By Jennifer Whitlock
Field Editor
A vaccine developed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture has been shown to be effective at preventing the current strain of African swine fever (ASF) in European- and Asian-bred swine.
(ASF has ravaged hog production in Asia and steadily moved across Europe and international waters, leaving destruction for hog farmers in its wake.
“We are excited that our team’s research has resulted in promising vaccine results that are able to be repeated on a commercial level, in different pig breeds, and by using a recent ASFV isolate,” Dr. Douglas Gladue, a foreign animal disease researcher for USDA’s Agricultural Research Service (ARS), said. “This signals that the live attenuated vaccine candidate could play an important role in controlling the ongoing outbreak threatening the global pork supply.”
Although it has no impact on human health, ASF is deadly to swine. With no preventative available on the current market, culling is the only option for infected herds.
China, the world’s largest pork producer, has been severely affected by the virus. The nation is estimated to have culled over half of its swine herd since 2018, when the virus was first detected there.
No outbreaks have been identified in the U.S., although ASF has been found recently in nations as close as Haiti and the Dominican Republic. But experts say ASF could enter the U.S. domestic pork industry through the large population of feral hogs.
The onset of immunity was revealed in about one-third of the swine by second week post-vaccination, with full protection in all swine achieved by the fourth week.
ARS notes a commercial vaccine for ASF will be an important part of controlling the virus in outbreak areas. Researchers will continue to determine the safety and efficacy of the vaccine.
“This is a major step for science and agriculture,” Dr. Manuel Borca, ARS research microbiologist, said. “We are working carefully to see our vaccine candidate commercialized through the joint efforts of the U.S. government, and our commercial partner, the Navetco National Veterinary Joint Stock Company.”
Scientists around the globe have been searching for a viable vaccine solution for years. To date, ARS has engineered and patented five experimental ASF vaccines. The agency also has seven licenses in conjunction with pharmaceutical companies to develop these vaccines, with additional partnerships under evaluation.