U.S., South Africa ally on FMD vaccines

The Agricultural Research Service and the Onderstepoort Veterinary Institute in South Africa have co-launched a study to produce vaccines for foot-and-mouth disease (FMD).

FMD, a highly contagious disease of cloven-hoofed animals such as cattle, pigs and sheep, usually doesn't kill animals, but does debilitate them, according to Peter Mason, leader of FMD research at ARS' Plum Island Animal Disease Center, New York.

Constant mutation by the FMD virus has thus far inhibited lasting efficacy of vaccines.

A South African laboratory was chosen because of its international status and work on numerous FMD strains indigenous to Africa. Additionally, the U.S. is partnering with an international laboratory because U.S. companies cannot produce vaccines from killed FMD virus on the U.S. mainland. Plum Island is the only place in the United States where FMD can be studied.

Limiting the presence of FMD overseas helps protect the livestock of the United States, Mason notes. Scientists on Plum Island have also worked with researchers from Brazil, China and Russia, but the partnership with South Africa has advanced farthest.

The cooperative agreement with South Africa lasts through May 30, 2003.