maternal antibody decreased at a normal rate. These pups were not immune to challenge inoculation with CAV-1 and CAV-2.