Field trials for a cattle vaccine and new skin test for bovine tuberculosis (bTB) have moved into the next phase, the UK government’s Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) has announced today (Monday, February 6).
If the second phase is successful, the agency said, farmers will be even closer to being able to vaccinate their cattle against the disease.
APHA said that it is hoped that the combination of the CattleBCG vaccine and the Detect Infection among Vaccinated Animals (DIVA) skin test will be deployable in the next few years.
The second phase of the field trials will assess the safety of the CattleBCG vaccine and the safety and performance of the DIVA skin test in vaccinated cattle.
The field trials are taking place on commercial livestock farms across the country, APHA, said and are due to be completed this year.
Phase 2 will involve at least five farms with 600 participating, 300 of which will be vaccinated with CattleBCG, whilst the remaining half will receive a placebo.
Dr Phil Hogarth, APHA’s lead scientist for TB said: “I am pleased that we have progressed to the next phase of the field trials for a cattle vaccine and DIVA skin test for bovine tuberculosis.
“This next step represents a significant milestone, building upon many years of research, and APHA will continue to be led by science, and work tirelessly in the fight to eradicate this disease.”
In a joint statement the chief veterinary officers from England, Scotland and Wales said: “Bovine TB represents one of the most difficult animal disease challenges the world faces today.
“We are making substantial progress in developing an additional tool to help eradicate this disease with the new cattle vaccine and DIVA skin test – and are very grateful to the vets and farmers taking part for their efforts in making this work on the ground.
“If this next phase is successful, this project takes us one step closer to a vaccine to be used in conjunction with other measures to tackle this insidious disease which impacts livestock farmers across the globe.”
APHA began Phase 1 trials in England in July 2021 which focussed on the safety and performance of the DIVA skin test in unvaccinated animals.
Performed on ten farms with 524 participating animals, Phase 1 was completed in May of 2022 and analysis of the results is ongoing.
