Indian Immunologicals rolls out India’s first gE deleted DIVA marker vaccine against IBR

Indian Immunologicals (IIL) has launched India’s first indigenously developed glycoprotein E (gE) deleted DIVA marker vaccine against infectious bovine rhinotracheitis (IBR).

The vaccine named Raksha-IBR will address infertility, abortions and reduced milk productivity linked to the disease, the Hyderabad-headquartered vaccine maker said on Monday (September 29).

Secretary to Centre’s Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying Narendra Pal Gangwar, NDDB Chairman Meenesh C. Shah and IIL MD K. Anand Kumar participated in the launch event that coincided with the diamond jubilee celebration of IIL parent entity National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) in Anand, Gujarat, on September 27.

IBR is endemic in India and caused by Bovine Herpes Virus (BHV-1). The disease is transmitted through the aerosol route and affects reproductive systems. It is also transmitted by semen from bulls to milch animals. Infertility, abortions and lower milk productivity are some of the major impacts of the disease. There is no vaccine available in India and there is no specific treatment against this disease thus far. Systematic vaccination against the target species and adequate biosecurity are ways to prevent the disease, the company said. Marker vaccines are those that help differentiate between infected and vaccinated animals (DIVA).

“Our scientists along with NDDB after years of research have developed India’s first vaccine for IBR,” Mr. Anand Kumar said. He said this seeking to highlight how productivity must be enhanced in all areas for India, which is the largest producer of milk in the world, to sustain the growth. Use of quality semen from bulls with superior genetics is one of the important ways to improve productivity. It takes a lot of time and effort to produce a herd of bulls with superior genetics, and all these efforts could go in vain if the animals are infected with IBR virus.