Evaluation of Effectiveness and Safety of Subolesin Anti-tick Vaccine in Ugandan Multi-site Field Trial

Overview

Journal NPJ Vaccines

Date 2024 Sep 18

PMID 39294184

Authors

Fredrick Kabi

Marinela Contreras

Jimmy Semakula

Marta Sanchez-Sanchez

Clara Munoz-Hernandez

Swidiq Mugerwa

Paul Kasaija

Halid Kirunda

Gabriela de la Fuente

Ruben Fernandez-Melgar

Marta Rafael

Isabel G Fernandez de Mera

Moses Matovu

Ivan Kyakuwa

Moses Dhikusooka

Godfrey Nsereko

Paul Boma

James Bugeza

Mwesigwa Moses

Agnes Namukasa

Philip Obonyo

Nicholas Ssekabunga

Okeny E Adyero

Justus Rutaisire

Christian Gortazar

Jose de la Fuente

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Vaccines are the most effective and sustainable intervention to control ticks and tick-borne diseases (TBD). Using a personalized vaccine design based on regional tick genotypes, a Rhipicephalus appendiculatus Subolesin protective antigen was used in a field trial evaluating tick vaccine efficacy, effectiveness, and safety in cattle infested with multiple tick species in different Ugandan agro-ecological zones. Vaccination with SUB was safe with a protective capacity against anemia and infection, and reduced the number of infested cattle, tick fitness (feeding and reproduction) with vaccine effectiveness against multiple tick species between 93.2% at 167-196 days post-vaccination (dpv) and 61.4% at 251-327 dpv. Total integrated vaccine efficacy/effectiveness was estimated as 98.8%. The Subolesin-based vaccine is protective against multiple cattle tick infestations under field conditions in Uganda. These results support registration and commercialization of the vaccine to reduce tick populations and associated risks for human and animal TBD and chemical acaracides in Uganda.

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