Killed oral Shigella vaccine made from Shigella flexneri 2a protects against challenge in the rabbit model of shigellosis.
The protective efficacy of an orally administered heat-killed virulent strain of Shigella flexneri 2a (5 weekly oral doses) was evaluated in 25 rabbits (14 immunized and 11 non-immunized controls) against challenge with the same strain of Shigella using the rabbit model of shigellosis. All 11 non-immunized rabbits developed bloody diarrhoea following challenge and 6 (54%) died. None of the 14 immunized rabbits developed diarrhoea (all had pellet stools) but 3 (21%) died from causes not associated with diarrhoea. Protection from diarrhoea and dysentery following oral immunization with a killed Shigella species was 100% and highly significant. Death following challenge was 2.5-fold higher in the non-immunized group (p = 0.115) but was not significant. These promising results suggest that further studies should be undertaken to develop a killed oral vaccine against shigellosis.
Chakrabarti
M K
MK
Society for Applied Studies and National Institute of Cholera, Calcutta, India.
Bhattacharya
J
J
Bhattacharya
M K
MK
Nair
G B
GB
Bhattacharya
S K
SK
Mahalanabis
D
D
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000818:Animals; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004405:Dysentery, Bacillary / Q000276:immunology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008297:Male; D011817:Rabbits; D012763:Shigella flexneri / Q000276:immunology*; D013997:Time Factors; D015164:Vaccines, Inactivated / Q000276:immunology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D015164:Vaccines, Inactivated