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A new vaccine that could control and help prevent a
re-infestation of cattle fever ticks had been developed by Agricultural
Research Service scientists with the US Department of Agriculture
(USDA).
This is contained in the report entitled: “Tackling Cattle Fever Ticks with Vaccines”, published by USDA this January.
In the report, it is revealed that despite a successful program to eliminate cattle fever ticks during the first half of the 20th century, these ticks still manage to cross the Mexican border into Texas. “A new vaccine developed by Agricultural Research Service (ARS) scientists with USDA could control these pests and help prevent a re-infestation of cattle fever ticks in the United States. These ticks can transmit pathogens that cause bovine babesiosis and anaplasmosis – diseases – that can kill cattle,” the reports states.
While sequencing the cattle tick’s genome, insect physiologist Felix D. Guerrero and his colleagues at the ARS –Tick and Biting Fly Research unit in Kerrvile, Texas, identified several proteins that, when formulated as a cattle vaccine, could potentially kill cattle ticks. One of the proteins – aquaporin – was developed into a recombinant tick aquaporin protein vaccine.
According to AgResearch magazine, ARS researchers collaborated with their partners at the Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (Embrapa), to test the vaccine’s ability to protect cattle against infestation. In two trials, animals infested with a known amount of cattle tick larvae were divided into two pens in Brazil. In each trial, one group was vaccinated with the aquaporin vaccine, and the other group was not. When scientists compared the groups, they found that vaccinated cows had 75 percent and 68 percent fewer ticks than unvaccinated cows. Results indicated that the aquaporin protein was effective as an antigen in cattle vaccines to help prevent cattle fever tick infestations.
According to the report, the cattle ticks have developed resistance to a few chemicals available to fight them. “The ARS-patented aquaporin protein vaccine provides an alternative to chemicals to reduce the risk of tick infestation. ARS is exploring the possibility of producing a commercial aquaporin vaccine with a private company.
“ARS is USDA’s principal intramural scientific research agency, and this research supports the USDA priority of promoting international food security,” the report says
This is contained in the report entitled: “Tackling Cattle Fever Ticks with Vaccines”, published by USDA this January.
In the report, it is revealed that despite a successful program to eliminate cattle fever ticks during the first half of the 20th century, these ticks still manage to cross the Mexican border into Texas. “A new vaccine developed by Agricultural Research Service (ARS) scientists with USDA could control these pests and help prevent a re-infestation of cattle fever ticks in the United States. These ticks can transmit pathogens that cause bovine babesiosis and anaplasmosis – diseases – that can kill cattle,” the reports states.
While sequencing the cattle tick’s genome, insect physiologist Felix D. Guerrero and his colleagues at the ARS –Tick and Biting Fly Research unit in Kerrvile, Texas, identified several proteins that, when formulated as a cattle vaccine, could potentially kill cattle ticks. One of the proteins – aquaporin – was developed into a recombinant tick aquaporin protein vaccine.
According to AgResearch magazine, ARS researchers collaborated with their partners at the Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (Embrapa), to test the vaccine’s ability to protect cattle against infestation. In two trials, animals infested with a known amount of cattle tick larvae were divided into two pens in Brazil. In each trial, one group was vaccinated with the aquaporin vaccine, and the other group was not. When scientists compared the groups, they found that vaccinated cows had 75 percent and 68 percent fewer ticks than unvaccinated cows. Results indicated that the aquaporin protein was effective as an antigen in cattle vaccines to help prevent cattle fever tick infestations.
According to the report, the cattle ticks have developed resistance to a few chemicals available to fight them. “The ARS-patented aquaporin protein vaccine provides an alternative to chemicals to reduce the risk of tick infestation. ARS is exploring the possibility of producing a commercial aquaporin vaccine with a private company.
“ARS is USDA’s principal intramural scientific research agency, and this research supports the USDA priority of promoting international food security,” the report says
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