Evaluation of effectiveness and safety of Subolesin anti-tick vaccine in Ugandan multi-site field trial
Fredrick Kabi, Marinela Contreras, Jimmy Semakula, Marta Sánchez‐Sánchez, Clara Muñoz, Swidiq Mugerwa, Paul D. Kasaija, Halid Kirunda, Gabriela de la Fuente, Rubén Fernández-Melgar, Marta Rafael, Isabel G. Fernández de Mera, Moses Matovu, Ivan Kyakuwa, Moses Dhikusooka, Godfrey Nsereko, Paul Boma, James Bugeza, Mwesigwa Moses, Agnes Namukasa, Philip Obonyo, Nicholas Ssekabunga, Okeny E Adyero, Justus Rutaisire, Christian Gortázar, José de la Fuente
Abstract
Vaccines are the most effective and sustainable intervention to control ticks and tick-borne diseases (TBD). Using a personalized vaccine design based on regional tick genotypes, a Rhipicephalus appendiculatus Subolesin protective antigen was used in a field trial evaluating tick vaccine efficacy, effectiveness, and safety in cattle infested with multiple tick species in different Ugandan agro-ecological zones. Vaccination with SUB was safe with a protective capacity against anemia and infection, and reduced the number of infested cattle, tick fitness (feeding and reproduction) with vaccine effectiveness against multiple tick species between 93.2% at 167-196 days post-vaccination (dpv) and 61.4% at 251-327 dpv. Total integrated vaccine efficacy/effectiveness was estimated as 98.8%. The Subolesin-based vaccine is protective against multiple cattle tick infestations under field conditions in Uganda. These results support registration and commercialization of the vaccine to reduce tick populations and associated risks for human and animal TBD and chemical acaracides in Uganda.