The SPIDVAC (Safe Priority Infectious Diseases VACcines)
The SPIDVAC consortium proposes to develop innovative vaccines and companion DIVA diagnostic tests for three priority animal diseases included in the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) list of notifiable terrestrial diseases: African horse sickness (AHS), peste des petits ruminants (PPR) and foot‐and‐mouth disease (FMD). All three are Category A diseases; AHS and FMD are listed in Article 5 of the EU Animal Health Law (Regulation (EU) 2016/429), and PPR is listed in Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/1882 and is considered a criticalFAST Disease (FMD and Similar Transboundary Disease) by EuFMD. AHS is the only infectious disease of equines for which the OIE certifies a disease‐free status for its member states.
The risk of introduction of AHS, PPR or FMD into Europe is growing, driven by climate change, global trade and long‐distance tourism. Current vaccines for AHS, PPR and FMD have critical shortcomings that leave the EU vulnerable to these transboundary animal diseases (TADs).Innovative vaccines and companion diagnostics grounded in increased knowledge of pathogenesis and immunity are urgently required to improve the capacity to prevent introductions from endemic countries outside the EU and contain outbreaks, which are a major threat to European agriculture. These new tools will help policy makers, veterinary services and business operators reduce the burden of infectious animal diseases, thus contributing to a sustainable livestock industry and promoting public health from farm to fork.