VIDO-InterVac making progress on COVID-19 vaccine

VIDO-InterVac making progress on COVID-19 vaccine

There are some promising early signs as researchers at USask’s Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization-International Vaccine Centre develop a vaccine for COVID-19

University of Saskatchewan – “Early indications show that the vaccine induces an immune response, so that is positive,” said Dr. Volker Gerdts (DVM), director of Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization-International Vaccine Centre (VIDO-InterVac). “But whether the vaccine will work, we don’t know that yet. There is a lot of testing to be done.” Safety assessment […] Read more

(PerformanceLivestockAnalytics.com)

Zoetis buys livestock data management firm

Performance Beef platform to expand drugmaker's 'precision' production offering

The producer of livestock drugs such as Draxxin, Bovatec and Excede is buying space in the “precision livestock farming” market with a deal for a U.S. livestock data management firm. New Jersey-based Zoetis, which makes drugs and vaccines for the beef and dairy cattle, equine, swine, poultry and sheep sectors as well as cats and […] Read more


Cartagena’s colonial walled section and fortress are a UNESCO World Heritage site in Colombia. (CIA.gov)

Colombia cleared of foot-and-mouth

Country now aims to double meat exports

Bogota | Reuters — Colombia will look to double its meat exports now it has regained its status as a country free of foot-and-mouth disease, President Ivan Duque said on Thursday. Foot-and-mouth is a highly contagious viral disease found in animals and is one of the most serious to affect livestock, including cattle, sheep and […] Read more

The first phase would see successful small businesses get up to $150,000 to refine their research.

Canadian Food Inspection Agency seeks proposals for vaccine matching

Research: News Roundup from the September 30, 2019 issue of Canadian Cattlemen

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) seeks proposals from small businesses on developing a computer model that predicts which vaccine strain would best control foot-and-mouth disease outbreaks in cattle, sheep and swine. Foot-and-mouth is highly contagious, making it a serious threat to the agriculture industry. Viral strains can be stored in vaccine banks, but right […] Read more


Intestinal lesions caused by Johne's disease.

Johne’s disease: Cheap to buy, costly to live with

“Biosecurity” often conjures up images of poultry or hog operations with truckers-report-at-the-gate signs, shower-in-and-out rules and workers dressed in hazmat suits. The point of biosecurity practices is obviously to reduce the risk that disease-causing microbes will enter or spread within high-health status herds or flocks. It is much harder to implement high levels of bio­security […] Read more

(PrevtecMicrobia.com)

Elanco buys swine PWD vaccine maker

Veterinary drugmaker Elanco Animal Health is expanding its space in the swine sector with a deal to buy the Quebec startup behind Coliprotec vaccines. Indianapolis-based Elanco announced Thursday it has paid $78.5 million to buy Prevtec Microbia, which is headquartered in Montreal with facilities in St-Hyacinthe. The Coliprotec line is meant to help protect pigs […] Read more


A macrophage (immune response) cell in early stages of infection with African swine fever virus, magnified about 1,000x. (Keith Weller photo courtesy ARS/USDA)

No proof natural compound prevents swine fever, China ag ministry says

Beijing | Reuters — China’s ministry of agriculture said on Thursday a company which claimed a natural compound was effective in preventing African swine fever did not have government approval to research the virus and its assertions were not scientifically sound. Shopping mall operator Guangdong Highsun Group was questioned by the Shenzhen Stock Exchange earlier […] Read more

Most cases of scours in calves occur at three days or older, meaning they are most likely viral in origin so electrolytes will do more good than antibiotics.

Lessons from a neonatal disease survey

Calving: Measuring the incidence of early calfhood diseases across Western Canada

A very comprehensive survey was completed a few years ago by Dr. Cheryl Waldner at the Western Veterinary College in Saskatoon looking at the incidence of early calfhood diseases across Western Canada. Surveys were distributed to veterinary clinics across this region and randomly distributed to their clients. Thanks should go to the participating veterinarians and […] Read more


Rabies is a rare zoonotic disease

Rabies is a rare zoonotic disease

… and it’s almost always fatal to animals

We don’t hear about rabies being mentioned very often but when we do there is a scary connotation attached to it. It is virtually always fatal to all mammals and zoonotic to humans with no curative treatment once clinical signs develop. Only prevention through vaccination and prevention from contact by strong surveillance programs have kept […] Read more

Researchers see some promising uses for mRNA cattle vaccines, but they are unlikely to replace existing vaccines for common cattle diseases, partly due to practical limitations.

How and when to change vaccine lines

Animal Health: News Roundup from the September 2018 issue of Canadian Cattlemen

There are many difficult decisions to be made when changing the brand or manufacturer of a vaccine line. Hopefully this article will clarify how to go about making the decision and avoiding any gaps or overlaps that could develop if the right combinations are not chosen. The real comparisons can be made when you know […] Read more