Vaccine to prevent mycoplasmal infections in waterfowl

Abstract

An improved vaccine for immunization of waterfowl such as ducks and geese comprises an inactivated strain of a Mycoplasma infecting waterfowl, such as Mycoplasma sp. strain 1220; the vaccine can include an excipient and an adjuvant. Methods for immunization of waterfowl with the vaccine are also described.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A vaccine that is protective against mycoplasmal disease of a waterfowl comprising at least one inactivated waterfowl mycoplasmal strain wherein no virus capable of reproduction or proliferation is included in the vaccine, the vaccine comprising at least one pharmaceutically acceptable adjuvant selected from the group consisting of: an aluminum hydroxide-oil emulsion; a vegetable oil-water emulsion; a fish oil-water emulsion;  Escherichia coli  J5, dextran sulfate; a synthetic polymer; polyacrylic acid; saponin; a long-chain polydisperse β(1,4)-linked mannan polymer interspersed with O-acetylated groups; a deproteinized cell wall extract from a non-pathogenic strain of  Mycobacterium;  muramyl dipeptide β-propiolactone; and aluminum phosphate, wherein the at least one inactivated waterfowl mycoplasmal strain is selected from the group consisting of:  Mycoplasma  sp. strain 1220;  Mycoplasma anseris; Mycoplasma anatis; Mycoplasma cloacale; Mycoplasma imitans; Acholeplasma modicum;  and  Acholeplasma axantum  and wherein the waterfowl is selected from the group consisting of a duck and a goose; and
 wherein the vaccine further comprises a microparticulate carrier. 
 
     
     
         2 . The vaccine of  claim 1  wherein the microparticulate carrier is a polysaccharide, and wherein the polysaccharide is agarose. 
     
     
         3 . The vaccine of  claim 2 , wherein the microparticulate carrier comprises particles less than about 10 μm in diameter or less than about 5 μm in diameter. 
     
     
         4 . The vaccine of  claim 1  wherein the vaccine further comprises at least one pharmaceutically acceptable excipient. 
     
     
         5 . The vaccine of  claim 1  wherein the vaccine further comprises at least one molecule that can modulate immune pathways wherein the molecule that can modulate immune pathways is: (i) a pathogen associated molecular pattern (PAMP) selected from the group consisting of a TLR 1 receptor agonist, a TLR 2 receptor agonist, a TLR 3 receptor agonist, a TLR 4 receptor agonist, a TLR 5 receptor agonist, a TLR 6 receptor agonist, a TLR 7 receptor agonist, a TLR 8 receptor agonist, a TLR 9 receptor agonist, a NOD-1 agonist, a NOD-2 agonist, an agonist for DC-SIGN, an agonist for L-SIGN, and an agonist for a mannose receptor; or (ii) an agonist or antagonist molecule for a kinase involved in a PAMP recognition pathway. 
     
     
         6 . The vaccine of  claim 1  wherein the vaccine further comprises an inactivated non-mycoplasmal microorganism or an antigen from a non-mycoplasmal microorganism. 
     
     
         7 . The vaccine of  claim 6  wherein the non-mycoplasmal microorganism is selected from the group consisting of  Staphylococcus aureus, Pasteurella haemolytica, Pasteurella multocida, Escherichia coli, Salmonella, Rimerella antipestifer, Chlamydophila, Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae, Listeria monocytogenes,  goose parvovirus, reticuloendotheliosis virus, duck enteritis virus, and circovirus. 
     
     
         8 . The vaccine of  claim 1  wherein the mycoplasmal strain is inactivated by an inactivating agent or method selected from the group consisting of: formalin, azide, freeze-thaw, sonication, heat treatment, sudden pressure drop, detergent, lysozyme, phenol, proteolytic enzymes, β-propiolactone, thimerosal, and binary ethyleneimine. 
     
     
         9 . A vaccine that is protective against mycoplasmal disease of a waterfowl comprising two or more strains of inactivated waterfowl  Mycoplasma,  such that the mycoplasmal strain in the vaccine is inactivated and no virus capable of reproduction or proliferation is included in the vaccine, the vaccine comprising at least one pharmaceutically acceptable adjuvant selected from the group consisting of: an aluminum hydroxide-oil emulsion; a vegetable oil-water emulsion; a fish oil-water emulsion;  Escherichia coli  J5, dextran sulfate; a synthetic polymer; polyacrylic acid; saponin; a long-chain polydisperse β(1,4)-linked mannan polymer interspersed with O-acetylated groups; a deproteinized cell wall extract from a non-pathogenic strain of  Mycobacterium;  muramyl dipeptide β-propiolactone; and aluminum phosphate; wherein the vaccine further comprises a microparticulate carrier. 
     
     
         10 . The vaccine of  claim 9  wherein the microparticulate carrier is a polysaccharide, and wherein the polysaccharide is agarose. 
     
     
         11 . The vaccine of  claim 9 , wherein the microparticulate carrier comprises particles less than about 10 μm in diameter or less than about 5 μm in diameter. 
     
     
         12 . The vaccine of  claim 9  wherein the vaccine further comprises at least one pharmaceutically acceptable excipient. 
     
     
         13 . The vaccine of  claim 9  wherein the vaccine further comprises at least one molecule that can modulate immune pathways wherein the molecule that can modulate immune pathways is: (i) a pathogen associated molecular pattern (PAMP) selected from the group consisting of a TLR 1 receptor agonist, a TLR 2 receptor agonist, a TLR 3 receptor agonist, a TLR 4 receptor agonist, a TLR 5 receptor agonist, a TLR 6 receptor agonist, a TLR 7 receptor agonist, a TLR 8 receptor agonist, a TLR 9 receptor agonist, a NOD-1 agonist, a NOD-2 agonist, an agonist for DC-SIGN, an agonist for L-SIGN, and an agonist for a mannose receptor; or (ii) an agonist or antagonist molecule for a kinase involved in a PAMP recognition pathway. 
     
     
         14 . The vaccine of  claim 9  wherein the vaccine further comprises an inactivated non-mycoplasmal microorganism or an antigen from a non-mycoplasmal microorganism. 
     
     
         15 . The vaccine of  claim 14  wherein the non-mycoplasmal microorganism is selected from the group consisting of  Staphylococcus aureus, Pasteurella haemolytica, Pasteurella multocida, Escherichia coli, Salmonella, Rimerella antipestifer, Chlamydophila, Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae, Listeria monocytogenes,  goose parvovirus, reticuloendotheliosis virus, duck enteritis virus, and circovirus. 
     
     
         16 . The vaccine of  claim 9  wherein the mycoplasmal strains are inactivated by an inactivating agent or method selected from the group consisting of: formalin, azide, freeze-thaw, sonication, heat treatment, sudden pressure drop, detergent, lysozyme, phenol, proteolytic enzymes, β-propiolactone, thimerosal, and binary ethyleneimine.