Abstract
An E. coli siderophore vaccine (E. coli bacterial extract vaccine with SRP®, Pfizer Animal Health/Epitopix, Willmar, MN, USA) with USDA approval for beef cattle reduces potential disease risk by immunologic interference with gastrointestinal coliform’s iron-harvesting receptors.4 Complete vaccination eliminated E. coli O-157 presence for 85% of treated individuals and reduced shedding by 98% for those without complete elimination.5 The vaccine is applied optimally as cattle depart pasture for the feedlot so as the animals actually enter the end production chain, they present less contamination risk to the consumer.4,5 In production applications, the siderophore vaccine has been applied experimentally to younger and smaller species of production ruminants with similar benefit with lower vaccine doses at reduced frequency (V. Cortese, personal communication).
It is well established that human-animal interfaces present opportunities for zoonotic disease transmission.1-3 Implicated in the zoo community as a source of this concern are “petting yards” with domestic livestock which often include young animals.1 In the zoo guest contact yard, it should be considered that the animals may experience some of the same social issues experienced by production purposed animals. Further consideration suggested that zoo guests, especially seasonally, would be considered within high at-risk age categories. Although not a replacement for good veterinary care and encouragement of appropriate guest hygiene,1-3 a product which could reduce actual contamination potential from contact program ruminants suggested a novel application for the siderophore product.
Acknowledgments
Pfizer Inc.’s provision of the siderophore vaccine and financial underwriting of the monthly cultures.
Literature Cited
1. Dunn, J.R. 2011. National Association of State Public Health Veterinarians: compendium of measures to prevent disease associated with animals in public settings. www.cdc.gov/mmwraccessed April 2012.
2. James, S.B. 2011. Children’s zoo medicine: zoonoses. In: Fowler, M.E., and R.E. Miller (eds), Fowler’s Zoo and Wild Animal Medicine Current Therapy, 7th ed. Elsevier 115–124.
3. Miller, R.E. 1997. AZA guidelines for animal contact with the general public. www.aza.org/animal-contact-policy [VIN editor: URL was not accessible as of 12/26/2020] . Accessed April 2012.
4. Pfizer Animal Health.2010.Product information on E. coli bacterial extract vaccine with SRP. www.srpecoli.com/pdf/E_ColiFAQ.pdf [VIN editor: URL was not accessible as of 12/26/2020] accessed March 2012.
5. Thompson, D.U., G.H. Loneragan, A.B. Thornton, K.L. Lechtenberg, D.A. Emergy, D.T. Burkhardt, and T.G. Nagaraja. 2009. Use of a siderphore receptor and porin proteins-based vaccine to control the burden of E. coli/ O157;H7 in feedlot cattle. Foodborne Pathol. Dis. 6:871–877.