BIOLUMPIVAXIN: DIVA MARKER VACCINE AGAINST LUMPY SKIN DISEASE
Mimansha Sahu
M.V.Sc Scholar Department of Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Science & A.H., Anjora, Durg, C.G.
Email id : mimansha1806@gmail.com
Introduction
BIOLUMPIVAXIN is a novel indigenous vaccine developed to combat Lumpy Skin Disease (LSD) in cattle and buffaloes. This transboundary disease is caused by the Lumpy Skin Disease Virus (LSDV), leads to significant economic losses in the dairy and livestock industries due to skin nodules, fever, swollen lymph node, reduced milk production, and increased mortality.
Development and Approval
BIOLUMPIVAXIN was developed through a collaboration between Biovet, a subsidiary of Bharat Biotech, and the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR). The vaccine utilizes the LSD virus/Ranchi/2019 strain sourced from ICAR-National Research Centre on Equines (NRCE), Hisar. It is live attenuated marker vaccine, comes in freeze dried form.
The vaccine is developed after three years of research by scientists at NRCE led by Naveen Kumar (now Director, NIV-Pune) under the leadership of B.N.Tripathi, former DDG, Animal Sciences, ICAR and presently Vice Chancellor, SKUAST, Jammu.
After rigorous testing for quality, safety, and efficacy at ICAR-NRCE and the Indian Veterinary Research Institute (IVRI), the vaccine received approval from the Central Drug Standards Control Organization (CDSCO) in February 2025.
Key Features
- DIVA Marker Vaccine: BIOLUMPIVAXIN is the world’s first Differentiating Infected from Vaccinated Animals (DIVA) marker vaccine for LSD. This feature allows serological differentiation between naturally infected and vaccinated animals, facilitating more effective disease surveillance and control.
- Single-Dose Regimen: The vaccine is administered once annually to cattle and buffaloes aged three months and above. It can also be given to pregnant and lactating animals.
- High Production Capacity: Biovet’s facility in Mallur, Karnataka, is equipped to produce 500 million doses of Biolumpivaxin annually, ensuring ample supply to meet national demand.
Impact on Veterinary Healthcare
The introduction of BIOLUMPIVAXIN marks a significant advancement in India’s veterinary healthcare sector. By enabling accurate differentiation between infected and vaccinated animals, the vaccine supports targeted disease management strategies. This development is poised to enhance the sustainability of India’s dairy industry, which has been adversely affected by LSD outbreaks resulting in over 200,000 cattle deaths in the past two years.
Dr. Krishna Ella, Founder of Biovet, emphasized the vaccine’s importance, stating that it represents a significant step toward Atmanirbhar Bharat in veterinary healthcare thereby minimizing dependency on imported vaccine and will play a pivotal role in ensuring the dairy industry’s sustainability.
Conclusion
In summary, BIOLUMPIVAXIN: DIVA marker vaccine is the game changer for disease surveillance and eradication programs. It offers a promising substantial benefit to livestock health and the broader agricultural economy. The impact of preventive vaccines against LSD will positively affect every village and district in India, supporting the sustainability and growth of the dairy sector.
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