January 2, 2007

Canada authorises E. coli cattle vaccine

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has authorised the distribution of an E. coli 0157:H7 vaccine to Canadian veterinarians, aiming to reduce shedding of the potentially deadly bacteria from cattle.

Manufactured by Bioniche Life Sciences Inc, a Canadian biopharmaceutical company, the vaccine would help to reduce the prevalence of this toxic bacterium, said Graeme McRae, the company president and CEO.

Clinical trials, involving tests of the vaccine on more than 30,000 cattle over the past four years, have consistently shown a significant decrease in the number of cattle shedding E. coli in their manure.

This vaccine would ensure the Canadian cattle producers' continued effort in providing a safe product for their consumers, pointed out Dr Lorne Babiuk, director of the Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organisation and Canada's chairman of research in vaccinology and biotechnology in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.

He added the reduction of E. coli shedding into the environment would have far-reaching consequences in environmental contamination.