Immune protection in animals: the examples of rinderpest and foot-and-mouth disease.
Fading immune protection in farmed animals may present a problem, particularly in free-ranging animals in nomadic and transhumant pastoral systems, where animals are not readily available for large-scale blanket vaccination programmes. Two veterinary examples of fading immune protection are discussed: rinderpest and foot-and-mouth disease (FMD). Both are devastating viral diseases of cattle that have a huge impact on the farming economy. Both diseases can be controlled by vaccination, although the post-vaccination immunity afforded by the rinderpest vaccine is markedly different from that induced by FMD vaccines. These differences may in part explain the respective advancement of international eradication campaigns: while global eradication of rinderpest is imminent, FMD viruses are still actively circulating in many parts of the world.
Domenech
J
J
FAO, Animal Health Service, Animal Production and Health Division, Agriculture and Consumer Protection Department, Viale Delle Terme Di Caracalla, 00153 Rome, Italy. joseph.domenech@agriculture.gouv.fr
Lubroth
J
J
Sumption
K
K
D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle / Q000276:immunology*; D005536:Foot-and-Mouth Disease / Q000276:immunology*; D032521:Immunity, Herd / Q000276:immunology*; D012301:Rinderpest / Q000276:immunology*; D014611:Vaccination / Q000662:veterinary*