Cattle Vaccination Could Avert 83% of Human E. Coli Cases, Study

Cattle Vaccination Could Avert 83% of Human E. Coli Cases, Study

By Amanda Brodhagen, Farms.com

A new study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences suggests that using an E. coli vaccine on cattle could prevent about 83 percent of human infections.

The findings suggest that vaccination reduces the level of E. coli in bovine manure. There are currently two E. coli vaccinations available; a Canadian version – Econiche and the American version – Epitopix SRP.  To date, less than five-percent of the Canadian market is using the vaccine.

Researchers found that smaller cattle operations that raise, slaughter and sell their own cattle on farm are more likely to use the vaccine. These producers use the vaccine as a form of liability insurance. Advocates of the vaccine being used more broadly argue that vaccination is not only an agriculture issue, but a health one.