LUMPI-PROVAC - SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

News: Centre signs pact with Pune-based IVBP for commercial production of 'Lumpi-ProVac'

 

What's in the news?

       The Government had signed a pact with Pune-based Institute of Veterinary Biological Products (IVBP) for commercial production of indigenously developed vaccine 'Lumpi-ProVac' for the control of lumpy skin disease in cattle on December 31.

       After signing the memorandum of understanding (MoU), Union Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying Parshottam Rupala asked IVBP to "start manufacturing the vaccine at large scale without any delay.

       Currently, the Goat Pox vaccine is used for controlling Lumpy Skin Disease in cattle. This MoU will also ensure large-scale production of Goat Pox vaccine for future needs of India's livestock sector.

 

Key takeaways:

       The vaccine has been developed by Haryana-based National Centre for Veterinary Type Culture and ICAR-National Research Centre on Equines in collaboration with Uttar Pradesh-based ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute.

       Agrinnovate India Ltd., the commercial arm of Department of Agriculture Research and Education under the aegis of Union Agriculture Ministry, has granted 'non-exclusive rights' for commercial production of 'Lumpi-ProVac' to IVPB for ten years.

       Lumpi-ProVac is used for the prophylactic immunization of animals against lumpy skin disease which gives protection for about one year.

       The vaccine is stored at 4 degree celsius and must be shipped on ice and used within a few hours after reconstitution.

 

Go back to basics:

Lumpy Skin Disease (LSD):

       According to a report by GAVI (the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization), the lumpy skin disease is “an emerging threat to livestock worldwide”.

       It is caused by a virus called the Capripoxvirus.

       It is genetically related to the goatpox and sheeppox virus family.

 

Transmission:

       LSD infects cattle and water buffalo mainly through vectors such as blood-feeding insects such as ticks and mites such as house flies and mosquitoes.

       It can also spread through contaminated water, feed, and fodder.

 

Symptoms:

The symptoms include

       The appearance of circular, firm nodes on the animal’s hide or skin that look similar to lumps.

       LSDV attacks an animal’s circulatory system, causing inflammation of blood vessels and lesions in various organs such as the liver, lungs, spleen, lymph nodes, and so on.

       As a result, it causes epidermis, which leads to the formation of lumps or nodules on the body of an animal. Fever, increased mucus secretion, loss of appetite, and other symptoms may also occur.

       The combination of the aforementioned factors may result in organ failure and, eventually, death.

       When cow's symptoms worsen, they stop producing milk, and pregnant cows miscarry.

       Recently, several Indian states, including Gujarat and Rajasthan, have been dealing with an outbreak of LSD.

 

Is it the first outbreak in India?

       This is not the first time LSD has been detected in India.

       The disease has been endemic in most African countries, and since 2012 it has spread rapidly through the Middle East, Southeast Europe and West and Central Asia.

 

Is there any risk for humans?

       The disease is not zoonotic and does not spread from animals to humans, and humans cannot get infected with it.

       While the virus does not spread to humans, “milk produced by an infected animal will be fit for human consumption after boiling or pasteurization as these processes will kill the viruses in the milk.