The safety, immunogenicity and efficacy of three commercially available
vaccines against
lumpy skin disease (
LSD) in cattle have been evaluated using a combination of
vaccine challenge experiments and the monitoring of immune responses in vaccinated animals in the field. The three
vaccines evaluated in the study included two locally produced (Ethiopian)
vaccines (lumpy skin disease virus (LSDV) Neethling and Kenyan sheep and goat pox (KSGP) O-180 strain
vaccines) and a Gorgan goat pox (
GTP)
vaccine manufactured by Jordan Bio-Industries Centre (JOVAC). The latter
vaccine was evaluated for the first time in cattle against LSDV. The Ethiopian Neethling and KSGPO-180
vaccines failed to provide protection in cattle against LSDV, whereas the Gorgan
GTP vaccine protected all the vaccinated calves from clinical signs of
LSD. There was no significant difference in protective efficacy detected between two dosage levels (P=0.2, P=0.25, and P=0.1 for KSGP, Neethling and Gorgan
vaccines, respectively). Additionally, the Gorgan
GTP vaccinated cattle showed stronger levels of cellular immune responses measured using Delayed-Type
Hypersensitivity (DTH) reactions at the vaccination site indicating higher levels of immunogenicity produced by the GTPV
vaccine in cattle, as opposed to the other two
vaccines. This study indicated, for the first time, that the Gorgan
GTP vaccine can effectively protect cattle against LSDV and that the Neethling and KSGP O-180
vaccine were not protective. The results emphasise the need for molecular characterization of the Neethling and KSGP O-180
vaccine seed viruses used for
vaccine production in Ethiopia. In addition, the potency and efficacy testing process of the Ethiopian
LSD Neethling and KSGP O-180
vaccines should be re-evaluated.