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Defend: Our Mission
To control the growing LSD and ASF epidemics in Europe and neighbouring countries by understanding the drivers of LSDV and ASFV emergence, and by generating research outputs which underpin novel diagnostic tools and vaccines, and authenticate appropriate and rapid responses by decision-makers.
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The DEFEND consortium targeted two viruses of livestock which are emerging into Europe – African swine fever virus (ASFV) and lumpy skin disease virus (LSDV).
African swine fever is a highly contagious disease of swine which causes a haemorrhagic death in up to 100% of pigs in a herd. In 2007 the virus was imported into the Caucasus, from where it has spread throughout eastern Europe. In 2018-19 the disease entered and spread throughout Asia, causing the deaths of millions of pigs and threatening the food security of the region.
Lumpy skin disease is a disease of cattle. It has been spread steadily north and east over the past 20 years from Africa through the Middle East, Russia and Asia.
Many of the European and neighbouring countries affected or threatened by ASF and/or LSD were represented on the DEFEND consortium.
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Defend: Our Funders
DEFEND was a Horizon 2020 project running from 2018 to 2023. This research received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under agreement No 773701.
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Defend: Key People
The DEFEND consortium was led by Dr Pip Beard from The Pirbright Institute, UK.
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No. Work Package Title Lead Participant 1 Risk analysis framework FLI 2 Phylogenetics of African swine fever virus and lumpy skin disease virus Sciensano and The Pirbright Institute 3 Conflict, migration and virus spread EUI and SIVtro VSF Italia 4 Transmission of lumpy skin disease virus Sciensano 5 Subclinical infection with lumpy skin disease virus Sciensano 6 African swine fever virus prevention and management ISZLER 7 A novel African swine fever vaccine for use in interface regions The Pirbright Institute 8 Diagnostic tools for lumpy skin disease The Pirbright Institute and IDVet 9 Optimising lumpy skin disease vaccine strategies The Pirbright Institute 10 Host determinants of lumpy skin disease resistance and susceptibility SLU 11 Next generation lumpy skin disease vaccines The Pirbright Institute and Zoetis 12 Communication and dissemination The Pirbright Institute 13 Guaranteeing impact The Pirbright Institute and Sciensano 14 Management The Pirbright Institute 15 Ethics The Pirbright Institute Project Structure
