PROTECTION AGAINST BOOPHILUS-ANNULATUS INFESTATIONS IN CATTLE VACCINATED WITH THE BOOPHILUS-MICROPLUS BM86-CONTAINING VACCINE GAVAC

Tick infestations by Boophilus spp. constitute a major problem for the cattle industry in tropical and subtropical areas of the world. The u se of traditional control methods has been only partially successful a nd tick infestations remain a serious problem. Recently, the gut antig en Bm86 was isolated from B. microplus. Recombinant preparations of th is antigen have been used in vaccines for the control of B. microplus infestations. However, in several regions of the world, B. microplus c oexists with other Boophilus species, mainly B. annulatus and B. decol oratus. Therefore, there is a need for the simultaneous control of inf estations by different Boophilus species. To test the capacity of the P. pastoris-derived Bm86 antigen preparation (Gavac, Heber Biotec S.A. , Havana) to control B. annulatus infestations, controlled experiments were conducted in Mexico and Iran. Cattle were vaccinated with Gavac or not vaccinated and then artificially infested with B. annulatus lar vae. The results showed for the first time a high protection efficacy (>99.9%) of Gavac in the control of B. annulatus infestations. These r esults support the application of Bm86-containing vaccines for the con trol of Boophilus spp. infestations. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. Al l rights reserved.