Veterinary tuberculosis vaccine development

Tuberculosis caused by Mycobacterium bovis in domestic livestock and wildli fe is a significant problem in many countries worldwide. Wildlife reservoir s of tuberculosis confound programs for tuberculosis eradication from domes tic livestock. Successful vaccination against tuberculosis in domestic anim als or wildlife could contribute to tuberculosis eradication. Bacille Calme tte-Guerin (BCG) has been used as the prototype vaccine for domestic livest ock and wildlife. The majority of studies have been carried out with BCG-va ccinated animals challenged experimentally with M, bovis. Although protecti on against disease has been evident in all these studies, protection agains t infection has rarely occurred. Results obtained with BCG vaccination of c attle, deer, ferrets, opossums, and rabbits are presented here and highligh t the need for appropriate animal models for vaccination and control of the variables that influence the efficacy of BCG vaccine. Refinement of the ex isting animal models is essential for the advancement of tuberculosis vacci ne research of relevance to animals and humans.