The present study was conducted on the neonates of 40 pregnant buffalo dams kept in a large dairy herd in Kalubia province. A comparison of passive immunity of newly born buffalo calves especially against Enterotoxic colibacillosis by vaccinating dams with commercially available (Nobi-vac K99) and immunopotentiated K99 vaccine (Ultracorn accociated) is presented here with a general disscussion of immunomodulating effect of ultracorn administration. Calves were assigned into four comparable groups according to K99 vaccination and/or ultracorn treatment of their dams precalving.
Clinical observation of neonates of test and control groups clearly demonstrated that K99 vaccination and/or ultracorn treatment induced a pronounced decrease in incidence of diarrhea, pneumonia and other early neonatal troubles, culling and mortality rates.
The result of immune response to K99 vaccine revealed that there was a striking increase in the anti-K99 titres of serum of calves born to dams vaccinated with ultracorn associated Kg9 vaccine than those born to dams receiving the vaccine alone, throughout the test periods post colostral. The difference in K99 titres between the two groups can be explained as a result of immunopotentiating effect of ultracorn.
It is important to anounce that the simultaneous adminstration of Kgg and ultracorn preparation to dams had the most ameliorating effect on the immunity, health and vitality of neonatal buffalo, calves. It is highly recommended that a program depending on the vaccination of buffalo dam prior to calving with ultracorn associated K99 vaccine could be instituted and successfully used to protect neonates especially against E.coli enterotoxicosis.