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Progress Noted on Vaccine For E. coli

published: September 23rd 2008
source: Beef Cattle Browsing

Montana State University and Colorado State University researchers studied an
experimental vaccine for E. coli 0157:H7, the E. coli sometimes involved in
food-borne illness in humans. They vaccinated 71 cows 30 days before calving and
then commingled them with 66 non-vaccinated cows. At approximately 14 days after
calving, antibody titers were 11 times higher in vaccinated cows, as were serum
titers in vaccinated calves. And 60 days after birth, vaccinated calves still had
levels almost eight times higher. There were no differences in E. coli 0157:H7
shedding by calves 60 days after birth, and only about five percent of calves were
shedding. The authors concluded that the vaccine effectively elevated antibody
titers in dams and that these antibodies were transferred to the calf. (Prof. Anim.
Sci.)