EFFECTS OF A MODIFIED-LIVE VIRUS CANINE-DISTEMPER VACCINE ON CAPTIVE BADGERS (TAXIDEA-TAXUS)

We vaccinated six captive badgers housed with five controls, and monit ored blood antibody titers and white cell counts of both groups for 63 days postvaccination between 29 August and 3 December 1992. Five vacc inated badgers responded with antibody titers ranging from 1:64 to 1:1 024 by 63 days postvaccination, whereas the sixth badger did not respo nd, Treatment badgers also had significant (P < 0.05) decreases in lym phocytes on days 16, 29, and 63. No badgers developed clinical signs o f distemper. Control badgers did not produce antibodies against CD vir us; thus, the vaccine virus probably was not transmitted between treat ment and control animals. The vaccine appears safe for use in healthy badgers, but additional safety and efficacy study is needed.