Swine Programmes
African Swine Fever (ASF)
Past activities & Achievements
Previous ASF projects within GALVmed have focussed on the assessment of a naturally attenuated field strain of ASFV as a vaccine candidate, and the capacity of an engineered cell line (ZMAC™) to act as a commercial production system for a future whole virus-based vaccine.
Overview and Objectives
Current projects on ASF vaccine development are assessing targeted genetic deletion of genotype I strains to develop an attenuated live vaccine and antigen identification of a genotype IX strain which could lead to the development of a subunit vaccine.
Programme Activities
Both projects are at the early research stage, no proof-of-principle is established yet.
Porcine Cysticercosis (PC)
Past activities & Achievements
We have supported the testing and commercial development of a dual approach to break the zoonotic cycle of this parasite between pigs and humans. A new vaccine, based on technology from the University of Melbourne, became the first licensed cysticercosis vaccine for pigs. It was launched in India through our manufacturing and distributing partner Indian Immunologicals (IIL) Ltd in 2016. Another partner based in Morocco, MCI Santé Animale, has developed a therapeutic drug to eliminate parasite larvae. Both products are now in various stages of the registration process in African countries. From 2015 to 2018 these products were successfully field tested in Nepal, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia as concurrent therapeutic-prevention approach. The therapeutic-prevention control strategies that were assessed in those studies proved to be safe and eliminated infective porcine cysticercosis among all treated pigs in the geographically different small-scale pig-farming settings .
Other components that were included in the PC programme were landscaping studies to understand the knowledge, attitudes and practices among pig farmers, pig traders and policy makers; registration support of IIL’s vaccine and MCI’s dewormer; and market studies to explore farmers’ willingness to pay for these products.
Overview and Objectives
To engage stakeholders in veterinary and human health and share the PC programme’s achievements, key outcomes and learnings; and explore the feasibility of an integrated approach to the control of PC, human taeniasis and neurocysticercosis.
Programme Activities
Feasibility of additional funding for the PC project is currently explored.