In the relentless battle against African Swine Fever (ASF), the Philippines has taken significant strides towards finding a solution through vaccine development. The ongoing ASF vaccine trials in the country, led by the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) and supported by the Philippine Council for Agriculture and Fisheries (PCAF), hold promising potential for addressing the ASF crisis that has plagued the swine industry.
As of the latest updates provided by Amanel Manalo, an authoritative voice from BAI, the ASF vaccine trials have progressed through Phase 1 with remarkable outcomes. The completion of Phase 1 involved rigorous testing on trial animals, and the results have been nothing short of encouraging. A notable 80% of the vaccinated animals displayed the production of antibodies just 28 days after receiving the vaccine.
Key among the reported findings is the negative status of nasal swabs obtained from safety trial animals. This suggests that the vaccine is effective in preventing the presence of the ASF virus within the respiratory tracts of the vaccinated animals. Additionally, antibodies were detected within a mere 14 days post-vaccination, further affirming the vaccine’s rapid immune response induction. An essential marker of vaccine efficacy, quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) results showed that ASF virus levels turned negative a little over 30 days post-vaccination, coinciding with the absence of mortality among the vaccinated animals. In a comprehensive examination, organs obtained from slaughtered animals also tested negative for the ASF virus, solidifying the vaccine’s effectiveness in preventing viral replication within crucial organs.
The momentum doesn’t stop at Phase 1. The Philippines is now embarking on Phase 2 of the ASF vaccine trials, which are being conducted across various regions including Batangas, Quezon, and Pangasinan. Scheduled to continue until September 2023, this phase of the trials seeks to further validate the vaccine’s efficacy across diverse environments and swine populations.
In a strategic move to bolster the country’s ASF containment efforts, the Committee overseeing these trials has endorsed a policy resolution to the Department of Agriculture (DA) through BAI. This policy resolution stems from the outcomes of a comprehensive retrospective study conducted on the epidemiology of ASF outbreaks in the Philippines. The study, commissioned by the PCAF and undertaken by the Agricultural Training Institute-International Training Center on Pig Husbandry (ATI-ITCPH), aimed to identify risk factors contributing to the virus’s spread and evaluate the effectiveness of the National Zoning Plan and control measures. The resulting policy recommendations will play a pivotal role in enhancing ASF control and prevention strategies.
The ASF vaccine trials in the Philippines stand as a testament to the dedication and collaborative efforts of various government agencies and institutions in combating a crisis that has taken a toll on the swine industry and food security. While challenges persist, the promising outcomes of Phase 1 and the ongoing Phase 2 trials provide a ray of hope that an effective tool against ASF is within reach. As the trials progress, stakeholders in the industry and beyond eagerly await further updates and breakthroughs that could herald a turning point in the fight against African Swine Fever.
https://www.pcaf.da.gov.ph/index.php/2023/08/07/nsc-on-poultry-and-livestock-discusses-updates-on-avian-flu-asf-vaccines/
