DENVER, Colo. – Finding effective ways to vaccinate wildlife could curb diseases such as brucellosis and tuberculosis in domestic animals.
“A lot of the brucellosis we have in the United States comes from wildlife,” said Eileen Thacker, national program leader of animal health at the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Research Service.
The ARS has a $31.7 million animal health budget and is working to combat disease in livestock and wildlife with new vaccinations, she told a meeting on emerging diseases at the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association convention held in Denver Feb. 2-5.
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Brucellosis can cause abortions in cattle, bison, elk and feral swine. Bison and elk carry brucella abortus and feral swine have brucella suis.
Bovine vaccines work on bison, but researchers need to find a way to deliver it to wild populations. Dart guns carrying the vaccine RB51 have been used on bison at Yellowstone National Park.
Elk can infect cattle, but the bovine vaccine does not work on them.
Researchers are also looking for a vaccine against brucella suis in the feral swine of the southern United States.
“We have found the pigs will pass it onto cattle herds. Vaccinating your cows now will not protect them from the feral swine.”
Wildlife appears to be a disease reservoir for the low incidence of tuberculosis in the U. S, especially in Michigan and Minnesota.
“We are also looking at strategies to control it in white tail deer populations,” she said.
Other research includes vaccines for Johne’s and bovine viral diseases.
Researchers are also studying foreign animal diseases and potential vaccines.
A vaccine for foot-and-mouth disease is needed that can be differentiated from the antibodies created by the actual disease.
Studies are also ongoing into the vectors that carry exotic bluetongue and Rift Valley fever.
These tick borne diseases have not been found in the U.S., but scientists need to know if the viruses and ticks can survive the American climate and live to spread the diseases.
