A multivalent inactivated Escherichia coli vaccine for forest musk deer by using serotypes O4,O26,and O139 with Al(OH)3 adjuvant was prepared.The vaccine did not cause any adverse reactions in forest musk deer.The immunogenic effects of the vaccine were experimentally investigated in pregnant and young forest musk deer.The serum antibody titers of pregnant and young forest musk deer were determined by performing the micro-agglutination test.The serum antibody titers of pregnant forest musk deer were more stable from 35th to 68th d after the third vaccination,and the serum antibody titers of four pregnant forest musk deer were maintained 25,25,25,and 24 on 68th d after the third vaccination.Young forest musk deer showed serum antibody titers which were obtained due to nursing.Young forest musk deer were administered the first intramuscular vaccine injection at an age of approximately 60 days due to a fall in maternal antibody titers.The serum antibody titers of young forest musk deer were higher after the third vaccination and maintained at approximately the same level until they were 137 days old.The maternal antibodies and the antibodies produced by young forest musk deer could be helpful for protecting the young musk deer from the infections of pathogenic Escherichia coli strains(serotypes O4,O26,and O139)for 137 days after birth(during the nursing period and the period when the forest musk deer were susceptible to diseases).