title: Safety of Brucella abortus strain RB51 in deer mice.
abstract: Brucella abortus strain RB51 is an approved brucellosis vaccine for use in cattle that may have potential as an oral vaccine for use in elk (Cervus elaphus) and/or bison (Bison bison). This study was designed to determine effects of strain RB51 on deer mice (Peromyscus maniculatus), a nontarget species that could have access to treated baits in a field situation. In February 1994, 90 mice were orally dosed or intraperitoneally injected with 1 x 10(8) colony forming units strain RB51 and 77 controls were similarly dosed with sterile saline. At weekly intervals through early April 1994, 4 to 6 mice from each group were euthanized, gross necropsies performed, spleens and uteruses cultured, and tissues examined histologically. All orally inoculated mice cleared the infection by 6 wk post-inoculation (PI). While most of the injected mice cleared the infection by 7 wk PI, a few required 9 wk. There were minimal adverse effects attributable to strain RB51. Apparently, strain RB51 would not negatively impact P. maniculatus populations if it were used in a field situation. Also, deer mice appear to be able to clear the vaccine in 6 to 9 wk, thus the probability of these mice transmitting the vaccine to other animals is low.
authors.affiliation: School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis 95617, USA. wecook@uwyo.edu
authors.forename: W E
authors.initials: WE
authors.lastname: Cook
authors.forename: E S
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.forename: E T
authors.initials: ET
authors.lastname: Thorne
authors.forename: S K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Anderson
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000818:Animals; D002004:Brucella Vaccine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000592:standards*; D002003:Brucella abortus / Q000276:immunology*; D002006:Brucellosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000662:veterinary*; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D005260:Female; D007274:Injections, Intraperitoneal / Q000662:veterinary; D008297:Male; D010542:Peromyscus / Q000276:immunology*; D011897:Random Allocation; D012449:Safety; D013154:Spleen / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D014599:Uterus / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D002004:Brucella Vaccine