Contraception of Bison by GnRH Vaccine: A Possible Means of Decreasing Transmission of Brucellosis in Bison

Submitted by bsiadmin on Mon, 04/07/2008 - 16:59.

Publication Type:

Journal Article

Authors:

Lowell A. Miller; Rhyan, Jack C.; Drew, Mark

Source:

Journal of Wildlife Diseases, Volume 40, Number 4, p.725-730 (2004)

URL:

http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1367&context=icwdm_usdanwrc

Keywords:

transmission; brucellosis; risk; vaccination; bison; immunocontraception; GnRH vaccine; gonadotropin-releasing hormone vaccine; vaccine

Abstract:

Preventing pregnancy in brucellosis-infected bison (Bison bison) provides a potential means of preventing transmission of disease. To determine whether a gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) vaccine was effective in reducing pregnancy in bison and to study the safety of injecting GnRH in pregnant bison, a study was conducted at the Idaho Fish and Game Wildlife Health Laboratory in Caldwell, Idaho (USA). Four pregnant and two nonpregnant female bison were given a single injection of GnRH vaccine, and five pregnant adult females were given a sham injection that contained only adjuvant. Three of the GnRH-vaccinated bison that were pregnant at the time of vaccination delivered healthy calves. One treated bison had dystocia that resulted in a dead calf. All control bison delivered healthy calves. After calving, females of both groups were exposed to two bulls. Treated bison were palpated 6 wk after exposure to the bulls, and blood was drawn for pregnancy-specific protein B analysis. The six treated bison were not pregnant. The sham-treated bison became pregnant and delivered viable calves. This study demonstrates that a single dose of GnRH vaccine is effective in preventing pregnancy in female bison for at least 1 yr.

Notes:

Found in Bison Library and online, pdf on computerNatureBib ID: 652302