Antibody responses against non-structural protein 3 of bovine viral diarrhoea virus in milk and serum samples from animals immunised with an inactivated vaccine

Antibodies against non-structural protein 3 (NS3, p80) of bovine viral diarrhoea virus (BVDV) were determined in milk from cows vaccinated with an inactivated BVDV vaccine and compared to serum antibody levels. Animals in one herd were vaccinated with an inactivated BVDV vaccine according to the standard protocol and animals from a second herd with an intensive schedule. Serum and milk samples were tested for BVDV NS3 antibodies using five commercial ELISAs. With a few exceptions, vaccination according to the standard schedule did not induce BVDV NS3-specific antibodies in serum or milk. However, after vaccination according to the intensive schedule, anti-NS3 antibodies were detected for a short time in serum and, to a lesser extent, in milk. Bulk milk was a suitable substrate for BVDV monitoring of herds vaccinated with the inactivated BVD vaccine.