Vaccination of heifers with anaflatoxin improves the reduction of aflatoxin b1 carry over in milk of lactating dairy cows

PLoS One. 2014 Apr 8;9(4):e94440. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0094440. eCollection 2014.

Abstract

It was previously reported that injection of anaflatoxin B1 (AnAFB1) conjugated to keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH), together with Freund's adjuvant, was effective in inducing in cows a long lasting titer of anti-aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) antibodies (Abs), cross-reacting with other aflatoxins, which were able to hinder, proportionally to their titer, the secretion of aflatoxin M1 (AFM1) into the milk of cows continuously fed with AFB1. According to anti-AFB1 Ab titer, 50% of the vaccinated cows were recognized as high responder animals. In an attempt to prepare a more effective formulation for vaccination of cows, it was compared the immunogenicity, in Holstein Friesian heifers, of AnAFB1 covalently conjugated to KLH or to recombinant diphtheria toxin (CRM197) molecules, and injected together with various adjuvants. This study demonstrated that injection of AnAFB1 conjugated to KLH and mixed with complete (priming) and incomplete Freund's adjuvant (boosters), as in the previous schedule of immunization, was the most effective regimen for inducing Ab responses against AFB1, although pre-calving administration could increase the effectiveness of vaccination, resulting in 100% high responder animals. After one booster dose at the beginning of the milk production cycle, anti-AFB1 Ab titers were comparable to those recorded at the end of the immunization schedule, and proved to be effective in reducing significantly AFB1 carry over, as AFM1, from feed to milk. Pre-calving vaccination of dairy heifers with conjugated AnAFB1, adjuvated with complete and incomplete Freund's adjuvant, may represent the most effective tool for preventing the public health hazard constituted by milk and cheese contaminated with aflatoxins.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aflatoxin B1 / analysis
  • Aflatoxin B1 / chemistry*
  • Aflatoxin B1 / immunology*
  • Aflatoxins / immunology*
  • Animals
  • Antibodies / immunology
  • Cattle
  • Food Contamination*
  • Fungal Vaccines
  • Humans
  • Immunization Schedule
  • Milk / chemistry*
  • Milk / immunology
  • Time Factors
  • Vaccination
  • Vaccines / administration & dosage
  • Vaccines / immunology

Substances

  • Aflatoxins
  • Antibodies
  • Fungal Vaccines
  • Vaccines
  • Aflatoxin B1

Grants and funding

This work was supported by funds from “Fondazione Cassa di Risparmio di Parma e Piacenza” http://www.fondazionecrp.it/. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.