Vaccination and diagnostic tests for active surveillance of foot-and-mouth disease

BERGMANN, I.E.; NEITZERT, E.; MALIRAT, V.

Viña del Mar, Chile

Simposio; 10 Simposio Internacional de Epidemiología y Economía Veterinaria, ISVEE 10; 2003

International Society for Veterinary Epidemiology and Economics

In support to the eradication campaigns in Southamerica, a novel diagnostic approach for active surveillance in vaccinated herds was developed. The strategy is based on the detection of antibodies against non-capsideal proteins (NCPs), which, in principle, are removed from the viral suspensions destined for vaccine production. Within the validation steps, evaluation of potential induction of antibodies to NCPs caused by traces of these proteins eventually remaining in the vaccines was a major concern. An overview on the experience gathered through the application of the system to various experimental and field immunization conditions is presented. It was concluded that vaccination is not expected to induce antibody responses to NCPs that could lead to misinterpretation of serological investigations. The development of approaches for evaluation of NCPs during vaccine production will also be described.