Head of parasitology at the Agricultural Research Council’s Onderstepoort Veterinary Institute, Sikhumbuzo Mbizeni, says they are hopeful the research, being done in partnership with Onderstepoort Biological Products, will bear fruit in the next two years. 

He says the existing heartwater vaccine is not user-friendly for farmers, particularly emerging farmers.

“The heartwater vaccine that we currently have, has to be given to the animal intravenously. It then has to be monitored for a couple of days and then you do a block treatment.”

He says they have been doing ground-breaking research for several years now and they have had very good results so far.

“The proof of concept has shown us that in the more susceptible animals, which is mohair goats, this is a very good vaccine.

“The vaccination actually worked very well and animals that were monitored showed no reaction. Even the small, young kids didn’t react at all. It was very, very effective.”

He says they are currently busy with optimisation of vaccine production. Thereafter they go into field trials before making the vaccine available on the market.

OFM News