No abstract

Infectious animal diseases, such as Johne’s disease (JD) caused by Mycobacterium avium paratuberculosis (MAP) and bovine tuberculosis (bTB) caused by Mycobacterium bovis, have been a challenge to the livestock industry globally, impacting negatively on animal, human and environmental health, and overall food security. Despite several industry-led and government initiatives and programs aimed at preventing and reducing losses associated with JD and bTB outbreaks, JD has remained endemic in many parts of the world while there have been incidental outbreaks of bTB. While several studies focus on sustainable intensification of food (crop) production as a critical solution to food insecurity, following the existential interconnection between animals, humans and the environment recognized by one health, we frame food security through the lens of animal disease prevention and control, given the importance of livestock products to human health and livelihood. Vaccination has been a popular strategy successfully used in controlling other infectious diseases. The paper focuses on an alternate strategy of two subunit vaccines with companion diagnostics targeted at individual pathogens to attain satisfactory immunological responses for JD and bTB. We examine gaps in vaccine policies, commercialization, and potential strategies that would strengthen animal disease prevention and enhance food security. The potential of public–private partnership in strengthening private sector participation in effective animal disease control and health delivery and the implications for global food security are discussed.

E. coli O157:H7 bacteria – a major cause of foodborne illness – occur naturally in the intestine of cattle but do not affect the health or productivity of the animal. A cattle vaccine that significantly reduces the risk of E. coli contamination was developed and commercialized in Canada and internationally, however, adoption by cattle producers remained extremely low. Utilizing data from a survey of cow-calf producers in western Canada, this paper examines the factors affecting cattle producers’ willingness to adopt the E. coli vaccine. Education, prior awareness of the vaccine, perception of who holds primary responsibility for E. coli risk reduction, and a producer’s external (versus internal) locus of control with respect to their ability to mitigate E. coli risks within the production environment are significant determinants of willingness to adopt. Adoption incentives are also evaluated, including policy interventions, market/supply chain incentives, production protocol, and producer reputation incentives. The analysis provides lessons for the development and commercialization of vaccines and other food safety intervention strategies that yield societal and supply chain benefits beyond the individual adopter.