Amid lumpy skin disease outbreak, Centre yet to grant nod to indigenous vaccine for cattle

The goatpox, sheeppox and LSD viruses belong to the same capripoxvirus genus. However, according to scientists, the vaccines developed for the first two can only offer cross-protection for cattle against LSD. These are heterologous vaccines, unlike Lumpi-ProVacInd that is homologous and developed specifically to provide protection against LSD in cattle.

Lumpi-ProVacInd was developed in 2022 by the ICAR’s National Research Centre on Equines (NRCE) at Hisar in Haryana in collaboration with the Indian Veterinary Research Institute (IVRI) at Izatnagar in Uttar Pradesh. It is a live attenuated vaccine, similar to those used against tuberculosis, measles, mumps and rubella.

The vaccine was field tested in 26,940 cattle and buffaloes across seven states last year, and found to be “absolutely safe and 99.99 cent efficacious”. It was officially launched by the Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar on August 10.

Subsequently, the technology was licensed to four companies for Rs 75 lakh each: Biovet Private Limited, Malur (Karnataka); India Immunologicals Limited, Hyderabad; Hester Biosciences Limited, Ahmedabad and Institute of Veterinary Biological Products, Pune.

The batches produced by one of the four licensed manufacturers (Biovet) were again tested for sterility, potency, safety and efficacy.

The IVRI, which conducted the field trials of the test batches manufactured by Biovet, submitted the reports to the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) and the department of animal husbandry and dairying (DAHD) on February 18. “The final approval from the authorities (CDSCO and DAHD) is still pending, despite the IVRI report confirming the vaccine to be 100 per cent safe and efficacious,” an NRCE scientist told The Indian Express.

He added that the tests were conducted by IVRI’s Biological Standardization Division, which had no role in the vaccine development. The IVRI is also the only CDSCO-nominated institute for testing and licensing of veterinary vaccines in the country and hence, a conflict of interest does not arise.

With none of the four manufacturers placing their product in the market due to the absence of regulatory approval, ICAR scientists apprehend problems if the virus goes on the rampage. This is especially so, with the monsoon round the corner, which provides conditions conducive for its transmission through mosquitoes, flies and ticks.

“We cannot afford a repeat of last year, when even milk production by cows got impacted due to LSD. The goatpox vaccine may not work against LSD in cattle. This is evidenced in controlled experimental trials as well as the recent reemergence of the disease even in vaccinated cattle,” the NRCE scientist claimed.

Union Minister of Animal Husbandry and Dairyinging Parshottam Rupala conceded that LSD outbreak is being reported this year, too. and the Lumpi-ProVacInd vaccine is still in the approval phase. “The LSD vaccine we had launched last year is not commercially available and still in process. But we are pursuing it vigorously,” he told The Indian Express.

The minister, however, rejected the claim that the goatpox vaccine is not effective. “Nor can any scientist deny its efficacy. Thanks to that vaccine, we have been able to control LDS,” he added.