Chinese Researchers reported on effective ASF vaccine

Chinese scientists reported initial successful trials with a new vaccine to protect pigs against the African swine fever (ASF) virus.

A study carried out at the Harbin Veterinary Research Institute demonstrated that a high dose of the vaccine was effective, according to South China Morning Post. All the vaccinated pigs developed detectable antibodies and survived the virus infection. In contrast, all the unvaccinated controls died within 12 days of the viral challenge.

The vaccine candidate was described as a live but weakened version of the ASF virus. It was created as a new mutant in which two genes that confer high pathogenicity have been eliminated.

SOURCE: emeat