Bacteriophages,Vaccines,and People: An Assessment of Risk

Abstract

Summary

The bacteriophage ϕV-1 isolated from live virus vaccines in 1973 was evaluated with respect to its ability to induce disease in small laboratory animals and nonhuman primates. Cytogenetic studies were also undertaken to evaluate the potential of ϕV-1 as a clastogen. The phage caused neither an increased death rate nor more histopathologic lesions than were found in controls. Similarly, the chromosomal aberration rate in cell cultures inoculated with ϕV-1 was not different from controls. On the basis of these studies and the fact that no more than 20 PFU/ml were found in vaccines, it is unlikely that ϕV-1 posed a health hazard to vaccine recipients who received it in the past. Since 1974 detectable phages such as ϕV-1 have been absent from the live virus vaccines released in the United States.