The Effect of Oral Vaccination withMycobacterium bovisBCG on the Development of Tuberculosis in Captive European Badgers (Meles meles).
The European badger (Meles meles) is a reservoir host ofMycobacterium bovisand responsible for a proportion of the tuberculosis (TB) cases seen in cattle in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland. An injectable preparation of thebacillus Calmette-Guérin(BCG) vaccine is licensed for use in badgers in the UK and its use forms part of the bovine TB eradication plans of England and Wales. However, there are practical limitations to the widespread application of an injectable vaccine for badgers and a research priority is the development of an oral vaccine deliverable to badgers in bait. Previous studies reported the successful vaccination of badgers with oral preparations of 108colony forming units (CFU) of both Pasteur and Danish strains of BCG contained within a lipid matrix composed of triglycerides of fatty acids. Protection against TB in these studies was expressed as a reduction in the number and apparent progression of visible lesions, and reductions in the bacterial load and dissemination of infection. To reduce the cost of an oral vaccine and reduce the potential for environmental contamination with BCG, it is necessary to define the minimal efficacious dose of oral BCG for badgers. The objectives of the two studies reported here were to compare the efficacy of BCG Danish strain in a lipid matrix with unformulated BCG given orally, and to evaluate the efficacy of BCG Danish in a lipid matrix at a 10-fold lower dose than previously evaluated in badgers. In the first study, both BCG unformulated and in a lipid matrix reduced the number and apparent progression of visible lesions and the dissemination of infection from the lung. In the second study, vaccination with BCG in the lipid matrix at a 10-fold lower dose produced a similar outcome, but with greater intra-group variability than seen with the higher dose in the first study. Further research is needed before we are able to recommend a final dose of BCG for oral vaccination of badgers against TB or to know whether oral vaccination of wild badgers with BCG will significantly reduce transmission of the disease.
Department of Bacteriology, Animal and Plant Health Agency Addlestone, UK.
Mark A
MA
Chambers
Immune Solutions Ltd, University of Otago Dunedin, New Zealand.
Frank
F
Aldwell
Department of Bacteriology, Animal and Plant Health Agency Addlestone, UK.
Gareth A
GA
Williams
Department of Bacteriology, Animal and Plant Health Agency Addlestone, UK.
Si
S
Palmer
Department of Bacteriology, Animal and Plant Health Agency Addlestone, UK.
Sonya
S
Gowtage
Department of Bacteriology, Animal and Plant Health Agency Addlestone, UK.
Roland
R
Ashford
Department of Bacteriology, Animal and Plant Health Agency Addlestone, UK.
Deanna J
DJ
Dalley
Department of Bacteriology, Animal and Plant Health Agency Addlestone, UK.
Dipesh
D
Davé
Animal Services Unit, Animal and Plant Health Agency Addlestone, UK.
Ute
U
Weyer
Department of Pathology, Animal and Plant Health AgencyAddlestone, UK; School of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of SurreyGuildford, UK.
Francisco J
FJ
Salguero
Department of Pathology, Animal and Plant Health Agency Addlestone, UK.
Alejandro
A
Nunez
Department of Bacteriology, Animal and Plant Health Agency Addlestone, UK.
Allan K
AK
Nadian
Animal and Plant Health Agency Starcross, UK.
Timothy
T
Crawshaw
School of Veterinary Medicine, University College Dublin Dublin, Ireland.
Leigh A L
LA
Corner
Department of Bacteriology, Animal and Plant Health Agency Addlestone, UK.
Sandrine
S
Lesellier
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000818:Animals; D001500:BCG Vaccine / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000276:immunology*; D004306:Dose-Response Relationship, Immunologic; D045969:Mustelidae; D009163:Mycobacterium bovis / Q000276:immunology*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000662:veterinary*; D006113:United Kingdom
D001500:BCG Vaccine
Mycobacterium bovis; badgers; oral BCG; tuberculosis; vaccine