What does the tick vaccine protect against? - briefly
The vaccine stimulates immunity to the bacterium that causes Lyme disease, thereby preventing infection after a tick bite. It also lowers the likelihood of acquiring additional tick‑borne pathogens.
What does the tick vaccine protect against? - in detail
The vaccine designed to combat tick‑borne threats induces immunity against several specific pathogens and, in some formulations, reduces the ability of ticks to attach and feed.
In dogs, the licensed preparation targets the following infections:
- Lyme disease caused by Borrelia burgdorferi
- Anaplasmosis caused by Anaplasma phagocytophilum
- Ehrlichiosis caused by Ehrlichia canis
- Tick‑associated paralysis toxins
The product contains recombinant antigens that stimulate antibody production, neutralizing the bacteria or toxins when the animal is bitten. Clinical trials show a marked decrease in disease incidence and a reduction in tick attachment duration.
For cattle, the BM86‑based vaccine operates differently. It presents a gut‑derived protein from Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus to the bovine immune system. Resulting antibodies ingested by feeding ticks impair their digestion, leading to lower tick survival and diminished transmission of:
- Babesiosis (Babesia bovis, B. bigemina)
- Anaplasmosis (Anaplasma marginale)
- Theileriosis (Theileria annulata)
Field studies report a 30‑50 % drop in tick counts and a corresponding decline in these diseases.
Human protection against tick‑borne encephalitis relies on an inactivated virus vaccine. Immunization generates neutralizing antibodies that prevent infection by the tick‑transmitted flavivirus, thereby averting encephalitis, meningitis, and associated long‑term neurological complications.
In summary, tick vaccines protect hosts by either:
- Generating antibodies that block specific pathogens transmitted during feeding.
- Impairing tick physiology to reduce feeding success and subsequent pathogen spread.
These mechanisms collectively lower the incidence of tick‑associated illnesses across veterinary and human medicine.