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RESEARCH ARTICLE
Contents Vol 34(7)

Prospects for immunocontraception in the European red fox (Vulpes vulpes)

T. Strive A B C , C. M. Hardy A B and G. H. Reubel A B
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A CSIRO Entomology, GPO Box 1700, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia.

B Invasive Animals Cooperative Research Centre, 3D1 University of Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia.

C Corresponding author. Email: tanja.strive@csiro.au

Wildlife Research 34(7) 523-529 https://doi.org/10.1071/WR07007
Submitted: 9 January 2007  Accepted: 15 August 2007   Published: 13 December 2007

Abstract

The European red fox is an introduced pest species in Australia for which improved means of control are urgently needed. Research efforts have focussed recently on the development of novel biological control methods to reduce the serious impact this species continues to have on both native fauna and the sheep industry. The ultimate goal has been to generate an antifertility vaccine for use on foxes that relies on a process termed ‘immunocontraception’. A variety of proteins derived from sperm and oocytes, together with different delivery vectors, have been experimentally assessed for their ability to induce immunocontraceptive responses in foxes. Vaccine vectors screened have included Salmonella typhimurium, vaccinia virus and canine herpesvirus but suppression of fertility has yet to be achieved with any combination of antigen and delivery vector. Downregulation of fox mucosal antibodies during oestrus, lack of vector replication and low antibody responses to the target antigens have been the main constraints in successful fertility control. The fox is not well known as an experimental animal and the logistics of dealing with this difficult-to-handle species proved to be a major challenge when compared with other species, such as rabbits and mice. Despite these difficulties, research on fox immunocontraception has generated important insights into the reproductive biology, husbandry, biology and basic immunology of viral vectors in European red foxes. This information represents a valuable knowledge base should antifertility vaccination for foxes be revisited in the future.


Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful to Dr Franck Boué, Agence Française de Sécurité Sanitaire des Aliments, Nancy, France, for providing access to the captive fox colony during years of excellent collaboration and for allowing us to refer to some of his unpublished results. We are also grateful to T. Robinson, D. Halliday and an anonymous referee for critically reviewing this manuscript. Funding for this research was obtained from the Vertebrate Pest Control Cooperative Research Centre, The Pest Animal Control Cooperative Research Centre, The Australian Nature Conservation Agency, Environment Australia and the Australian Department of Environment and Heritage.


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