Bovine TB: Research project summary
Project SE3216: Development and testing of vaccines against badger tuberculosis
Project Duration: 3 year
This is the continuation of several previous projects performed at the Veterinary Laboratories Agency (VLA). The project aims were to:
1) determine the safety and immunogenicity of BCG in badgers
2) perform a vaccination/challenge study of BCG in badgers
3) test formulations of BCG for stability and efficacy in guinea pigs
4) test potential vaccine candidates in mice.
Vaccination/challenge studies were performed at the BROC complex in the Republic of Ireland and showed that following challenge with different doses of Mycobacterium bovis (M. bovis), badgers showed the most consistent responses when challenged with 104 CFU of M. bovis. A reliable method of experimental infection of badgers with M. bovis was established which results in pathology similar to that seen in natural infection. This experimental infection is being used in all subsequent studies undertaken in the UK and in the Republic of Ireland. BCG vaccine was shown to produce no significant adverse effects to, nor is shed by badgers when administered by either subcutaneous or mucosal vaccination. Subcutaneous vaccination significantly extended the time to seroconversion following M. bovis infection. In preparation for oral BCG vaccination it was also shown that jelly could be used as a palatable and flexible medium for bait formulation and that fluorescein can be used as a short term biomarker so enabling the used of the same animals for numerous studies. Production of tablets containing live BCG were fed to mice and significant seroconversion was observed so suggesting BCG can be delivered orally in a solid matrix.
In summary badgers vaccinated both orally and subcutaneously with BCG
managed experimental challenge better than unvaccinated control badgers.
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Page last modified:
July 7, 2008