A new vaccine for foot-and-mouth disease can
protect cattle like these. Click the image for more information about
it. |
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Vaccine Offers New Control Options for FMD
By Laura
McGinnis May 31, 2007
WASHINGTON, May 31A new vaccine developed by scientists
with the U.S. Department of Agriculture's
Agricultural Research Service (ARS), the
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and a
U.S. biopharmaceutical company holds promise for protection against
foot-and-mouth disease which strikes cattle and swine, as well as sheep, goats
and deer.
The new vaccine works quickly, demonstrating effectiveness within
seven days. Tests thus far have shown that vaccinated cattle retain immunity
for at least 21 days, but scientists expect that future studies will show that
the new vaccine at least matches the six months of immunity provided by current
vaccines. The new vaccine has been tested on cattle and swine, and is equally
effective in both species.
"This signals tremendous promise," said ARS Administrator
Edward
B. Knipling. "Although this is still an experimental vaccine, it has made
significant developmental progress, and we are optimistic about its
prospects."
Although rarely transmissible to humans, foot-and-mouth disease (FMD)
is devastating to livestock and has critical economic consequences with
potentially severe losses in the production and marketing of meat and milk.
Although the United States has not had an FMD outbreak since 1929, the disease
is still considered a serious threat to the nation's economy and food supply.
Significantly, as this is the first FMD vaccine produced in the United
States, the federal government can plan adequate supplies for the veterinary
strategic stockpile. The vaccine is the first molecular-based FMD vaccine for
cattle, developed by scientists with ARS, the Department of Homeland Security's
Targeted Advanced Development unit (TAD) and GenVec, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company
based in Gaithersburg, Md. Additional testing is examining the vaccine's
commercial viability and effectiveness against the various serotypes of FMD
virus.
The new vaccine has many benefits. It is administered in a
nonreplicating adenovirus. It does not require expensive, high-containment
production facilities, and it can be produced safely in the United States
because it can be made without using infectious FMD materials.
In addition, the vaccine also makes it possible for scientists to
determine whether an animal found to have FMD antibodies acquired them through
vaccination or from infectionan important piece of information because of
the trade restrictions associated with using current vaccines.
The results of this research effort will be presented on June 2, at
the 2007 American Society for Gene Therapy
meeting in Seattle, Wash., by Douglas E. Brough, senior director of GenVec's
Vector Sciences.
The DHS TAD unit collaborates with ARS and industry to develop
vaccines and biotherapeutic medication for the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
ARS is USDA's principal intramural scientific research agency.