31 NationalParkService 1996 YNP National Park Service 29 201 environmental assessment, brucella, Brucella abortus, calf, vaccination, vaccine, strain RB51, wildlife health This environmental assessment analyzes the type and extent of environmental consequences of conducting a research project to evaluate the biosafety of B. abortus vaccine strain RB51 in bison calves. Few studies on the biosafety and efficacy of B. abortus vaccines in bison have been conducted. Previous biosafety investigations to determine the persistence of tissue colonization and serological response to RB51 used small numbers of female bison calves (Olsen et al. 1994). Cultures were performed only on lymph node biopsies to 16 weeks postvaccination; serology was performed only to 20 weeks post-inoculation. No necropsies were performed and no pathological evaluations were conducted. Results of that study found that strain RB51 colonization persisted beyond week 16 and serological titers persisted to at least week 20. This contrasts with cattle calves, in which colonization persisted only to 12 weeks post-inoculation. Olsen et al. (1994) concluded that the actual duration of RB51 persistence in bison calves is unknown; consequently, biosafety was not determined.The proposed research project will build on previous findings by determining the persistence of RB51 vaccines in both male and female bison calves. Thorough necropsies will identify sites of infection, and will also provide opportunities to determine if RB51 causes potential pathological changes in male and female bison calves. The proposed biosafety tests will evaluate the physiologic and pathologic effects of administering the vaccine to a target population and will determine if live bacteria resulting from the vaccine-induced infection are shed into the environment. Found in Bison LibraryNatureBib ID: 652321