Malleoidosis, caused by the bacterium Pseudomonas pseudomallei is a disease indigenous to the Asian area. The bacteria live in the soil and water and are opportunists in man and other animals.  Infection in cetacea probably occurs via the water and has been of serious concern to effective husbandry within Ocean Park.

A high molecular weight surface polysaccharide has been isolated from the microorganism by aqueous extraction, salting out, sizing on Sepharose 4B, and isolation of acidic polysaccharides by ion-exchange chromatography.  Four T. gilli were inoculated with various polysaccharide dosages while still in the sea pens.  Various combinations of booster dosages were employed and the antibody response followed over a 10 month period using the ELISA technique.  Preliminary conclusions indicate that 1 mgm of vaccine administered every 6-8 weeks would be satisfactory.  The efficacy of the vaccine in the hamster model, bactericidal activity of the sera, and epidemiology of the disease in Ocean Park will be discussed.