Science Features » plague http://www.usgs.gov/blogs/features Highlighted USGS science Mon, 17 Jun 2013 14:49:37 +0000 en-US hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.2 Plagued by Plague: USGS Develops an Ouchless Vaccine: http://www.usgs.gov/blogs/features/usgs_science_pick/plagued-by-plague-usgs-develops-an-ouchless-vaccine/ http://www.usgs.gov/blogs/features/usgs_science_pick/plagued-by-plague-usgs-develops-an-ouchless-vaccine/#comments Mon, 12 Sep 2011 17:17:56 +0000 ademas http://staging-www.usgs.gov/blogs/testing/?post_type=usgs_science_pick&p=1571 A peanut-flavored edible vaccine? Definitely better than a shot! USGS is working in collaboration with numerous state and federal agencies and tribes to obtain approval for field trials with vaccine-laden, peanut-butter flavored baits and evaluate the safety and effectiveness of the vaccine in grasslands.   Better protection of prairie dogs against plague would minimize the risk of disease transfer to endangered black-footed ferrets, aid in prairie dog conservation, and protect public health.  USGS scientists at the USGS National Wildlife Health Center have developed a highly effective laboratory-tested oral plague vaccine for prairie dogs as a pre-emptive method of combating plague.  USGS is working in collaboration with numerous state and federal agencies and tribes to obtain approval for field trials with vaccine-laden, peanut-butter flavored baits and evaluate the safety and effectiveness of the vaccine in grasslands.  The ultimate goal is to use this oral vaccine as a management tool in targeted areas where black-footed ferrets are living or are released as part of their recovery program.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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