Jackie Cahill (Tipperary, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

145. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine what research is being carried out into developing a vaccine for tuberculosis in bovine animals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27422/24]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The main Global body of research on developing a vaccine for tuberculosis in bovine animals is being carried out by Department for Environment Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA) in the UK. The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) continue to engage with our colleagues in DEFRA and are monitoring this very closely. To date the biggest issue with a vaccine for cattle has been the availability of a test that is capable of distinguishing between an animal that is truly infected and one that has been vaccinated.

The candidate vaccine, CattleBCG, a BCG strain, has shown in past studies to reduce TB severity in cattle but needs further field testing. A DIVA (differentiating infected from vaccinated animals) skin test has been developed to distinguish between infected and vaccinated animals, addressing the issue of false positives caused by BCG vaccination. This test, however needs validation and if validated and approved, will be crucial for the effective use of CattleBCG, aligning with international standards set by the WOAH.

Field trials are underway to evaluate the safety and performance of both this vaccine and the Diva Test. Phase 1 assessed this test in unvaccinated cattle, while Phase 2 focused on safety in vaccinated cattle. Phase 3 will expand these tests to more herds.

The latest phase (Phase 2) of the TB vaccine field trials has concluded. Phase 3 will aim to gather more data on the DIVA test's specificity and improve its performance. Phase 3 will also involve testing BCG vaccination and the companion DIVA skin test on a wider range of herds.

However, it should be noted that even if the research is successful there are a significant number of legal and international trade obstacles to be surmounted before a vaccine for tuberculosis in bovine animals can be used as part of our bovine TB eradication programme.