Orally administered live BCG and heat-inactivated Mycobacterium bovis protect bison against experimental bovine tuberculosis

Oral administration of live BCG and heat-inactivated Mycobacterium bovis (HIMB) effectively protects wood bison against bovine tuberculosis (BTB), with BCG providing superior protection. The study, conducted in Wood Buffalo National Park (WBNP), demonstrated that both vaccines reduced lung lesions and M. bovis burden, while BCG-treated bison showed fewer adverse effects and lower tuberculin sensitivity, making it a promising Differentiating Infected from Vaccinated Animals (DIVA) vaccine candidate. Researchers aerosol-challenged young bison with virulent M. bovis to confirm BTB establishment before assessing vaccine efficacy in a homologous prime-boost regimen. This breakthrough offers a potential solution for controlling BTB in this ecologically and culturally significant species, mitigating risks to wildlife, livestock, and human health.

Niroula, N., Ghodasara, P., Marreros, N., Fuller, B., Sanderson, H., Zriba, S., Walker, S., Shury, T. K., & Chen, J. M. (2025). Orally administered live BCG and heat-inactivated Mycobacterium bovis protect bison against experimental bovine tuberculosis. Scientific Reports, 15(1). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-88176-0