Effect of GonaConTM vaccine on black-tailed prairie dogs: Immune response and health effects

Authors

C. A. A. Yoder, National Wildlife Research CenterFollow
Lowell A. Miller, USDA/APHIS/Wildlife Services’ National Wildlife Research Center, Fort Collins, COFollow

Document Type

Article

Date of this Version

2011

Citation

Vaccine 29 (2011) 233–239; doi:10.1016/j.vaccine.2010.10.055

Abstract

Management of prairie dogs in the past has included poisoning, fumigants, barriers, and relocation. Because of the diverse attitudes related to prairie dog management, nonlethal methods that allow the existence of prairie dogs but help minimize damage related to population growth need to be developed. GonaCon^TM is an immunocontraceptive vaccine that elicits antibodies to native GnRH; this prevents the secretion of reproductive hormones necessary for sperm and oocyte production. Prairie dogs were vaccinated with 0.1, 0.2, or 0.4mL of the GonaCon^TM emulsion intramuscularly in the upper thigh containing 100, 200, or 400μg GnRH conjugate, respectively. Control animals were vaccinated with 0.4mL saline emulsion in the upper thigh. Blood samples (≤1 mL) were taken from the femoral vein once pretreatment and at 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, and 15 months post-vaccination. Age (adult or juvenile) did not affect immune response to GonaConTM. Antibody titers were higher in the 200 and 400[1]L GonaCon^TM groups than in the 100μL group, and there was no difference between the 200 and 400μL GonaCon^TM groups. No adverse effects of GonaCon^TM were noted on weight or blood chemistry parameters during the study. GonaCon^TM will likely contracept prairie dogs for ≥1 year in the field using either 200 or 400μg conjugate. GonaCon^TM could be incorporated into management plans to help maintain prairie dog populations while reducing habitat degradation due to overpopulation.