Roadmap for the development of diagnostic tests for FMD

What are we trying to achieve and why? What is the problem we are trying to solve?

To develop reliable and rapid immunological tests allowing to identify vaccinated animals.

What are the scientific and technological challenges
(knowledge gaps needing to be addressed)?

• Level, quality and standardisation of level of Abs for identification of vaccinated animals
• Investigate seroconversion of vaccinated cattle
• Interference of maternal antibody with DIVA tests
• Investigate relationship between the degree of vaccine purification and DIVA test performance

What else needs to be done before we can solve this need?

• Immune response.
• Identify DIVA targets.

Existing knowledge including successes and failures

The use of recombinant technology as an alternative source of test antigens has shown promise in several studies. Several publications described the development of inhouse tests for the detection of viral NSP-specific antibodies, the basis of most DIVA tests. Regardless of the test used, relying on the presence of NSP antibodies to detect infection in vaccinated populations (with purified inactivated vaccines) is imperfect, as vaccinated cattle may occasionally seroconvert, particularly after repeated vaccination.