Transcutaneous immunization of domestic animals: opportunities and challenges

Transcutaneous immunization (TCI), the topical application of antigen and a djuvant directly onto intact skin, can safely and effectively elicit system ic immune responses in mice and humans against a variety of antigens. This novel method of vaccine delivery has the potential to provide a safe and co nvenient method by which vaccines may be delivered to elicit protective imm unity in domestic animals. To date, however, immune responses induced by TC I in companion and production animals has not been reported. In this report , we demonstrate that TCI may be widely applicable to many animals. Immune responses elicited by TCI require further optimization for each antigen and species, and success may depend upon the structure: and composition of the skin of the target species. The prospect of TCI as a practical and broadly applicable approach to vaccination in veterinary medicine is discussed in the context of these challenges. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.