E. Coli vaccine important development for beef industry

Source: Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food

A ground-breaking vaccine for cattle, brought to commercial viability by the Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization (VIDO) in Saskatoon, is a major addition to the Canadian beef industry's quality and safety arsenal.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has just approved the distribution of the vaccine to Canadian veterinarians. Based on a discovery by University of British Columbia researcher Brett Finlay, the science behind the vaccine was refined by a VIDO research team headed up by Associate Director of Research Andrew Potter.

The new vaccine greatly reduces the amount of E. coli O157:H7 bacteria shed by cattle into their environment that works by stopping the attachment of the E. coli bacteria to the intestinal surface in cattle.

VIDO Director and CEO Lorne Babiuk says this makes Canada the first country in the world to access a vaccine for the E. coli O157:H7 strain.� This is also the first time animals will be vaccinated to protect human health.

Our producers have always prided themselves on the safety and quality of Canadian beef, said Babiuk. This will be one more way we can maintain that standard.

The new vaccine will be commercially distributed through Bioniche Life Sciences Inc., an Ontario-based company.� Babiuk says some of it will be marketed within six months, and it is expected to be widely available to veterinarians within 18 months.

Babiuk notes that urbanization is putting increasing pressure on the environment for cattle producers, and if we can reduce the threat of contamination, this will support the safety of our food supply.

Babiuk says he expects that the E. coli vaccine will likely not be widely used by individual producers for their herds; however, he can see a day when it is used in feedlots.

The issue depends on how processors view this, said Babiuk. At some point, the large buyers of beef may require certificates of vaccination as a part of their standards.

The success of this development is encouraging VIDO to research vaccines for other closely related bacteria that produce similar toxins, include Salmonella and other E. coli strains.

The new vaccine's development was supported by numerous investors, including the Canada Beef Industry Development Fund and the Alberta Livestock Industry Development Fund.

Babiuk is pleased to see another world first from VIDO, which is based at the University of Saskatchewan.

It takes great minds and vision, he said. Imagination is great when combined with scientific ability.

For more information, contact:
Lorne Babiuk, Director and CEO
Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization
Phone: (306) 966-7475