Oral Vaccine Progress

REGINA - Mar 30/04 - SNS -- Good progress has been made on an oral vaccine, which could result in new methods of immunizing livestock and humans within the decade.

The breakthrough came from research efforts at the Vaccine &##035;038; Infectious Disease Organization (VIDO) at the University of Saskatchewan. Dr. Philip Griebel, says the result of their work will not likely be in the hands of producers for up to 10 years, but a commercial partner is now committed to explore its potential.

"And our results will probably translate to other species - including humans," adds Griebel.

The project, which was supported by the Agriculture Development Fund (ADF), was undertaken because the cattle industry has identified meat quality as a primary issue that may limit market share and consumer confidence. One of these issues involves injection site lesions and needle fragments in the meat. Due to carcass trim, injection sites have been estimated to cost the Canadian beef industry about $9 per head.

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