Campo Grande, February 25, 2003 (Agência Brasil - ABr) - Brazil and Cuba are discussing the creation of a partnership to develop a multi-purpose vaccine against ticks that attack cattle. Studies on tick control are being debated by Cuban researchers and Renato Andreotti, from the Embrapa (Brazilian Agricultural Research Company) Beef Cattle Research Center. The meeting began Monday and will proceed through Friday.

According to Andreotti, the multi-purpose vaccine will act over various phases of the tick's lifespan, thus strengthening the product's effect. BM-86 (the Cuban vaccine) is around 50% effective in protecting animals. BMTI, developed by the Embrapa researcher, offers 72.8% protection. "A multi-purpose vaccine will be less dependent on, or be independent of, chemical control, which leaves residues in food, causes environmental impact, and is expensive," Andreotti pointed out. Moreover, chemical control has become subject to problems of selection to overcome resistance.

"We are interested in establishing a partnership with the Cubans to develop a multi-purpose vaccine that combines BM-86 and BMTI, which we know are compatible," the researcher affirmed. (DAS)