Vaccines to protect Hereford cattle against the cattle tick, Boophilus microplus.

Vaccines made from gut and gut and synganglion tissue dissected from Boophilus microplus gave 87% and 80% protection, respectively, compared with adjuvant-injected controls in cattle against three infestations with 20,000 larval ticks administered over 14 days. A vaccine prepared from synganglion alone did not protect cattle. Ticks collected from vaccinated cattle produced 95% and 91% fewer eggs, respectively, than ticks from control animals. Vaccinated cattle were protected (36%) 7 months after they had been immunized with tick antigens. Antibody responses to the vaccines were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).