Two experimental vaccines were developed and evaluated for their ef® cacy against Streptococcus gallolyticus septicaemia in pigeons. Both vaccines contained whole-cell formaldehyde-inactivated S. gallolyticus serotype 1 bacteria and a mineral oil adjuvant. The supernatant of a S. gallolyticus broth culture was also added to one of the vaccines. Four groups of 10 pigeons were inoculated either once, or twice, with a 4-week interval, with one of the vaccines. Four weeks after the last

more »

... pigeons were challenged by intravenous inoculation with S. gallolyticus serotype 1. Morbidity after infection was not signi® cantly different between groups of pigeons vaccinated with the two vaccines. In groups of pigeons vaccinated once, morbidity after infection ranged from 50 to 70%; in pigeons vaccinated twice, morbidity was 10 to 30%. In a non-vaccinated inoculated control group, the morbidity was 80%. It was concluded that double vaccination can result in some clinical protection against streptococcosis in pigeons.