Evaluating the Safety and Effectiveness of a Vaccine Against Foal Pneumonia

Foal pneumonia, caused by the bacterium Rhodococcus equi, is a devastating illness that kills young foals worldwide. As yet, there is no effective and safe vaccine. Researchers will evaluate whether mares and foals produce protective immune responses when immunized with a vaccine that elicits antibodies against a sugar polymer found on the surface of many bacteria, including R. equi. They will determine whether these antibodies are found in the milk of vaccinated mares and whether those antibodies are passed on to foals during nursing. Researchers hope these studies will provide a breakthrough approach that will lead to an effective vaccine against R. equi.