Protection of monkeys against airborne tuberculosis by aerosol vaccination with bacillus Calmette-Guerin.

Abstract

Bacillus Calmette-Guerin administered intravenously or by aerosol to rhesus monkeys induced a much greater degree of protection against aerosol challenge with virulent Mycobacterium tuberculosis than intracutaneous bacillus Calmette-Guerin vaccination. the aerosol route of vaccination was not associated with any obvious adverse side effects and produced a very small degree of tuberculin skin hypersensitivity. Aerosol vaccination should be examined further to determine its potential application for vaccinating humans against tuberculosis.