Bovine respiratory disease (BRD) in feedlot Cattle and E.coli infection (Omphalitis) in Poultry are key challenges for Beef / Chicken producers globally as they cause severe economic losses. Vaccines and antibiotics are being effectively applied for the prevention and control of these infections and yet the incidence of these diseases is still on the rise warranting the need for new approaches and measures.
Innate Immunity as a science is quite old but there has been limited exploration of this area in animal health, to effectively counter infectious diseases. While the options for triggering the innate immune system are many, the CpG Oligodeoxynucleotides (CpG ODNs) have been creating tremendous interest in the recent past. The critical factors that determine the utility and success of CpG ODNs have been the dose, stability, timing, specificity and cost effectiveness in modern day production systems to show tangible benefits. However, the intracellular location of CpG recognizing receptors and the inactivation by DNAse in serum has been a major drawback in their therapeutic use. Previous studies have demonstrated that the uptake and immunostimulatory effects of CpG ODNs could be improved by lipid based drug delivery systems.
This presentation is intended to highlight novel immunostimulants Bayer Animal Health has developed that aid in the treatment of BRD in feedlot Cattle and reduction in mortality associated with E.coli infection in Poultry in the 1st week of life. These immunostimulants act fast on the innate immune system and enables the animal to help itself to fight off infections. They consists of liposome-encapsulated immunostimulatory plasmid DNA. Employing disease challenge models, these immunostimulants have been demonstrated to show significant reduction in mortality and morbidity which were also validated in commercial farm conditions. The dosing, timing of administration and formulation delivering the pDNA into cells triggers an innate immune response that offers a novel approach in infectious disease management in Animal Health that may shape its future.