Background:
Goats of over 125 million population constitute an important component of Indian livestock industry, benefiting large section of rural population. Amongst a number of infections that adversely affect goat husbandry, goatpox is one of the important diseases with a serious economic impact in terms of productivity loss, mortality, hide damage and losses due to trade limitations to developed nations. The present technology relates to development and production of an effective vaccine for control/ prevention of goatpox in goats. Technology Details A live attenuated vaccine developed at IVRI is used in goat population for preventive immunization against goatpox, a severe viral infection in goats. Vaccine has potential application for control of goatpox in the endemic or affected regions, which include not only India but other regions including Southwest, Middle east and Central Asia, Northern and Central African nations. Wide spread use of this vaccine is expected to significantly bring down the incidence of the disease contributing to the enhanced small ruminant productivity. The vaccine is in the process of grant of patent (Patent Application No. 76/DEL/2008) subject to approval of NBA (National Biodiversity Authority) for use of virus strain in the vaccine.