ASF vaccine shows positive results as concern increases

Another new African swine fever vaccine has shown signs of success. Researchers at the U.K.-based Pirbright Institute in May announced that while all of the pigs in their trial got sick from the virus, they survived.

The scientists used a vectored vaccine (which contains a non-harmful version of the virus) to deliver eight ASF genes into pig cells. The process primes the pigs’ immune cells to respond to ASF infection, according to the announcement featured in National Hog Farmer.

“It is very encouraging to see that the genes we have selected are able to protect pigs against ASF,” said Chris Netherton, head of Pirbright’s ASF Vaccinology Group. “Although the pigs showed clinical signs of infection after challenge with the virus, our study has shown for the first time that a vectored vaccine against ASF is a realistic possibility.”

This type of vaccine will also enable the differentiation of infected animals from those that have received a vaccine, according to the announcement. This means vaccination programs can be established without costing the ability to trade.

This is promising news during the COVID-19 pandemic, which some experts worry has caused focus on ASF to wane. Experts expect ASF to take a bigger toll this year than last year, according to The Guardian.

“The ASF virus is a much ‘stronger’ virus [than COVID-19], in that it can survive in the environment or processed meat for weeks and months,” said Dirk Pfeiffer, a professor of veterinary sciences at City University in Hong Kong.