- Medgene announced the availability of a prescription platform vaccine targeting Theileria orientalis Ikeda in cattle.
- The company said the vaccine is the first and only prescription platform biologic available for the parasite in the United States.
- Theileria can cause bovine infectious anemia, resulting in anemia, fever, jaundice, lethargy, reduced milk production, abortion and death.
- The vaccine is administered as a two-dose series and is available by veterinary prescription.
Medgene has introduced a prescription platform vaccine targeting Theileria orientalis Ikeda, a tick-borne protozoan parasite that affects cattle and causes bovine infectious anemia.
According to the company, the vaccine is the first and only prescription platform biologic available in the United States for Theileria orientalis Ikeda. The product is available by veterinary prescription.
Addressing Theileria in Cattle
Medgene said Theileria is a highly virulent parasite that is commonly transmitted to cattle through the saliva of feeding ticks. Infection can result in anemia, fever, jaundice, lethargy, reduced milk production, abortion and death.
The company cited estimates indicating that tick-borne pathogens account for more than $13.9 billion in losses in the United States. It also noted that there are currently no approved treatments for Theileria in the United States.
According to research from Cornell University cited by Medgene, cattle that survive infection remain infected for life. The company said infected animals may experience decreased milk production, reproductive losses, morbidity and mortality throughout their lifespan.
Medgene also noted that Theileria causes clinical signs similar to bovine anaplasmosis but, unlike anaplasmosis, it can also cause disease in young calves. Citing USDA information, the company said mortality rates may reach up to 50% in infected cattle.
The company added that by the time Theileria is diagnosed, the parasite may have already spread throughout much of a herd via feeding ticks. Once introduced into a pasture, infected ticks can survive in the environment for up to two years.
Two-Dose Vaccine Series
Medgene said the vaccine targets both the sporozoite and merozoite stages of the parasite’s lifecycle, providing multiple opportunities to affect the parasite’s lifecycle. The product is administered as a two-dose series consisting of an initial vaccination followed by a booster dose.
The company said it continues to research parasite vaccines for additional ticks and tick-borne diseases, as well as other vectors and vector-borne diseases.
Medgene noted that the potency and efficacy of its prescription platform biologics have not been established. The vaccine is available by veterinary prescription.
Information sourced from the company’s press release.
