Immno-Castrator Vaccine to Sterilize Dogs Released in Chile
- by Rishma Parpia
- Published
- Pets
Chile has introduced a new vaccine that temporarily sterilizes dogs for one year. The vaccine, known as Egalitte, is expected to be sold in several countries, and was developed to provide dog owners an alternative to irreversible surgical castration.1 It was initially intended to address Chile’s growing population of stray dogs.2
“This is the first vaccine of this type in the world for dogs,” said veterinarian Leonardo Saenz, lead researcher and professor at the University of Chile’s faculty of veterinary science.3
Dr. Saenz and his team developed the vaccine from an existing formula used to sterilize pigs. He stated:
It began in Australia more or less in 1989. What we did was to take the concept of immuno-castration, which already existed and we developed and improved for use in domestic animals, mainly in dogs, and to create an alternative for pigs, better than what already exists. The previous one was a vaccine by a pharmaceutical laboratory, which needs two doses to take effect. In our case, only one dose is needed for the vaccine to take effect.4
Immuno-Castrator Egalitte Vaccine Blocks Fertility in Dogs
The Egalitte vaccine has been in development since 2009. It was distributed in October 2023 and is designed to stimulate the production of antibodies that suppress sex hormone production in both male and female dogs. Saenz said, “
Everything is blocked: sexual activity and fertility,” preventing reproduction for one year.5 “If we have (that hormone) blocked, we don’t release gonadotropin and therefore don’t release sexual hormones, and the animal is in a state of castration.”
The Egalitte researchers said that the vaccine mechanism ensures that
it is effective for both genders, making it reversible option for dog
sterilization.6
Saenz explained:
Since it is a vaccine which blocks the production of hormones, it does not function as a contraceptive but rather an immuno-castrator. The difference is that contraceptives prevent animals from going on heat. It will still engage in reproductive activity but it will not be able to fertilize. In this case, there are no hormones so there is no activity; there are no gametes so the animal is sterilized as a result of suppressed hormones. As there is a reduction in the hormonal activity, there are no side effects as is the case with hormonal contraceptives on which they put high quantities of contraceptive or hormones, which induce alterations in the uterus and can be related to the appearance of some cancers. In this case that does not happen, we block that activity.7
The Egalitte vaccine is priced at approximately $54. It requires a veterinarian’s prescription and evaluation to ensure that the dog is a suitable candidate. Saenz pointed out that the vaccine could also help neuter animals on a wider scale, as it is less invasive and less complicated than surgical castration. He noted:
An injection is a lot easier and you can vaccinate a larger number of animals if you to do reproduction control need.8
Egalitte Vaccine Patented in United States
Egalitte has been patented in 40 countries, including the United States, Argentina, Brazil, and throughout the European Union. It is the first vaccine designed for dog sterilization, intended for both individual animals and population control. Distribution has begin in Chile, with plans to expand availability to several other countries.
The potential effects of this vaccine on veterinary practices and animal management strategies are still to be determined.9
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