The outer membrane of Pasteurella multocida 3:A protects rabbits against homologous challenge

The protective efficacy of a vaccine purified from the Pasteurella multocida 3:A outer membrane (OM) was evaluated in rabbits by homologous challenge. Twenty-seven rabbits were divided into four groups: 1, vaccinated with OM and challenged; 2, nonvaccinated and challenged; 3, vaccinated with OM only; and 4, nonvaccinated and not challenged. Rabbits were immunized intranasally with 1 mg of OM protein on days 0, 7, 14, and 35, challenged intranasally on day 49, and killed on day 63. Mortality rates were 0, 67, 0, and 0% for groups 1 through 4, respectively. The prevalence of pneumonia was reduced from 73 (group 2) to 20% (group 1). The severity of pneumonia was reduced from 0.62 (group 2) to 0.07 (group 1), as measured by the group lesion index. The number of P. multocida in nasal cavities was reduced from 3.89 x 10⁵ (group 2) to 6.19 x 10² (group 1). The geometric mean number of P. multocida in lungs was 8,360,000-fold less in group 1 than in group 2. Similarly, the prevalence of P. multocida colonization in nonrespiratory organs was reduced from 47 (group 2) to 4% (group 1). Furthermore, group 1 and 3 rabbits developed significantly elevated immunoglobulin A antibodies in nasal secretions and lung lavages and significantly elevated immunoglobulin G antibodies in lung lavages and sera. In addition, rabbit immune sera contained antibodies against P. multocida OM proteins and lipopolysaccharides and inhibited P. multocida proliferation in mouse lungs. These results indicate that a vaccine prepared from the OM of P. multocida provides a significant protection in rabbits against homologous challenge.