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  • Work Package 9

  • WP9: Optimising LSD vaccine strategies

  • Work package objective: WP9

    Vaccination is a key control measure for lumpy skin disease (LSD); however, there are few field studies which look at the serological response post-vaccination, hampering efforts to carry out post-vaccination monitoring. The aim of this work package was to examine the antibody response of cattle vaccinated with a live-attenuated LSD vaccine over time, to evaluate parameters for measuring the success of a vaccination programme.

  • WP9
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Work package WP9: Outputs

The study was conducted in 107 farms in 4 countries, Albania, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Serbia, over a three-year period, sampling 2250 cattle. We found that the levels of specific antibodies against LSDV decreased over time once vaccination ceases. There was a significant decline in seropositivity over time, but seropositivity remained higher in line with increasing number of vaccination doses received. Country-specific variations in the rate at which antibody levels decreased over time were identified, the cause of these are still under investigation.
We also plan to continue analysis of this complex and unique dataset to study the impact of confounders (age and breed), and the impact of co-vaccination.

The contributors to this work package were:
• Innovative Diagnostics, France
• Veterinary Specialized Institute Kraljevo, Serbia
• Scientific Veterinary Institute Novi Sad, Serbia
• Universiteti Bujqesor i Tiranes, Albania
• Specijalistička Veterinarska Laboratorija Podgorica, Montenegro
• SS. Cyril and Methodius University Skopje, N. Macedonia
• Keele University, UK