Recombinant F1-V fusion protein protects black-footed ferrets (Mustela nigripes) against virulent Yersinia pestis infection.
Black-footed ferrets (Mustela nigripes) are highly susceptible to sylvatic plague, caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis, and this disease has severely hampered efforts to restore ferrets to their historic range. A study was conducted to assess the efficacy of vaccination of black-footed ferrets against plague using a recombinant protein vaccine, designated F1-V, developed by personnel at the U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases. Seven postreproductive black-footed ferrets were immunized with the vaccine, followed by two booster immunizations on days 23 and 154; three control black-footed ferrets received a placebo. After the second immunization, antibody titers to both F1 and V antigen were found to be significantly higher in vaccinates than controls. On challenge with 7,800 colony-forming units of virulent plague by s.c. injection, the three control animals died within 3 days, but six of seven vaccinates survived with no ill effects. The seventh vaccinate died on day 8. These results indicate that black-footed ferrets can be immunized against plague induced by the s.c. route, similar to fleabite injection.
U S Geological Survey, Biological Resources Division, National Wildlife Health Center, Madison, Wisconsin 53711, USA.
Tonie E
TE
Rocke
Jordan
J
Mencher
Susan R
SR
Smith
Arthur M
AM
Friedlander
Gerard P
GP
Andrews
Laurie A
LA
Baeten
D000818:Animals; D001428:Bacterial Vaccines; D005260:Female; D005289:Ferrets; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous / Q000662:veterinary; D008297:Male; D010930:Plague / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000662:veterinary*; D011897:Random Allocation; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology*; D016019:Survival Analysis; D013997:Time Factors; D014611:Vaccination / Q000662:veterinary; D014614:Vaccines, Synthetic; D015010:Yersinia pestis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000472:pathogenicity
D001428:Bacterial Vaccines; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D014614:Vaccines, Synthetic