Indigenous African Swine Fever (ASF) Vaccine

About Indigenous African Swine Fever (ASF) Vaccine

• Indigenous African Swine Fever (ASF) Vaccine is India’s first indigenous MA-104 cell line-based live attenuated vaccine developed to protect pigs against African Swine Fever Virus (ASFV) Genotype II.
• Developed by: It is developed by ICAR–National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases (ICAR-NIHSAD), Bhopal.
• Key Features:
  • MA-104 Cell Line: The vaccine uses the widely available MA-104 cell line, which removes dependence on proprietary manufacturing platforms and supports large-scale production at lower cost.
  • Validation: The vaccine successfully completed laboratory testing and field validation for safety, efficacy, genetic stability, sterility, purity, immunogenicity, and virulence reversion.
  • Dosage: It is recommended for healthy pigs above eight weeks of age, followed by a booster dose after 14 days.

About African Swine Fever (ASF)

• African Swine Fever: It is a highly contagious viral disease that affects domestic pigs and wild boar.
• Cause: It is caused by the African Swine Fever Virus (ASFV), a DNA virus of the Asfarviridae family.
• Symptoms: The disease causes high fever, haemorrhages, and mortality rates that may approach 100 percent.
• Human Infection: The disease does not infect humans or other livestock species.
• Distribution: India reported its first ASF outbreak in Assam and Arunachal Pradesh in January 2020, and the disease has since spread to several States and Union Territories.
• International Status: African Swine Fever (ASF) is a listed disease under the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH)
  • It is covered under its Terrestrial Animal Health Code. Member countries are required to notify WOAH of ASF outbreaks.
• Treatment: There is no treatment for ASF, and prevention depends on strict biosecurity measures and culling of infected animals.