Journal article
Efficacy of the EG95 hydatid vaccine in a macropodid host, the tammar wallaby
TS Barnes, LA Hinds, DJ Jenkins, GT Coleman, AL Colebrook, CT Kyngdon, CG Gauci, MW Lightowlers
PARASITOLOGY | CAMBRIDGE UNIV PRESS | Published : 2009
Abstract
In Australia, macropodids are common intermediate hosts for the cestode Echinococcus granulosus, and sylvatic transmission is maintained via wild dogs. The parasite causes mortality in a number of macropodid species and the sylvatic cycle provides a source of infection to domestic livestock and humans. We determined the efficacy of the hydatid vaccine, EG95 in the tammar wallaby, Macropus eugenii, challenging either 1 or 9 months post-vaccination. EG95 provides similar protection to that seen in sheep (96-100%). Control tammars were significantly more likely to become infected (odds ratio 29.44; CI 4.13, 209.97; P=0.001) and to develop more cysts (count ratio 26.69; CI 5.83, 122.19; P<0.001)..
View full abstractGrants
Awarded by Australian Research Council Linkage
Awarded by National Health and Medical Research
Funding Acknowledgements
Funding for the study from Australian Research Council Linkage grant ARCLP0668354 and National Health and Medical Research grant 350279 is acknowledged. Valuable assistance with the care, maintenance and experimental procedures on the tammars at CSIRO Sustainable Ecosystems was provided by Dave Spratt, John Wright, Katrina Leslie, Kaitlyn Preece, Shawna Foo and Beth Koehn. We are grateful to Calvary Clinic, Canberra and the Canberra Veterinary Hospital, for the use of their automatic X-ray processing unit, Morag Wilson for her advice on radiography and Annie Rose and Anna Galloway for their help with interpretation of radiographs. The authors are indebted to Bill Morris (Vertebrate Pest Control Officer, Yass Rural Lands Protection Board, NSW) for his valuable contribution.