The experimental vaccine stimulated antibody and cellular responses without severe side effects in the tested cattle.
A viral-vector candidate
The study published on 10 September 2026 tested an experimental vaccine candidate against sheep-associated malignant catarrhal fever. Researchers used a nonpathogenic alcelaphine gammaherpesvirus-1 vector carrying ovine gammaherpesvirus-2 glycoprotein B. They injected the formulation with an adjuvant into cattle and measured antibody and cellular immune responses.
Observed safety and immune measures
The researchers reported no severe side effects, no detected viral shedding and no persistent infection from the modified vector in the vaccinated cattle. They measured glycoprotein-B-specific antibodies and T-cell responses. The published experiment tested safety and immunogenicity; protection against a later disease challenge had not yet been established.