Two UC Davis veterinary students have joined forces this summer with UC scientists and Cooperative Extension veterinarians to look for a way to protect cattle against epizootic bovine abortion (EBA). Also called "foothill abortion," this disease of California cattle causes up to 50 percent of heifers to abort. The research team is focusing on the pajaroello tick, which is known to transmit EBA. The tick is found in areas where deer and sheep bed down. Most ranchers have never seen the tick because it quickly feeds on the animal, then drops off after only a few minutes. While other veterinary researchers continue long-term efforts to isolate a specific disease-causing agent for EBA, the team of students, scientists and extension veterinarians will test a tick vaccine using rabbits as a less-expensive animal model. If the rabbit vaccine project is successful, researchers will conduct a large-scale vaccine study in cattle. The veterinary students are receiving guidance from Cooperative Extension veterinarians as well as faculty members in entomology and veterinary microbiology and immunology.