A new vaccine developed by South Dakota-based Medgene is now available to help protect calves from cryptosporidiosis, a common and challenging parasitic disease in young livestock. This marks the first vaccine approved in the U.S. for use against Cryptosporidium parvum (C. parvum), a zoonotic protozoa responsible for significant health setbacks in neonatal calves.
Cryptosporidiosis is one of the leading causes of diarrhea in young calves, often appearing within the first weeks of life. Beyond gastrointestinal distress, the infection can result in lethargy, stunted growth, and long-term productivity losses, including reduced milk production in dairy animals. The organism is also capable of infecting a range of hosts, including humans, underscoring its broader health implications.
Surveys show that up to 70 percent of dairy calves between one and three weeks of age may shed C. parvum oocysts in their feces. Infections are often persistent, with symptoms outlasting those caused by other common pathogens such as rotavirus or E. coli. Until now, treatment has primarily focused on supportive care, with limited preventive tools available.
Medgene’s vaccine is designed for pre-calving administration to cows and heifers, allowing passive immunity to be passed to calves through colostrum. The product was developed using Medgene’s proprietary Spice bioinformatics platform, which supports the creation of targeted, clean vaccines free from animal-derived ingredients. The formulation was refined in collaboration with veterinarians and regulatory experts, positioning it as a novel solution for both beef and dairy producers.
The new vaccine is expected to be available in mid-May and will add to Medgene’s lineup of platform vaccines, which also serve swine and, under conditional or experimental licenses, other species like rabbits and white-tailed deer.
