The challenges in vaccine development and the feasibility of a vaccination campaign against African Swine Fever virus

Issue Date

1-2023

Abstract

African Swine Fever (ASF) was first described in Africa in 1921 and reached China in 2018. It eventually reached other Asian countries including the Philippines in 2019. Despite the efforts of the Philippine government to mitigate its spread, cases have been observed in 64 of the 81 provinces across 17 regions. Vaccine field trials done in the Philippines have promising results. Yet, until now, no vaccine has been made commercially available. Efforts to develop a commercial vaccine against ASF have been hindered by the complex and genetically diverse nature of the ASF virus (ASFV). ASFV has evolved strategies to evade the host's immune response, inhibiting antigen presentation and infecting immune cells. The genetic variability among ASFV strains further complicates vaccine development, as different strains may require specific vaccine approaches. Despite challenges, progress has been made with live attenuated vaccines showing promise. However, concerns regarding safety, reversion to virulence, and limited efficacy against multiple genotypes persist. Strategies such as comprehensive safety evaluations, surveillance, combination control measures, and Public awareness is recommended to address the spread of ASF. A vaccination drive targeting prevalent strains in specific regions may provide partial protection but requires ongoing surveillance and complementation with other control measures.

Source or Periodical Title

Philippine Journal of Veterinary Medicine

ISSN

0031-7705

Volume

60

Issue

1

Page

30-49

Document Type

Article

Frequency

semi-annually

Physical Description

maps; tables

Language

English

En – AGROVOC descriptors

SWINE; AFRICAN SWINE FEVER; AFRICAN SWINE FEVER VIRUS; VACCINES--DEVELOPMENT; VACCINES; VACCINATION; GENOTYPES; PHILIPPINES

Link to Full Text

Share

COinS