Experimental vaccine against Pseudomonas pseudomallei infections in captive cetaceans

The antibody response to an experimental acellular Pseudomonas pseudomallei vaccine was evaluated by Enzyme Immunoassay in captive cetaceans at Ocean Park, Hong Kong.The vaccine preparation consisted of a protein-polysaccharide (1:3) mixture with trace nucleic acids and no 2-keto-3deoxyoctonate.An initial dosage of 500 yg carbohydrate for newly arrived dolphins Tursiops aduncus and false killer whales Pseudorca crassidensin 1987 and 1 mg carbohydrate for other long-term resident animals (1983 to 1988) followed by 500 yg boosters at ca 6 to 10 wk intervals for all animals maintained high specific antibody levels.Mortality due to melioidosis was reduced over a 5 yr period from 45 O/o to less than 1 %.