Posted Sep 30, 2022 11:50 AMUpdated on Sep 30, 2022 at 5:41 PM
This is a first, watched with hope by the entire sector. Two candidate bird flu vaccines are being tested on ducks in the South West. There has been a vaccine for chickens for ten years but it is not suitable for ducks. Since May, the French laboratory Ceva Santé Animale and the German Boehringer Ingelheim have been experimenting with two molecules on thousands of birds in six farms in Gers, Landes, Dordogne and Tarn. These are new generation vaccines, respectively based on messenger RNA and proteins. They relate to the antigenic protein haemagglutinin of the avian influenza virus.
The operation is led by the National Veterinary School of Toulouse and the National Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health Safety (Anses). The cost, estimated at 2.3 million euros, is shared by the State and four regions, with a contribution from the Interprofessional committee for palmipeds with foie gras (Cifog) and laboratories. Ceva Santé Animale is confident after the first trials. “Of our three criteria which are protection against symptoms, reduction of shedding and the possibility of distinguishing between vaccinated animals and infected animals […], the results are there”, recently assured its CEO, Marc Prikazsky, to “Figaro”. But the results of the experiment will only be made in the fall.
Stop infection
If successful, the vaccine is not expected on farms before the fall of 2023. It must be effective against the disease but also against infection, to stop the spread of the virus. “The innovative technology of these candidate vaccines will facilitate tests to detect possible circulation of pathogenic viruses in vaccinated animals”, explains Jean-Luc Guérin, professor of avian pathology at the National Veterinary School of Toulouse and head of trials at the vaccination. “We must avoid letting ‘healthy’ carriers create themselves, which would allow the virus to evolve towards more virulent forms, or even to be able to infect humans in the long term. »
Another condition will require European regulations on vaccination. “A draft European regulation should be published at the end of the year or at the beginning of 2023”, indicates Emmanuelle Soubeyran, Deputy Director General for Food at the Ministry of Agriculture and Head of Veterinary Services. Then, it will be necessary to define the vaccination strategy by determining which species (chickens, ducks, etc.) and which regions are concerned. Initially, it could be limited to dense livestock areas to take into account the cost of the vaccine, which has not yet been determined. ANSES will propose a strategy in the spring.
Finally, it must be ensured that countries importing ducks accept vaccinated animals. Currently, the United States, Canada, Japan and several Asian countries refuse them so as not to risk importing the influenza virus. “The European Union has asked to discuss the subject at the next conference of the World Organization on Animal Health, in October in Sicily,” adds Emmanuelle Soubeyran.
Convince importers
Vaccination of ducks would be a change of strategy, after focusing on biosecurity. Until now, large poultry groups have refused vaccination because it closes their doors to export. After the last devastating crisis of 2021-2022, their positions have changed but they are waiting for guarantees to be provided to importing countries, which have so far been reluctant.
“We slaughtered 19 million poultry in 2021 and 2022 in France and the compensation will cost nearly 1 billion euros, recalls Emmanuelle Soubeyran. So I think that vaccination can be an additional control tool, even if we have to continue to develop surveillance and biosecurity on farms. Vaccination would be extended to other species. The Netherlands are experimenting with chickens and Italy with turkeys. “The results of the various trials could no doubt be pooled to have a set of data which will make it possible to design a more global vaccine strategy,” says Jean-Luc Guérin.
