Brucellosis Working Symposium

An Initiative to Enhance Brucellosis Vaccines, Vaccine Delivery, and Surveillance Diagnostics for Bison and Elk in the Greater Yellowstone Area
 

A facilitated multi-stakeholder working symposium was held in Laramie, Wyoming at the University of Wyoming campus on August 16-18, 2005.

The technical report from the workshop and The Laramie Agenda: a roadmap for improved vaccines, vaccine delivery, and testing for brucellosis in elk and bison in the Greater Yellowstone Area are available from the U.S. Animal Health Association.

The workshop brought together key individuals from federal, state, academic and private sectors to discuss:

1) developing and testing enhanced vaccines for safety and efficacy in applications to bison and elk;

2) developing and testing safe and effective vaccine delivery options; and

3) improving live-animal diagnostic capabilities in distinguishing seropositive from infected animals.

Effective vaccines, delivery systems and diagnostic tools are part of an overall strategy to eliminate brucellosis from the GYA.  Other tools, such as management techniques, when combined with use of effective vaccines and diagnostics, will contribute to the overall goal of elimination of brucellosis. 

This workshop was convened by a special committee of the U.S. Animal Health Association chaired by USAHA President-elect, Bret Marsh, with funding provided by the U.S. Departments of Interior and Agriculture.  The Ruckelshaus Institute of Environment and Natural Resources at the University of Wyoming provided meeting facilitation and assisting with the arrangements. 

Meeting Information:

Workshop Agenda

List of Participants by Expertise/Breakout Group

Press release

Briefing statement

Other Workshop Information:

2002 Greater Yellowstone Interagency Brucellosis Committee symposium proceedings (pdf document)

2003 Greater Yellowstone Interagency Brucellosis Committee annual report (pdf document)

Annotated bibliography of brucellosis literature (pdf document)

Draft Bison/Elk Management Plan and Environmental Impact Statement for the National Elk Refuge and Grand Teton National Park

U.S. Animal Health Association:  www.usaha.org  

U.S.  Department of Agriculture:  www.usda.gov

U.S. Department of Interior:  www.doi.gov

Pdf files can be viewed with free Adobe Reader