Use of bacterial vaccines in the livestock industries

Abstract

The prophylactic use of antibiotics in animal feed has been a long-held practice in intensive livestock production for maintaining animal health by controlling disease and promoting growth enhancement. However, the continuous use of antibiotics has evoked strong concerns over emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. There has been a concerted effort over the years by US, EU and Australian legislative authorities to reduce or eliminate prophylactic use of antibiotics in animal feed. In principle, these efforts are commendable; however, an alternative and effective method to managing disease must be available to ensure the health and welfare of livestock. There will likely be a greater reliance on vaccination programs to protect livestock from various infectious diseases. With respect to bacterial diseases, bacteria themselves form the core of vaccine development. In this article, an overview of bacterial vaccine technologies available to the livestock industries will be presented.