Farmers
The Institute for Animal Health exists to advance science and diagnosis that underpins the health of farm animals and, as a consequence, the prosperity of farmers and allied rural businesses. At Compton Laboratory we study diseases that are endemic to the UK, whilst at Pirbright Laboratory we study exotic viruses – ones not usually in the UK.
Culicoides midges spread bluetongue virus and other viruses e.g. African horse sickness virus. Our experts will be at the Royal Show (July 7-10, 2009) talking about bluetongue in the Global Science and Business Centre. Two videos are available, showing how and why IAH scientists capture midges in the field. Read more about the midges here.
Read more about bluetongue at our BITE site: Bluetongue Information, Typing and Epidemiology.
IAH commences an investigation of the uptake and efficacy of the bluetongue vaccination in the UK.
IAH at the Royal Show, July 2008.
IAH at the Royal Society’s Summer Exhibition, July 2008.
IAH is a member of the Joint Campaign Against Bluetongue
Our scientists have contributed to a number of videos, available online, that explain the background to bluetongue in Britain, and the vaccine campaign against it.
Our practical outputs include
It is our fundamental and strategic research with farm animals that leads to these developments.
Useful links:
Vaccine development
We have contributed to the development of vaccines for cattle e.g. bovine pneumonia, foot-and-mouth disease, rinderpest, and poultry e.g. Marek’s disease, infectious bronchitis, avian pneumovirus, in collaboration with animal health companies. Where a vaccine does not exist for a given disease, this may be because conventional approaches to vaccine development have simply not delivered a good enough product. Part of our remit is to do fundamental studies of the disease agents and the immune responses of farm animals, allied with state-of-the-art technology, to develop smarter vaccines that work and are safe. It is to the advantage of British farmers that exotic diseases are better controlled in the parts of the world where they are endemic; defence at a distance. The risk to the UK is then diminished.
Diagnostics and field investigations
The Institute has developed a broad range of diagnostic tests for both endemic and exotic disease agents. We have worked with the farming community to use these tests to examine current disease situations, by means of field investigations. Examples involving endemic diseases include Marek’s disease, avian leukosis, infectious bronchitis, avian pneumovirus, and astrovirus and coronavirus associated with scouring in turkeys. Most of these investigations have been supported financially by vaccine companies and the British Poultry Council, especially the Turkey Sector.
Our Pirbright Laboratory is home to nine Reference Laboratories who develop state-of-the-art diagnostics and provide diagnostic services in respect of exotic viruses. Pirbright has world-renowned expertise which is not only focussed on innovative research and diagnosis but is also called upon to advise the British Government and various international bodies. A great deal of effort is currently being directed towards the bluetongue outbreak, which commenced in England in late summer 2007. Our bluetongue experts have engaged a great deal with British farmers, through meetings (both on and off campus) and the farming press and other media.