Vaccines Active
The USGS National Wildlife Health Center (NWHC) works on developing various disease management tools, including the development of vaccines. Our current work focuses on vaccines for sylvatic plague, white-nose syndrome, and rabies as disease control strategies.
Sylvatic Plague Vaccine
Field Efficacy Trials with Sylvatic Plague Vaccine
Plague, caused by Yersinia pestis, is widespread throughout the western US and frequently occurs in wild rodents. All four species of prairie dogs in the US are particularly susceptible to plague, suffering high mortality rates during outbreaks (> 90%) and resulting in local extirpations. As a keystone species of grassland ecosystems, prairie dog losses significantly impact numerous other species that depend on them for food or shelter, including black-footed ferrets, burrowing owls, mountain plovers, and several canine and avian predators. Currently, plague is managed in prairie dogs through manual application of insecticides to burrows to kill the fleas that transmit Y. pestis. However, this process is labor intensive and recent evidence suggests that fleas can develop resistance to the most frequently used pesticide.
The NWHC, in conjunction with others, has developed and tested a sylvatic plague vaccine (SPV), deliverable to prairie dogs via palatable bait that offers an additional approach for plague management. From 2013-15, the NWHC conducted a large, collaborative field study to test the effectiveness of SPV in reducing mortality from plague in four species of prairie dogs in 7 western states. This study involved state, federal, tribal and non-government agencies organized under the Black-footed Ferret Recovery Implementation Team (BFFRIT), a multi-agency effort led by the US Fish and Wildlife Service. Vaccine treatment had an overall positive effect on prairie dog abundance on our study plots compared to placebo plots and also increased survival of prairie dogs on plots where plague was detected. Although some plague losses occurred on vaccine plots, our results provide evidence that consumption of vaccine-laden baits can protect prairie dogs against plague. However, further evaluation and refinement is needed to optimize SPV use as a management tool and to determine if its use will provide benefits to other species, like black-footed ferrets, or whether it could be used to protect public health.
Conservation and Public Health Applications of the Sylvatic Plague Vaccine on National Park Service Lands
Plague, caused by Yersinia pestis, has devastated human and animal populations throughout history. The United States has 5-10 human cases of plague, including some deaths, every year. The disease is also deadly for endangered black-footed ferrets, considered one of the rarest mammals in North America, and their prey, prairie dogs. Reintroduction of black-footed ferrets has occurred at Badlands National Park as part of the national recovery effort. Despite initial successes, plague is considered to be the biggest impediment to the full recovery of the black-footed ferret.
Current efforts to manage plague in ferrets are labor intensive and include capture and vaccination of released ferrets and pesticide treatment of prairie dog burrows to reduce fleas that carry Y. pestis. However, fleas are developing resistance to pesticides in some locations. Therefore, the NWHC is examining the effectiveness of sylvatic plague vaccine to protect not only prairie dog populations, but the ferrets that depend on those populations for prey.
White-nose Syndrome Vaccine
Testing the Feasibility of Vaccination for White-Nose Syndrome and other Bat Diseases
Bats are important for protecting human health and the U.S. economy by controlling insects that carry diseases (e.g., West Nile and Zika Viruses) or cause damage to agricultural crops (estimated $3.5 billion in savings annually). Unfortunately, North American bats are experiencing devastating population declines from an emerging fungal disease, white-nose syndrome (WNS).
To help safeguard North American bat populations, the NWHC is developing a vaccine against the fungus that causes WNS that can be applied topically to wild bats. Currently, several vaccine candidates are being tested to determine which provides the best protection to hibernating bats. Once developed, the goal is to confer disease resistance to vulnerable bats and safeguard their populations. This project was requested by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and is jointly funded by the USFWS, USGS Ecosystems Mission Area, and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF).
Exploring the Potential for Transdermal Immunization of Bats
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and numerous state agencies and conservation organizations have solicited assistance with identifying and implementing strategies for conserving at-risk bat populations. Therefore, the NWHC is testing and developing novel methods of vaccination (transdermal – through the skin) against the fungus that causes WNS. This project is funded by the Ecosystems Mission Area Wildlife Disease Cyclical and is in collaboration with the University of Wisconsin School of Veterinary Medicine.
Project Documents
- Environmental Assessment- Field Studies to Assess the Safety and Effectiveness of White-nose Syndrome Vaccine Candidates in Bats November 2019
- Decision Record- Field and Captive Studies to Assess the Safety and Efficacy of Treatment Delivery Methods in Bats
- Finding of No Significant Impact- Field and Captive Studies to Assess the Safety and Efficacy of Treatment Delivery Methods in Bats
- Environmental Assessment- Field Studies to Assess the Safety and Effectiveness of White-nose Syndrome Vaccine Candidates in Bats October 2019
- Draft Decision Record- Field Studies to Assess the Safety and Effectiveness of White-Nose Syndrome Vaccine Candidates in Bats
- Draft Finding of No Significant Impact- Field Studies to Assess the Safety and Effectiveness of White-Nose Syndrome Vaccine Candidates in Bats
Rabies Vaccine
Oral Delivery of Vaccine to Control Rabies in Vampire Bats (Desmodus rotundus)
Rabies, transmitted by vampire bats to cattle or people, is a tremendous economic burden in Central and South American countries. Additionally, vampire bats are moving north and are expected to disperse into southern Texas in the next decade. Currently, managers cull vampire bats to reduce vector populations by applying a pesticide to the skin of captured bats. Therefore, the NWHC is developing an effective and practical oral vaccine for rabies that can be applied to the skin of vampire bats. To accomplish that goal, laboratory challenge trials in vampire bats are necessary to confirm vaccine efficacy, and a vehicle for delivering the vaccine must be developed and tested through field trials. The intended goal of this project is to find better ways to manage rabies in bats, reducing risks to humans and domestic animals. This work is being conducted in close collaboration with USDA-APHIS in Mexico.
Below are multimedia items associated with this project.
Below are publications related to vaccines.
A recombinant raccoon poxvirus vaccine expressing both Yersinia pestis F1 and truncated V antigens protects animals against lethal plague.
Sylvatic plague vaccine: A new tool for conservation of threatened and endangered species?
Sylvatic plague vaccine and management of prairie dogs
Sylvatic plague vaccine: combating plague in prairie dogs and black-footed ferrets
Assessment of a recombinant F1-V fusion protein vaccine intended to protect Canada lynx (Lynx canadensis) from plague
Use of Rhodamine B as a biomarker for oral plague vaccination of prairie dogs
Enzootic plague reduces black-footed ferret (Mustela nigripes) survival in Montana
Further development of raccoon poxvirus-vectored vaccines against plague (Yersinia pestis)
Protecting Black-Footed Ferrets and Prairie Dogs against sylvatic plague
Immunization of black-tailed prairie dog against plague through consumption of vaccine-laden baits
Recombinant F1-V fusion protein protects black-footed ferrets (Mustela nigripes) against virulent Yersinia pestis infection
Protection of black-tailed prairie dogs (Cynomys ludovicianus) against plague after voluntary consumption of baits containing recombinant raccoon poxvirus vaccine
Below are news stories related to vaccines.
- Overview
The USGS National Wildlife Health Center (NWHC) works on developing various disease management tools, including the development of vaccines. Our current work focuses on vaccines for sylvatic plague, white-nose syndrome, and rabies as disease control strategies.
Sylvatic Plague Vaccine
Field Efficacy Trials with Sylvatic Plague Vaccine
Plague, caused by Yersinia pestis, is widespread throughout the western US and frequently occurs in wild rodents. All four species of prairie dogs in the US are particularly susceptible to plague, suffering high mortality rates during outbreaks (> 90%) and resulting in local extirpations. As a keystone species of grassland ecosystems, prairie dog losses significantly impact numerous other species that depend on them for food or shelter, including black-footed ferrets, burrowing owls, mountain plovers, and several canine and avian predators. Currently, plague is managed in prairie dogs through manual application of insecticides to burrows to kill the fleas that transmit Y. pestis. However, this process is labor intensive and recent evidence suggests that fleas can develop resistance to the most frequently used pesticide.
The NWHC, in conjunction with others, has developed and tested a sylvatic plague vaccine (SPV), deliverable to prairie dogs via palatable bait that offers an additional approach for plague management. From 2013-15, the NWHC conducted a large, collaborative field study to test the effectiveness of SPV in reducing mortality from plague in four species of prairie dogs in 7 western states. This study involved state, federal, tribal and non-government agencies organized under the Black-footed Ferret Recovery Implementation Team (BFFRIT), a multi-agency effort led by the US Fish and Wildlife Service. Vaccine treatment had an overall positive effect on prairie dog abundance on our study plots compared to placebo plots and also increased survival of prairie dogs on plots where plague was detected. Although some plague losses occurred on vaccine plots, our results provide evidence that consumption of vaccine-laden baits can protect prairie dogs against plague. However, further evaluation and refinement is needed to optimize SPV use as a management tool and to determine if its use will provide benefits to other species, like black-footed ferrets, or whether it could be used to protect public health.
Conservation and Public Health Applications of the Sylvatic Plague Vaccine on National Park Service Lands
Plague, caused by Yersinia pestis, has devastated human and animal populations throughout history. The United States has 5-10 human cases of plague, including some deaths, every year. The disease is also deadly for endangered black-footed ferrets, considered one of the rarest mammals in North America, and their prey, prairie dogs. Reintroduction of black-footed ferrets has occurred at Badlands National Park as part of the national recovery effort. Despite initial successes, plague is considered to be the biggest impediment to the full recovery of the black-footed ferret.
Current efforts to manage plague in ferrets are labor intensive and include capture and vaccination of released ferrets and pesticide treatment of prairie dog burrows to reduce fleas that carry Y. pestis. However, fleas are developing resistance to pesticides in some locations. Therefore, the NWHC is examining the effectiveness of sylvatic plague vaccine to protect not only prairie dog populations, but the ferrets that depend on those populations for prey.
White-nose Syndrome Vaccine
Testing the Feasibility of Vaccination for White-Nose Syndrome and other Bat Diseases
Bats are important for protecting human health and the U.S. economy by controlling insects that carry diseases (e.g., West Nile and Zika Viruses) or cause damage to agricultural crops (estimated $3.5 billion in savings annually). Unfortunately, North American bats are experiencing devastating population declines from an emerging fungal disease, white-nose syndrome (WNS).
To help safeguard North American bat populations, the NWHC is developing a vaccine against the fungus that causes WNS that can be applied topically to wild bats. Currently, several vaccine candidates are being tested to determine which provides the best protection to hibernating bats. Once developed, the goal is to confer disease resistance to vulnerable bats and safeguard their populations. This project was requested by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and is jointly funded by the USFWS, USGS Ecosystems Mission Area, and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF).
Exploring the Potential for Transdermal Immunization of Bats
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and numerous state agencies and conservation organizations have solicited assistance with identifying and implementing strategies for conserving at-risk bat populations. Therefore, the NWHC is testing and developing novel methods of vaccination (transdermal – through the skin) against the fungus that causes WNS. This project is funded by the Ecosystems Mission Area Wildlife Disease Cyclical and is in collaboration with the University of Wisconsin School of Veterinary Medicine.
Project Documents
- Environmental Assessment- Field Studies to Assess the Safety and Effectiveness of White-nose Syndrome Vaccine Candidates in Bats November 2019
- Decision Record- Field and Captive Studies to Assess the Safety and Efficacy of Treatment Delivery Methods in Bats
- Finding of No Significant Impact- Field and Captive Studies to Assess the Safety and Efficacy of Treatment Delivery Methods in Bats
- Environmental Assessment- Field Studies to Assess the Safety and Effectiveness of White-nose Syndrome Vaccine Candidates in Bats October 2019
- Draft Decision Record- Field Studies to Assess the Safety and Effectiveness of White-Nose Syndrome Vaccine Candidates in Bats
- Draft Finding of No Significant Impact- Field Studies to Assess the Safety and Effectiveness of White-Nose Syndrome Vaccine Candidates in Bats
Rabies Vaccine
Oral Delivery of Vaccine to Control Rabies in Vampire Bats (Desmodus rotundus)
Rabies, transmitted by vampire bats to cattle or people, is a tremendous economic burden in Central and South American countries. Additionally, vampire bats are moving north and are expected to disperse into southern Texas in the next decade. Currently, managers cull vampire bats to reduce vector populations by applying a pesticide to the skin of captured bats. Therefore, the NWHC is developing an effective and practical oral vaccine for rabies that can be applied to the skin of vampire bats. To accomplish that goal, laboratory challenge trials in vampire bats are necessary to confirm vaccine efficacy, and a vehicle for delivering the vaccine must be developed and tested through field trials. The intended goal of this project is to find better ways to manage rabies in bats, reducing risks to humans and domestic animals. This work is being conducted in close collaboration with USDA-APHIS in Mexico.
- Multimedia
Below are multimedia items associated with this project.
- Publications
Below are publications related to vaccines.
Filter Total Items: 27A recombinant raccoon poxvirus vaccine expressing both Yersinia pestis F1 and truncated V antigens protects animals against lethal plague.
In previous studies, we demonstrated in mice and prairie dogs that simultaneous administration of two recombinant raccoon poxviruses (rRCN) expressing Yersinia pestis antigens (F1 and V307-a truncated version of the V protein) provided superior protection against plague challenge compared to individual single antigen constructs. To reduce costs of vaccine production and facilitate implementation oAuthorsTonie E. Rocke, B Kingstad-Bakke, W Berlier, J.E. OsorioSylvatic plague vaccine: A new tool for conservation of threatened and endangered species?
Plague, a disease caused by Yersinia pestis introduced into North America about 100 years ago, is devastating to prairie dogs and the highly endangered black-footed ferret. Current attempts to control plague in these species have historically relied on insecticidal dusting of prairie dog burrows to kill the fleas that spread the disease. Although successful in curtailing outbreaks in most instanceAuthorsRachel C. Abbott, Jorge E. Osorio, Christine M. Bunck, Tonie E. RockeSylvatic plague vaccine and management of prairie dogs
Scientists at the USGS National Wildlife Health Center (NWHC), in collaboration with colleagues at the University of Wisconsin (UW), have developed a sylvatic plague vaccine that shows great promise in protecting prairie dogs against plague (Mencher and others, 2004; Rocke and others, 2010). Four species of prairie dogs reside in the United States and Canada, and all are highly susceptible to plagAuthorsTonie E. RockeSylvatic plague vaccine: combating plague in prairie dogs and black-footed ferrets
After achieving promising results in laboratory trials, researchers at the USGS National Wildlife Health Center (NWHC) and University of Wisconsin at Madison will soon begin field testing a new oral vaccine for sylvatic plague, a devastating disease affecting prairie dogs and other mammals, particularly the endangered black-footed ferret. Our team has developed and is currently registering a sylvaAuthorsTonie E. Rocke, Rachel C. AbbottAssessment of a recombinant F1-V fusion protein vaccine intended to protect Canada lynx (Lynx canadensis) from plague
As part of an ongoing restoration program in Colorado, USA, we evaluated adverse reactions and seroconversion in captive Canada lynx (Lynx canadensis) after vaccination with a recombinant F1-V fusion protein vaccine against Yersinia pestis, the bacterium that causes plague. Ten adult female lynx received the F1-V vaccine; 10 source- and age-matched lynx remained unvaccinated as controls. All of thAuthorsLisa L. Wolfe, Tanya M. Shenk, Bradford Powell, Tonie E. RockeUse of Rhodamine B as a biomarker for oral plague vaccination of prairie dogs
Oral vaccination against Yersinia pestis could provide a feasible approach for controlling plague in prairie dogs (Cynomys spp.) for conservation and public health purposes. Biomarkers are useful in wildlife vaccination programs to demonstrate exposure to vaccine baits. Rhodamine B (RB) was tested as a potential biomarker for oral plague vaccination because it allows nonlethal sampling of animalsAuthorsJulia Rodriguez-Ramos Fernandez, Tonie E. RockeEnzootic plague reduces black-footed ferret (Mustela nigripes) survival in Montana
Black-footed ferrets (Mustela nigripes) require extensive prairie dog colonies (Cynomys spp.) to provide habitat and prey. Epizootic plague kills both prairie dogs and ferrets and is a major factor limiting recovery of the highly endangered ferret. In addition to epizootics, we hypothesized that enzootic plague, that is, presence of disease-causing Yersinia pestis without any noticeable prairie doAuthorsMarc R. Matchett, Dean E. Biggins, Valerie Carlson, Bradford Powell, Tonie E. RockeFurther development of raccoon poxvirus-vectored vaccines against plague (Yersinia pestis)
In previous studies, we demonstrated protection against plague in mice and prairie dogs using a raccoon pox (RCN) virus-vectored vaccine that expressed the F1 capsular antigen of Yersinia pestis. In order to improve vaccine efficacy, we have now constructed additional RCN-plague vaccines containing two different forms of the lcrV (V) gene, including full-length (Vfull) and a truncated form (V307).AuthorsTonie E. Rocke, Keith P. Iams, S. Dawe, Susan Smith, Judy L. Williamson, Dennis M. Heisey, Jorge E. OsorioProtecting Black-Footed Ferrets and Prairie Dogs against sylvatic plague
Scientists at the USGS National Wildlife Health Center (NWHC), in collaboration with colleagues at other federal agencies and the University of Wisconsin, are developing and testing vaccines that can be used to protect black-footed ferrets and prairie dogs against plague. The black-footed ferret is commonly regarded as the most endangered mammal in North America, and sylvatic plague is a major impAuthorsTonie E. RockeImmunization of black-tailed prairie dog against plague through consumption of vaccine-laden baits
Prairie dogs (Cynomys spp.) are highly susceptible to Yersinia pestis and, along with other wild rodents, are significant reservoirs of plague for other wildlife and humans in the western United States. A recombinant raccoon poxvirus, expressing the F1 antigen of Y. pestis, was incorporated into a palatable bait and offered to three groups (n=18, 19, and 20) of black-tailed prairie dogs (Cynomys lAuthorsTonie E. Rocke, Susan Smith, D.T. Stinchcomb, Jorge E. OsorioRecombinant F1-V fusion protein protects black-footed ferrets (Mustela nigripes) against virulent Yersinia pestis infection
Black-footed ferrets (Mustela nigripes) are highly susceptible to sylvatic plague, caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis, and this disease has severely hampered efforts to restore ferrets to their historic range. A study was conducted to assess the efficacy of vaccination of black-footed ferrets against plague using a recombinant protein vaccine, designated F1-V, developed by personnel at the U.AuthorsTonie E. Rocke, J. Mencher, Susan Smith, A. M. Friedlander, G.P. Andrews, L. A. BaetenProtection of black-tailed prairie dogs (Cynomys ludovicianus) against plague after voluntary consumption of baits containing recombinant raccoon poxvirus vaccine
Prairie dogs (Cynomys spp.) are highly susceptible to Yersinia pestis and significant reservoirs of plague for humans in the western United States. A recombinant raccoon poxvirus, expressing the F1 antigen of Y. pestis, was incorporated into a palatable bait and offered to 18 black-tailed prairie dogs (Cynomys ludovicianus) for voluntary consumption; 18 negative control animals received placebo baAuthorsJ.S. Mencher, S.R. Smith, T.D. Powell, D.T. Stinchcomb, J.E. Osorio, T.E. Rocke - News
Below are news stories related to vaccines.