VIDO scientists are working on new foot rot vaccine

Feb 03, 2023

Researchers at the Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization (VIDO) are working on developing a single-shot vaccine that will provide broader protection against foot rot in beef and dairy cattle.

Foot rot is a hoof infection that can be transmitted to other animals, and is considered to be one of the most frequent infectious diseases found in beef cattle.

Dr. Jose Perez-Casal is leading VIDO's project team in their effort to develop a single-dose multivalent vaccine.

"So that will save substantial dollars to the producers and also with long-term immunity. So that you give it once and maybe for three or four months, you don't have to worry about it."

He says the current vaccine is based on only one of four common bacteria that causes foot rot.

"Our approach is to take fresh lesions and then isolate the bacteria that are there. And produce a vaccine that contains not only antigens for the same bacteria that is in the current vaccine, but also antigens for the other bacteria that are not in the current vaccine."

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