Dhaka: Researchers at Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU) have achieved encouraging results in the development of a low-cost vaccine against duck plague using a locally isolated duck plague virus, with expectations of providing more than 90 percent protection against the deadly disease.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the findings were presented on Monday at the concluding workshop of the research project held at the Microbiology Gallery of the university. The project was funded by the Livestock and Dairy Development Project (LDDP). Presenting the project's progress and achievements, Principal Investigator Professor Dr. Md. Bahanur Rahman highlighted that duck plague is a highly fatal viral disease, with mortality rates ranging from 40 to 100 percent.
The primary objective of the research was to develop an attenuated vaccine. However, following a request from the Department of Livestock Services (DLS), the research team also worked on inactivated and DNA vaccines. Prof. Rahman noted that while the inactivated vaccine did not produce the desired results, both the DNA and oral vaccines demonstrated promising outcomes. The vaccine is now awaiting field trials, and if all regulatory procedures are completed successfully, it is expected to reach duck farmers within the next one to one-and-a-half years.
He expressed optimism that the vaccine would provide more than 90 percent protection against duck plague and, through the DLS, would make a significant contribution to Bangladesh's duck farming sector. The workshop was attended by Coordinator of the University Committee for Advanced Studies and Research (CASR) Prof Dr. Md. Samsul Alam as the chief guest.
Special guests included Director of the Bangladesh Agricultural University Research System (BAURES) Prof Dr. M. Hammadur Rahman, Director of the Mymensingh Divisional Livestock Office Dr. Shamsad Jahan Shiraji, and LDDP Chief Technical Coordinator Dr. Md. Jahangir Hossain. Prof Dr. Mohammad Ferdousur Rahman Khan, Prof of the Department of Microbiology and Hygiene and Co-Investigator of the project, delivered the welcome address.
In his remarks, Prof Dr. Samsul Alam emphasized that duck plague is extremely difficult to treat once birds become infected, making vaccination the most effective preventive measure. He said that BAU's Department of Microbiology and Hygiene has a long-standing tradition of vaccine research, and the current study using a local duck plague virus has established an important foundation for developing an affordable and effective vaccine. He also expressed hope that the vaccine's effectiveness could be further improved in the future by addressing the evolving characteristics of the virus.