Biotechnology Applications in the Livestock Sector

Enhancing livestock productivity through biotechnology…

G. A. GunawardanaVeterinary Research Institute Peradeniya

Applications of Biotechnology in Animal Production

• Reproduction, selection and breeding eg - embryo transfers, in vitro fertilization, cloning and sex

determination of embryos

• Animal health eg - diagnosis, prevention and control of animal diseases

• Feed and nutrition eg - enzymatic treatment of feed, additives, decreasing the anti-nutritional factors

Vaccine

• Most significant achievement of Veterinary Research Institute, Peradeniya – vaccine production for animals

• Only institute in Sri Lanka producing any kind of vaccine

Vaccine Vaccine first made in Discontinued the production in

Haemorrhagic Septicaemia

1955

Black Quarter 1949Anthrax 1949 1983Brucellosis 1949New Castle Disease-Oral--Freeze Dried

19461963

1989

Fowl Pox 1937 1996Rabies 1960 1981Tick Fever 1940Foot and Mouth Disease 1964 1994

Animal Vaccines Produced Presently

1.Haemorrhagic Septicaemia HS)2.Black Quarter (BQ)3.Brucellosis4.Tick Fever5.Contagious Pustular Dermatitis6.Warts7.New Castle Disease (Freeze Dried)8.Fowl Cholera

*Foot and Mouth Disease *Foot and Mouth Disease –– To recommence soonTo recommence soon

1.Haemorrhagic Septicaemia (HS)

• A fatal disease in cattle and buffalo• By Pasteurella multocida• Mortality almost 100%• Outbreaks – end of the drought period

• Two types (Killed vaccines)

Alum PrecipitatedOil Adjuvant

HS Incidence

Facility at Vaccine Production Center

2. Black Quarter vaccine: (Killed vaccine)

• Fatal disease• Caused by Clostridium chauvoei.• Annual Vaccination - in endemic areas• Also in case of any outbreak

• VRI is proud to announce that their vaccine has been able to control HS and BQ in Sri Lanka.

• No reported cases of HS since 2003• BQ only sporadic cases

HS, BQ, FC and Ranikhet Vaccine Production

HS and BQ Vaccine Production

0

200000

400000

600000

800000

1000000

1200000

1400000

2006 2007 2008 2009

Year

Prod

uctio

n

HS

BQ

FC and Ranikhet Vaccine Production

0

500000

1000000

1500000

2000000

2500000

2006 2007 2008 2009

Year

Pro

duct

ion

FC

Ranikhet

3. Brucellosis Vaccine (Live vaccine)- Cause abortion in cattle, - Estimated economic loss – Rs 141 million- Vaccination in NLDB farms

Annual Production – 5000 doses

Vaccine for Brucellos(S 19)(Freeze-dried form)

4. Tick Fever vaccine

• Issued to Up Country cattle farms• B. bovis live attenuated vaccine • 4-9 months aged calves are vaccinated.• From 2005 - 2010, 3178 animals were

vaccinated.

• B. bigemina vaccine is being tested at present.Tick fever vaccine production trial

5 & 6. Warts and CPD Vaccines

• Warts in cattle - caused by the contagious Papilloma virus.

• Contagious Pustular

Dermatitis (CPD)• An infectious dermatitis

of sheep and goats

7. New Castle Disease (Ranikhet) vaccine:

• Highly contagious disease in poultry• Morality can go up 100%• Production recommenced.

8. Fowl Cholera vaccine (Killed vaccine)

• Bacterial disease by P. multocida • Morbidity & Mortality can be up to 100%.• Vaccine production commenced using oil

adjuvant in 1994.• Improved vaccine using the adjuvant 763 VG

in 2006

Other Products 1. Starter cultures for yoghurt and curd

Lactobacillus and Streptococcus species were isolated and combinations selected for

- Curdling time- Taste and smell- Acidity- Texture

• Mother Culture is prepared in freeze –dried form.

• Instructions and Training provided.• Small, Medium and some large scale

producers benefited.• One vial Rs 250.00• Much cheaper than imported cultures.

2. Chicks bred for back-yard rearing (CPRS Chicks)

• Male birds selected for phenotypic characters

• Artificial Insemination performed• Next generation birds evaluated• Village chicken characterization has been

carried out.

• Naked Neck gene has been passed through CPRS chicks

• Resistant to hot and humid weather

• CPRS chicks are distributed among small scale farmers

3. Probiotics

• Manipulation of microflora using microbes - for improved nutrient digestion- disease resistance

• At VRI, several bacterial species and combinations were identified and tested for efficacy against pathogens

• Potential product for poultry farmers

Special ProjectsIVM, IVF and In vitro Culture

Use of Molecular Techniques for Disease Diagnosis and Animal Species

Characterization

• A Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) based meat identification technique has been developed at Veterinary Research Institute, Peradeniya

To support protection and preservation of cattle/buffalo and wild life population

• For consumer safety

• A prime requirement for regulatory enforcement

• Detect low levels of target DNA, which could not be tested using other methods.

• Rs 3000.00 per sample

Animal Disease ActFauna/flora Act

Molecular Genetics Laboratory, VRI

Polymerase chain reaction based meat identification test is currently performed only for following species

• Cervus FamilyCeylon spotted deer (Axis axis ceylonensis)

Ceylon sambhur (Cervus unicolor unicolor)

Ceylon hog deer (Axis porciusoryzus)

Barking deer (Muntiacus muntijak malabaricus)

• Buffalo • Cattle

• Goat• Dog

Genetic Characterization by Marker Analysis

• At the Department of Animal Science, University of Peradeniya

- Poultry - Pig- Small ruminants - Cattle

• Characterization completed - using chromosomal mitochondrial DNA

• Chicken and Sheep - Comparison with regional indigenous animals was carried out

Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (Bird Flu) Diagnosis

Diagnosis contd…

• RT PCR and Sequencing to detect the Foot and Mouth virus type.

• PCR to detect Cryptosporidium and Paramphistomes (parasites)

PCR to detect Paramphistomes

Molecular Epidemiology

Characterization of avian Salmonella isolates using REP PCR

• Strain characterization to identify the relationship between the outbreaks

• Assist to control the disease in poultry farms.

s1 s2 s3 s4 s5 L

Each individual has a responsibility to see that biotechnology is developed and used wisely.

We must do whatever we can to avoid mistakes and ensure that biotechnology benefits not only us but also the other organisms that share this planet with us”