Growth Performance and Clinicopathological Analyses in Lambs Repetitively Inoculated with Aluminum-Hydroxide Containing Vaccines or Aluminum-Hydroxide Only
Ricardo de Miguel,
Javier Asín,
Ana Rodríguez-Largo,
Irache Echeverría,
Delia Lacasta,
Pedro Pinczowski,
Marina Gimeno,
Jéssica Molín,
Antonio Fernández,
Ignacio de Blas,
Damián de Andrés,
Marta Pérez,
Ramsés Reina,
Lluís Luján
Affiliations
Ricardo de Miguel
Department of Animal Pathology, University of Zaragoza, 50013 Zaragoza, Spain
Javier Asín
Department of Animal Pathology, University of Zaragoza, 50013 Zaragoza, Spain
Ana Rodríguez-Largo
Department of Animal Pathology, University of Zaragoza, 50013 Zaragoza, Spain
Irache Echeverría
Institute of Agrobiotechnology, CSIC-Government of Navarra, 31192 Mutilva, Spain
Delia Lacasta
Department of Animal Pathology, University of Zaragoza, 50013 Zaragoza, Spain
Pedro Pinczowski
Department of Animal Pathology, University of Zaragoza, 50013 Zaragoza, Spain
Marina Gimeno
Department of Animal Pathology, University of Zaragoza, 50013 Zaragoza, Spain
Jéssica Molín
Department of Animal Pathology, University of Zaragoza, 50013 Zaragoza, Spain
Antonio Fernández
Department of Animal Pathology, University of Zaragoza, 50013 Zaragoza, Spain
Ignacio de Blas
Department of Animal Pathology, University of Zaragoza, 50013 Zaragoza, Spain
Damián de Andrés
Institute of Agrobiotechnology, CSIC-Government of Navarra, 31192 Mutilva, Spain
Marta Pérez
Department of Animal Pathology, University of Zaragoza, 50013 Zaragoza, Spain
Ramsés Reina
Institute of Agrobiotechnology, CSIC-Government of Navarra, 31192 Mutilva, Spain
Lluís Luján
Department of Animal Pathology, University of Zaragoza, 50013 Zaragoza, Spain
Aluminum (Al) hydroxide is an effective adjuvant used in sheep vaccines. However, Al-adjuvants have been implicated as potential contributors to a severe wasting syndrome in sheep—the so-called ovine autoimmune-inflammatory syndrome induced by adjuvants (ASIA syndrome). This work aimed to characterize the effects of the repetitive injection of Al-hydroxide containing products in lambs. Four flocks (Flocks 1–4; n = 21 each) kept under different conditions were studied. Three groups of seven lambs (Vaccine, Adjuvant-only, and Control) were established in each flock. Mild differences in average daily gain and fattening index were observed, indicating a reduced growth performance in Vaccine groups, likely related to short-term episodes of pyrexia and decreased daily intake. Clinical and hematological parameters remained within normal limits. Histology showed no significant differences between groups, although there was a tendency to present a higher frequency of hyperchromatic, shrunken neurons in the lumbar spinal cord in the Adjuvant-only group. Although Al-hydroxide was linked to granulomas at the injection site and behavioral changes in sheep, the results of the present experimental work indicate that injected Al-hydroxide is not enough to fully reproduce the wasting presentation of the ASIA syndrome. Other factors such as sex, breed, age, production system, diet or climate conditions could play a role.
