Methods and composition for oral vaccination

摘要

The present invention encompasses methods and compositions both for providing protection against disease in an animal and for inducing increased intake of an orally administered vaccine by an animal. The methods of the invention are directed to admixing a bacterial or viral antigen with a water soluble palatable flavorant, further admixing the antigen and flavorant mixture with a water soluble vehicle for oral administration of the vaccine to an animal in order to provide protection against disease associated with infection by the admixed antigen and to induce the increased intake of the vaccine with the flavorant. The present invention thus encompasses methods and compositions for the oral vaccination of healthy animals through drinking water or syrups as an aid in the prevention of disease. The admixing of the palatable flavorant provides for a vaccine formulation with a desirable taste in order to promote self-administration of the vaccine formulation and/or to prevent rejection of the formulation when administered by an animal handler.