Tests on a domestically-developed vaccine for African swine fever (ASF) on pig farms in three provinces in China have shown significant progress, according to a state media report posted on the agriculture ministry’s website on Wednesday.
The vaccine from the Harbin Veterinary Research Institute was used in field tests on 3,000 pigs in Heilongjiang, Henan and Xinjiang in early April, early May and early June. The vaccinated piglets have shown no signs of disease and are growing strongly, with a mortality rate of less than 1% and no significant difference between the immunised group and the control group.
The statement said: “Up to now, the vaccinated piglets have grown well and have no abnormal clinical conditions; the vaccinated sows are in good condition, with no abnormal clinical manifestations, no abnormal estrus, and no miscarriage.
“The vaccinated pigs have no vaccine poison discharge and no horizontal transmission. After immunization, most sows have given birth, there is no significant difference in the rate of litter and stillbirth between the immunized group and the control group, and the piglets grow well.”
The Harbin Institute, overseen by the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, said in March it had developed a live attenuated vaccine which proved to be safe and effective in laboratory testing, according to Bloomberg.
The institute conducted environmental release testing in March followed by field testing in the provinces. More testing is in progress and the institute plans to speed up research and development, although no time time frame has been given for commercial production.
