Vaccines developed in the future will play in a key role in maintaining animal health standards and combatting diseases, according to researchers at the Moredun Institute.
This was one of the key messages delivered at the recent Sheep NI event in Dungiven, Co. Derry.
The Moredun Institute is a scientific research institution that is committed to the establishment of an endemic disease reference testing laboratory in Scotland.
The new centre will complement the work already taking place at the Pirbright Institute in the south of England.
Disease threats
Moredun had a strong presence at the Co. Derry event, including Prof. Lee Innes, who is principal scientist and director of communications at the institute.
In her address at Sheep NI, Prof. Innes said: “The threat of midge and tick-borne disease has never been greater.
“Where Bluetongue is concerned, the need for constant monitoring of midge populations is critically important.”
According to the Moredun academic, the need to develop effective Bluetongue vaccines is obvious. And these must evolve in line with the genetic evolution of the Bluetongue virus populations.
Prof. Innes added: “The same principles hold where tick-borne diseases of sheep are concerned.
“Louping ill is a case in point. This is a disease that is now of growing significance for the sheep sector in the UK and Ireland.
“Work is ongoing to have an effective vaccine developed and made available on a commercial scale.”
Louping ill is a viral disease primarily affecting sheep. It is transmitted by the sheep tick Ixodes ricinus, and can cause severe neurological symptoms.
Infected animals may exhibit fever, depression, ataxia, tremors, and paralysis, with high mortality rates in most circumstances.
“We now know that midges, ticks, and parasites can successfully over-winter in sheds, which was never the case up to this point,” Prof. Innes said.
“Such developments represent an additional challenge when it comes to dealing with the considerable animal health threats these disease vectors represent.”
Moredun Foundation NI
The Moredun Foundation established a regional board for Northern Ireland in March 2024. It is chaired by Co. Antrim sheep farmer, Campbell Tweed.
He also attended the Dungiven event, confirming the key role that sheep play in all rural areas.
According to the EasyCare breeder: “The role that sheep play in maintaining the habitat diversity in our upland areas is crucially important.
“And this reality must be fully recognised in the future support systems made available to the sheep industry here in Northern Ireland.
“Sheep have a proven track record in delivering in terms of both food security and the environment. All of this must be allowed to continue into the future.”
