What is the name of the tick vaccine? - briefly
The commercially available canine tick vaccine is marketed as TickGARD (also sold as TickGARD Plus). It is the only licensed vaccine that targets tick infestations in dogs.
What is the name of the tick vaccine? - in detail
The commercially marketed anti‑tick vaccine for livestock is known as Gavac®, also sold under the name TickGARD®. It is a recombinant protein vaccine that uses the Bm86 antigen derived from the cattle tick Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus. After injection, the animal’s immune system produces antibodies that bind to the tick’s gut epithelium during feeding, impairing digestion and reducing tick survival and reproduction.
Key characteristics:
- Target species: cattle (Bos taurus and Bos indicus).
- Composition: purified Bm86 protein expressed in the yeast Pichia pastoris.
- Administration schedule: two primary doses given four weeks apart, followed by an annual booster.
- Efficacy: field trials report a reduction of tick infestations by 40‑80 % and a corresponding decline in the transmission of tick‑borne pathogens such as Babesia and Anaplasma.
- Regulatory status: approved for use in Argentina, Brazil, Mexico, Uruguay, and several other countries; registered with the European Medicines Agency for limited markets.
- Impact on control programs: decreases reliance on chemical acaricides, thereby reducing resistance development and environmental residues.
The vaccine’s mode of action, safety profile, and documented field performance make it a cornerstone of integrated tick‑management strategies in the cattle industry.