Author wrote:
Reported on Warmwell – http://www.warmwell.com
March 14 – 20 ~ "RB51 vaccine has become the official brucellosis vaccine for control of brucellosis in cattle in the United States."
The DEFRA brucellosis "Q&A" page
"...given that the infection is very unlikely to be widespread in the national herd, vaccination would not be appropriate. As it is difficult to distinguish between infected and vaccinated animals vaccination would compromise our efforts to identify any undisclosed pockets of infection and, in the longer term, compromise national surveillance procedures."
However, the brucellosis research team in the Louisiana State University Agricultural Center, working with Dr. G.G Schurig, have developed a "stable rough mutant of a smooth virulent Brucella abortus", Strain RB51
"...RB51 protected cattle against infection when RB51 vaccinated cattle were experimentally challenged with virulent Brucella abortus. After the initial reports of these findings, others began conducting studies with larger numbers of experimental animals to demonstrate that... RB51 did not cause vaccine-induced serological reactions that confuse diagnosis of true infections..
RB51 vaccine has become the official brucellosis vaccine for control of brucellosis in cattle in the United States. While providing levels of protection against infection equal to those observed with Strain 19 vaccine, RB51 has eliminated the very costly persistent serological titer problems of Strain 19. Contact: Fred Enright, Louisiana Agricultural Experiment Station, LSU Agricultural Center 225–388–4194 FAX 225–388–4890"
."http://www.lsuagcenter.com/Communications/impactreports2000/vaccine.htm

Author wrote:
O/T has anyone else noticed that when something like Dring and this hit the news there are problems in communication on sites like this one ? E-mails are all over the place, usually delayed. O.K. jane, I know what you will say, there are blips occasionally, nothings perfect. But it doesn't happen at quiet times does it ? Co-incidence perhaps ?
To get back on subject and the ignorance of authorities about modern trends of disease control.The hoary old chestnut of rejecting vaccination because it is difficult to distinguish between those infected naturally and those animals which have been vaccinated will (if it has not already) be dusted off and paraded as the excuse for not considering this as an option to control the current outbreak. Correction, they use this particular excuse so often that it will not have had time to accumulate dust !
There is a vaccine now available, name of RB51. This gives the same level of protection as the older variety. It DOES NOT cause vaccine induced serological reators that would confuse it with true infections.
So, when Defra, in its ignorance, states "It is difficult to distinguish between infected and vaccinated animals " it is simply NOT TRUE. They are behind the times, out of date, obsolete, archaic, atavistic.Not worth their collective wages Gordon ?
Vaccine RB51 is now the offical brucellosis vaccine for control of the disease in the U.S. Are you reading this Defra ?
Will you make enquiries ? Do you know about this advance ? If you don't, you should. It should be your job to keep up to date with current thinking and practices. Have we got a second rate SVS in the U.K.? Answers on a post card please but only if you are't censored first. (Sorry, Jane, couldn't resist !)
Frances
P.S. This is being written at approx. 6–50, Friday, wonder how long it will take to be posted ?