Published Date: 2023-04-22 17:33:15 BST
Subject: PRO/AH> Foot & mouth disease - Iran, Russia: livestock, st SAT-2, prevention, RFI
Archive Number: 20230422.8709637

FOOT & MOUTH DISEASE - IRAN, RUSSIA: LIVESTOCK, SEROTYPE SAT-2, PREVENTION, REQUEST FOR INFORMATION

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Date: Thu 20 Apr 2023
Source: Vet and Life [in Russian, machine trans., edited]
https://vetandlife.ru/sobytiya/institut-rosselhoznadzora-proizvel-3-5-mln-doz-vakciny-protiv-novogo-shtamma-yashhura/


The Federal Center for Animal Health (FSBI "ARRIAH" of Rosselkhoznadzor) has released 3.5 million doses of vaccine containing a new strain of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) virus type SAT-2. This is an African type of FMD, exotic for the Eurasian continent, including Russia.

As specified in the press service of the Rosselkhoznadzor, 2.5 million doses of a 5-valent [emulsified] anti-FMD vaccine were produced from the released batch specifically for the countries of the Persian Gulf.

In order to promptly respond in the event of an exotic virus being introduced into Russia, the FGBI ARRIAH has created a reserve of a monovalent vaccine in the amount of 1 million doses.

Earlier, service experts expressed concern about the spread of a new strain of FMD in the Middle East and Western Asia. This strain demonstrates more aggressive infectious activity compared to epizootic isolates of other FMD serotypes. FMD outbreaks of this serotype in 2023 were registered in Türkiye, Jordan, and Iraq. The introduction of a new strain into the territory of Russia may threaten the loss of FMD-free status and restrictions on the export of products. To date, there are no outbreaks of FMD in Russia.

"The preventive work carried out by the Rosselkhoznadzor will help mitigate the risks for foreign and domestic trade," said representatives of the agency.

[Byline: Yulia Makeeva]

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Communicated by:
ProMED

[The continuing spread of FMDV serotype SAT2 (Ethiopian strain) in Türkiye and Iraq is a serious threat regionally, including Russia's territories in the Caucasus. Among the immediate neighboring countries, Iran has the largest domestic ruminant population, fully susceptible to the exotic, highly pathogenic strain (see item 2).

Türkiye received from the EU FMD vaccine bank, on 22 Mar 2023, 500 000 donated monovalent doses of formulated SAT2 vaccine. This vaccine has been used for the vaccination of the livestock population in Thrace, being the buffer zone neighboring the Balkan countries. At the same time, Türkiye started the production of SAT2 vaccines in its FMD Institute (Alum, Ankara) and has already been using the 1st batch to vaccinate in higher risk areas (e.g., areas bordering Armenia and Iraq). Information on the vaccination application in all provinces is anticipated.

The situation in Iraq seems to be more somber; according to the epidemiological comment included repeatedly in Iraq's weekly reports to WOAH (as of 14 Apr 2023), no mass vaccination campaign has yet been undertaken "due to delay in purchasing vaccines." It remains to hope that the said comment has not been updated and that vaccination in Iraq has already started; an update from knowledgable sources will be appreciated. - Mod.AS].

Date: Fri 14 Apr 2023
Source: FGBU "ARRIAH press release [in Russian, machine trans., edited]
https://fsvps.gov.ru/ru/fsvps/news/217798.html


On 14 Apr 2023, a delegation of representatives from the Islamic Republic of Iran paid an official visit to the Federal State Budgetary Institution "Federal Center for Animal Health" subordinate to Rosselkhoznadzor to negotiate joint cooperation and the supply of veterinary drugs to Iran.

During the meeting, FGBI "ARRIAH" specialists acquainted the guests with the activities and scientific and technical achievements of the institution. Considerable attention was paid to the discussion of topical issues of the epizootic situation of FMD serotype SAT-2 (South Africa Territories 2) in the world, laboratory diagnosis of FMD disease, and prevention of especially dangerous and economically significant animal diseases. In particular, the Iranian delegation got acquainted with the new developments and production of FMD vaccines and vaccines against diseases of birds and cattle.

As a result of the visit, the parties signed an agreement on mutual scientific and technical cooperation.

SAT-2 is exotic not only for Russia, but also for the countries of the Eurasian continent in general. It circulates in the African wild. Previously in the Middle East, the SAT-2 serotype caused FMD outbreaks in 2000 in Saudi Arabia and 2012 in Palestine.

In 2023, the FMD serotype SAT-2 began to spread outside the African region and is registered in countries of the Middle East such as Jordan, Iraq, and Türkiye.

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Communicated by:
ProMED

[Iran's needs for sufficient quantity of vaccine to protect its susceptible livestock against the exotic SAT2 strain are considerable. This population includes (2020 figures; see ref below) 5.4 million cattle and 58.2 million small ruminants (43 million sheep, 15.2 million goats). According to the said source, Iran's prevailing mass FMD vaccination scheme includes cattle (3 times a year) and small ruminants (once a year). Several indigenous and imported FMD vaccines induce protective immunity for maximum 6 months (about 8.5 million primary doses annually).

Reference
Emami SJ, Bahonar AR, Mehrabadi MHF, et al. Evaluation of FMD vaccine using registered surveillance data. Trop Anim Health Prod. 2022; 54: 215; https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-022-03204-9
- Mod.AS

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Iran: https://promedmail.org/promed-post?place=8709637,128
Russia: https://promedmail.org/promed-post?place=8709637,98