Evaluation of antibody response to inactivated bovine ephemeral fever virus vaccine for Japanese Black calves in the field.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the antibody response to the bovine ephemeral fever virus (BEFV) vaccine in Japanese Black calves. Twenty-eight Japanese Black calves, which were raised on an ordinal farm, were divided into two groups. Fifteen calves received the inactivated BEFV vaccine at 12 and 16 weeks of age (vaccination group), and 13 calves did not receive the vaccine (non-vaccination group). Blood samples were obtained at 0, 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24, 28, and 32 weeks of age. As the results, in the vaccination group, the antibody titers at 16, 20, 24, 28, and 32 weeks of age were significantly higher than those at 0, 4, 8, and 12 weeks of age (p < 0.01). Additionally, antibody titer in the vaccination group increased after 16 weeks of age and showed a significantly higher level than that in the non-vaccination group throughout the remaining experimental period (p < 0.01). These results might be helpful in establishing a vaccination program against BEFV in calves.