-Public Health Agency of Canada study evaluated the effects of various interventions-
Bioniche Life Sciences Inc. (TSX: BNC) (ASX: BNC), a research-based, technology-driven Canadian biopharmaceutical company, today announced that a Public Health Agency of Canada study assessing the effects of various interventions on the management of E. coli O157:H7 in Canadian beef came to a favourable conclusion with regard to pre-harvest vaccines such as the Company's EconicheTM cattle vaccine. The study, "A risk assessment model for Escherichia coli O157:H7 in ground beef and beef cuts in Canada: Evaluating the effects of interventions", has been accepted for publication in an upcoming issue of Food Control (2012) and is now available on-line. Its authors are Ben A. Smith, Aamir Fazil and Anna M. Lammerding, all of whom work in the Science to Policy Division, Laboratory for Foodborne Zoonoses, Public Health Agency of Canada.
In their study, the three researchers developed a stochastic, quantitative risk assessment model to evaluate the public health risks associated with consumption of ground beef and beef cuts contaminated with Escherichia coli (E. coli) O157:H7 in Canada. The researchers evaluated the relative effects of pre-harvest and processing interventions on public health risks, comparing the baseline risks from consumption of beef products.
The research included findings from critical systematic review and meta-analysis of published literature, and 20 different intervention scenarios were assessed. The pre-harvest interventions that were assessed included probiotics, an SRP vaccine, and a Type III protein vaccine. Production/processing interventions that were analyzed included hot water wash, steam pasteurization, acid spray chill, dry-aged chill, and water spray chill. The researchers concluded that the most effective strategy for E. coli O157:H7 management includes a pre-harvest intervention and several processing interventions: "Specifically, application of Type III secreted protein vaccination along with a suite of processing interventions … provided the greatest relative reduction in risks." The Company's EconicheTM vaccine is a Type III protein vaccine.
The findings from this study support the Company's ongoing efforts to gain widespread uptake of cattle vaccination with EconicheTM.
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