Contraception of Bison by GnRH Vaccine: A Possible Means of Decreasing Transmission of Brucellosis in Bison
Miller LA, Rhyan JC, Drew M. 2004. Contraception of Bison by GnRH Vaccine: A Possible Means of Decreasing Transmission of Brucellosis in Bison. Journal of Wildlife Diseases. 40(4):725-730
Preventing pregnancy in brucellosis-infected bison (Bison bison) provides a potential means of preventing transmission of disease. To determine whether a gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) vaccine was effective in reducing pregnancy in bison and to study the safety of injecting GnRH in pregnant bison, a study was conducted at the Idaho Fish and Game Wildlife Health Laboratory in Caldwell, Idaho (USA). Four pregnant and two nonpregnant female bison were given a single injection of GnRH vaccine, and five pregnant adult females were given a sham injection that contained only adjuvant. Three of the GnRH-vaccinated bison that were pregnant at the time of vaccination delivered healthy calves. One treated bison had dystocia that resulted in a dead calf. All control bison delivered healthy calves. After calving, females of both groups were exposed to two bulls. Treated bison were palpated 6 wk after exposure to the bulls, and blood was drawn for pregnancy-specific protein B analysis. The six treated bison were not pregnant. The sham-treated bison became pregnant and delivered viable calves. This study demonstrates that a single dose of GnRH vaccine is effective in preventing pregnancy in female bison for at least 1 yr.
- Type
- Journal Article
- Authors
- Miller, Lowell; Rhyan, Jack; Drew, Mark
- Units
- YELL
- Keywords
- Bison, Brucellosis, GnRH vaccine, gonadotropin-releasing hormone vaccine, Immunocontraception, Risk, Transmission, Vaccination, Vaccine, Wildlife Health