Ministry of Agriculture & Rural Development
Development of Improved Capability in
S
upport of National Biosecurity for the
Surveillance and Control of Foot &
Disease in Cattle and Pigs
FMD Vaccine Efficacy Testing and FMD
Vaccination Recommendations§
Milestone 8
Resubmission, June 2010

Ministry of Agriculture & Rural Development Development of Improved Capability in
upport of National Biosecurity for the
Surveillance and Control of Foot &
Disease in Cattle and PigsMilestone 8


FMD vaccine efficacy testing and FMD
vaccination recommendations
] ___________________________________ 4
5. Conclusions ___________________________________________________ 8

Reporting period
Completed following project completion

Contact Officer(s)
In Australia: Team Leader
Name:

Mr Chris Morrissy
Telephone:

+61 3 5227 5000
Position:

Supervisor Mammalian Virology
Fax:

+61 3 5227 5555
Organisation

Australian Animal Health
Laboratory [AAHL]
Private Bag 24
Geelong, VIC 3220,
Australia
Email:

[email protected]

+ 84 8 8568220
Position:

Director
Fax:

+ 84 8 8569050
Organisation

Regional Animal Health Centre
(RAHO-6)
Ho Chi Minh City
South Vietnam
Email:

[email protected]

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2. Project Abstract
The aims of this project were to develop capacity for FMD surveillance and diagnosis
at both a laboratory and field level within the wider animal health network in Vietnam.
Improved diagnostic capacity will facilitate the early detection and identification of FMD
enabling better disease control. Specifically, successful capacity development at
regional laboratories will enable quality assured laboratory capability for FMDV
diagnosis and serology. This will be applied to the investigation of FMDV serotypes
currently in circulation and the reason underlying on-going FMD vaccine failures in
Vietnam. In addition, the successful establishment of an effective laboratory network
for the diagnosis and control of FMD will provide a greater understanding of FMD

critical component is the close integration, support and communication required
between the newly established FMD Reference laboratories, Regional Laboratories
and related field veterinarians and DAH personnel. This is clearly illustrated by the
implementation strategy at RAHO-6 where successful capability development and
quality assurance in the laboratory was the driving force behind more effective
training and education of field veterinarians in relation to effective FMD management
practices in the field. This was undoubtedly an ambitious project and also subject to
unforeseen circumstances such as AI and PRRSV outbreaks in the field.
Nevertheless, Milestone 8 deliverables have been achieved to varying degrees
throughout Vietnam and with tremendous success in southern Vietnam.

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4. Progress to Date [In relation to Milestone 8 Deliverables]
4.1 Implementation Highlights
[FMD vaccine efficacy testing and FMD vaccination recommendations]
An earlier year-by-year breakdown detailing the FMD serotype[s] in circulation and
the ongoing vaccination history in each province included in the study was given in
the earlier Milestone 6 Report entitled; “Epidemiological and sero-surveillance
programs operational”.
In this Milestone 8 resubmission, each of the specific Milestone Deliverables are
addressed. In addition, each of the specific comments made by the Referees are
discussed in relation to the achievement of project objectives.

• Database of FMD isolates in Vietnam, including incidence and risk
assessment in target villages/districts

Comprehensive FMD diagnostic capacity development at RAHO-6, NCVD, and also
FMD Ag ELISA capability at RAHO-4 & 7, has enabled FMD diagnosis and both
sero-surveillance and the characterisation of FMD field isolates. This used in

o Jiangsu-China 2005 [North and Central of Vietnam]
o Myanmar 98 [Central Vietnam]

Of particular significance, the ability of FMD Reference Laboratories in Vietnam to
genotype FMD field isolates has already resulted in the refinement of vaccine usage
in the field. For example, the results of this study have driven an evidence-based
change in the serotype composition of FMD vaccine from A 22 to A Malaysia 97 with
a concomitant change in the antigen used for serological tests in Vietnam. In
addition, the inclusion of provinces with borders to Cambodia, Laos and China has
further strengthened Vietnam’s biosecurity by detecting disease incursions [e.g.
confirmation of 2 cases of FMD Asia 1 virus] of serotypes of FMD not previously
detected in Vietnam.
As requested by the Referees, presentations detailing the results of FMD outbreak
investigations and serological surveys covering the period 2005-2008 have been
attached to the earlier Milestone 10 Report. However, for convenience, the CARD
FMD presentations given at the SEAFMD Lower Mekong Working Group in 2008 and
further updated at the SEAFMD LabNet Meeting in 2010 are given as Attachments 2
and 3 to further substantiate this and subsequent Milestone 8 deliverables.
For example, the effectiveness of FMD diagnosis and control measures as a result of
this project are clearly evident from the year-by-year geographic breakdown of
outbreaks in Vietnam and are given in Attachment 2. Specifically, the numbers of
FMD outbreaks have progressively declined during the 2005-2008 period and of
particular significance, there have subsequently been only one isolated FMD
outbreak in South Vietnam in the 2009-2010 reporting period.
These results clearly demonstrate the effectiveness of the coordinated laboratory
diagnosis and disease surveillance conducted by RAHO-6 in relation to the FMD risk
assessment, surveillance and subsequent control using the correct vaccine serotype
composition and serotype specific serological tests in southern Vietnam. Specifically,
the availability of sero-surveillance data in conjunction with direct contact and support
of field veterinarians by RAHO-6 has led to increased vaccine coverage, an improved

southern Vietnam. Specifically, this project has highlighted the requirement for much
greater communication and coordination on a national level between both DAH
laboratory and field-based personnel.

• Veterinarian and farmer vaccination recommendations

Accurate vaccination recommendations to both veterinarians and farmers are
essential for the diagnosis, surveillance and control of FMD in the field in Vietnam.
During the course of this project, successful laboratory capacity development has
resulted in the attainment of FMD Reference Laboratory status by both RAHO-6 and
NCVD. This has facilitated FMD diagnosis and both the serotyping and genotyping
of FMD field isolates required to enable an informed decision to be made in relation
to the selection of the most appropriate and effective FMD vaccines in Vietnam and
on a region-by-region basis.
The successful implementation of FMD diagnostics, surveillance and control
strategies has already resulted highly effective evidence-based recommendations
being made by DAH in relation to the serotype composition of FMD vaccine to be
used in the field. For example, the change from A 22 to A Malaysia 97 in Vietnam
and the selection of regions that are recommended to use trivalent vaccines
(serotype O, A & Asia 1) and those that are recommended to use divalent vaccines
(either O & A or O and Asia 1).
Of particular significance in relation to making vaccine recommendations to both
veterinarians and farmers, RAHO-6 provides training and advice to other regional
laboratories and DAH personnel in relation to proper sample collection for
surveillance and virus serotype characterisation in the laboratory. The training
comprised initial workshops conducted at the start of the project, on-going OIE
workshops and highly effective on-the-job “hands-on” training of DAH personnel in
the field during the course of the project. The successful reduction of FMD in
southern Vietnam attests to the potential effectiveness of the approach adopted by
RAHO-6 and the likelihood of success when applied in other areas in Vietnam in the

personnel. This includes the inappropriate use of certain vaccine
serotypes in specific regions and also the stamp-out policy in relation to
incursions of new serotypes of FMD.
o Recommendations in relation to improved vaccination protocols and the
selection of the most appropriate vaccine for use in the field in specific
regions of Vietnam have required the laboratories to maintain constant
contact and feedback with both field veterinarians and farmers. This is
a reiterative process with vaccine recommendations based on the
results ongoing rounds of sero-surveillance and additional laboratory
characterisation of field isolates.

4. Comments in relation to implementation of the project
o The success achieved by RAHO-6 clearly attests to the utility of the
approach adopted. In particular, close integration and communication
of laboratory and field-based DAH personnel at RAHO-6 has led to the
effective diagnosis, surveillance and control of FMD in southern
Vietnam.
o However, we acknowledge that epidemiological and field support at
other locations were lacking and further compounded by recent AI and
PRRSV outbreaks which unfortunately has led to a dilution of effort on
FMD on the part of many regional laboratories and provincial DAH
personnel.
o Nevertheless, the approach adopted has proven its utility and should be
applied in future efforts to control FMD on a national level in Vietnam.

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5. Conclusions
This project has successfully achieved Milestone 8 deliverables via the establishment
of quality assured FMD diagnostic capacity within the network of veterinary

field activities for the realisation of FMD control objectives on a national level. The
lessons learnt from this project are clearly apparent to all the regional laboratories
and the success achieved by RAHO-6 has provided both a lead and strategic
direction to DAH personnel. In addition, the success achieved by RAHO-6 in
southern Vietnam also provides a clear impetus to other regional laboratories in
relation to the requirement for closer integration and greater two-way communication
between laboratory and field personnel.