A trial to test immunocontraception in Asian elephants is underway. BioVaxys Technology Corp (Biovaxys) and SpayVac-for-Wildlife announced a partnership with the Elephant and Wildlife Clinic, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine at Chiang Mai University in Thailand to test a long-lasting, single contraceptive vaccine on captive Asian elephants.1
"We look forward to this collaboration and potentially working with the Department of National Park Wildlife and Plant Conservation to test SpayVac in free-ranging Asian elephants,” Chatchote Thitaram, PhD, DVM, associate professor in the Department of Companion Animals and Wildlife Clinics, at Chiang Mai University, and the onsite project lead, said in a news release.1
The vaccine, SpayVac, employs liposome-based technology for delivering antigens, licensed from BioVaxys. According to Biovaxys, this delivery platform technology has shown strong and lasting immune responses across various species.1
In an earlier trial involving captive African elephants, one dose of the SpayVac vaccine resulted in sustained elevation of antibody titers for at least 7 years. Initial trials with Asian elephants began April of this year. These trials will monitor reproductive cycles, contraceptive effectiveness, and antibody levels over a span of 5 years.
SpayVac also plans to soon commercialize humane fertility control vaccines for deer, horses and other animals, according to Biovaxys. These vaccines are also based on Biovaxys’ liposome-based delivery platform technology.
"The demonstration that a single-dose injection of SpayVac stimulated consistently elevated antibody titers through at least 7 years in the previous trial with captive African elephants further reflects the utility and commercial opportunity in animal species and humans of our liposome-based antigen delivery platform technology," said Kenneth Kovan, BioVaxys president and chief operating officer, in the release.1
Asian elephant facts2:
- They are highly social animals
- They typically form groups of 6 to 7 related females, and the oldest female, known as the matriarch, leads the herd
- Similar to African elephants, these groups occasionally merge with others to create larger herds
- They spend a significant portion of their day feeding, with more than two-thirds of their time devoted to consuming grasses
- Their favorite foods include cultivated crops like bananas, rice, and sugarcane
- They also consume tree bark, roots, leaves, and small stems
- They always remain near a source of fresh water due to their required daily intake
The trial launch comes as a response to increasing concerns about human encounters with free-ranging Asian elephants as their populations become more restricted to smaller habitats due to habitat loss.1 A large segment of the elephant population resides beyond protected areas, often within landscapes comprising agricultural lands and human settlements. This proximity to human-inhabited land has led to an increase in elephant-human interactions.2
The confinement of elephant populations to smaller forested areas have been a result of the expansion of human settlements, plantations, industries, farming, mining activities, and linear infrastructure such as roads, railway lines, and irrigation canals. Moreover, these areas are often surrounded by human settlements that obstruct traditional migratory routes for elephants.2
According to Biovaxys, there have also been growing concerns over these elephants’ impact on local flora and fauna;1 interactions between humans and elephants have resulted in crop damage and property loss.2
Currently, the Asian elephant population amounts to fewer than 50,000 elephants, putting these animals in an endangered status. Moreover, elephants confined to smaller populations due to habitat loss face increased risks of extinction from disasters, disease outbreaks, inbreeding, and other factors.2
"Elephant population densities have climbed in some areas, even as overall numbers have decreased, primarily because these animals are often confined to limited spaces, hemmed in by human settlements and agricultural development. A long-lasting, single-dose, contraceptive vaccine, such as SpayVac, would offer a humane alternative to manage free-ranging elephants and minimize human-elephant conflict,” said Ursula Bechert, vice president of Research and Development for SpayVac-for-Wildlife, in the release.1
References
- Biovaxys and SpayVac-For-Wildlife Inc. announce launch of trial to test immunocontraception in Asian elephants. News release. BioVaxys Technology Corp. July 17, 2024. Accessed July 22, 2024. https://prnmedia.prnewswire.com/news-releases/biovaxys-and-spayvac-for-wildlife-inc-announce-launch-of-trial-to-test-immunocontraception-in-asian-elephants-872536827.html
- Asian elephant. World Wildlife Fund. Accessed July 22, 2024. https://www.worldwildlife.org/species/asian-elephant
