Breakthrough Queensland Vaccine Stops Trichomonosis in Northern Cattle

In an exciting development, scientists have reported a groundbreaking vaccine from Queensland that successfully halts an incurable disease affecting northern cattle. The vaccine targets Trichomonosis, a venereal disease that has posed serious risks to cattle populations.

Successful Trials Show Encouraging Results

According to Professor Gry Boe-Hansen from UQ’s veterinary science department, bulls vaccinated against Trichomonosis not only cleared the infection but also demonstrated a significantly shortened infection duration of just 14 days, compared to the 40 days seen in non-vaccinated control animals. Furthermore, vaccinated bulls exhibited a lower parasite load, indicating enhanced effectiveness.

Economic Implications for Cattle Farmers

The successful development of this vaccine could have a tangible impact on the cattle industry. Currently, many valuable bulls in northern herds are culled to prevent the spread of the disease, which can lead to cow abortions and infertility. It is estimated that around 10-15% of bulls slaughtered from these herds are infected.

The Science Behind Bovine Trichomoniasis

Bovine trichomoniasis is caused by the protozoan parasite Tritrichomonas foetus. While vaccines exist in regions like South America and North America, they do not prevent the infection, leading to reliance on culling infected animals in Australia due to strict biosecurity measures.

A Promising Future for Cattle Vaccination

Addressing the 2025 TropAg conference in Brisbane, Professor Boe-Hansen emphasized the importance of developing a local vaccine: “We have to deal with the fact that we have to use test-and-slaughter of positive animals to reduce infection rates in our herds.” She highlighted the absence of registered treatments for food animals regarding this protozoan organism.

Vaccine Development Highlights

A 2023 Meat & Livestock Australia project at UQ involved selecting strains from Northern Territory and Queensland. Initial pilot trials yielded a 67% efficacy rate among bulls aged five to eight years, while subsequent trials with younger bulls showed promising responses. Each group received two doses of the experimental vaccine and was exposed to the infection twice, with ongoing monitoring through blood samples and foreskin scrapings.

Strong Immune Response and Low Side Effects

The findings indicate that vaccinated bulls experienced an immediate increase in immune levels following vaccination, which continued to rise after the second dose. Additionally, the vaccine was well-tolerated, causing only mild local reactions without significant effects on the bulls’ weight or average daily gain.

Next Steps and Future Research

The focus of upcoming trials will be to assess the longevity of the vaccine’s effectiveness as a preventative measure, rather than a treatment. There’s potential for future vaccines to be combined with others targeting similar venereal diseases, offering robust solutions for regions grappling with high prevalence rates.

Collaborative Research Efforts

Professor Boe-Hansen acknowledged the collaborative effort of her research team, which includes Harvey Santos, Dr. Kieren Mccosker, Michael McGowan, Dr. Hannah Siddle, Dr. Loan Nguyen, Ali Raza, and Professor Ala Tabor.