Development of a Safe and Highly Efficient Inactivated Vaccine Candidate against Lumpy Skin Disease Virus

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Virology
• Immunology
• Livestock Disease Control

Background:

• Capripox virus (CaPV) causes severe livestock diseases: lumpy skin disease, sheeppox, and goatpox.
• Current live-attenuated CaPV vaccines pose risks, including disease-free status loss and virus shedding, making them unsuitable for CaPV-free regions.
• There is a need for safe and effective inactivated CaPV vaccines.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of a novel inactivated Capripox vaccine formulation.
• To assess the potential of a low molecular weight copolymer adjuvant in enhancing vaccine-induced immunity.
• To determine if the vaccine can provide protection against severe CaPV challenge.

Main Methods:

• Development of an inactivated Capripox vaccine candidate.
• Formulation of the vaccine with a low molecular weight copolymer adjuvant.
• Challenge studies in animals to assess vaccine efficacy and protection levels.

Main Results:

• The copolymer-adjuvanted inactivated vaccine formulation induced sterile immunity in animals post-challenge.
• The vaccine demonstrated significant protection against severe Capripox virus infection.
• The choice of adjuvant critically influenced the level of protection achieved.

Conclusions:

• Inactivated Capripox vaccines are a viable option for CaPV control.
• The developed adjuvant formulation shows promise for creating effective and safe CaPV vaccines.
• Further research into adjuvants is key to improving inactivated vaccine performance against CaPV.