Indigenous African Swine Fever Vaccine Developed by ICAR

INDIA – The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) has developed the country’s first indigenous MA-104 cell line-based live attenuated vaccine against African Swine Fever (ASF), marking a significant milestone in efforts to control a disease that has devastated India’s pig sector since its first outbreak in 2020.

Developed by scientists at the ICAR-National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases (ICAR-NIHSAD) in Bhopal, the vaccine uses a novel attenuated African Swine Fever Virus (ASFV) Genotype II with specific gene deletions grown in the widely available MA-104 cell line. 

According to ICAR, the platform is suitable for large-scale vaccine production and could lower manufacturing costs by eliminating reliance on proprietary cell lines.

African Swine Fever is one of the most destructive viral diseases affecting domestic and wild pigs. 

Characterised by high fever, haemorrhage and mortality rates approaching 100%, the disease has no approved treatment, leaving rapid detection, culling and strict biosecurity as the primary control measures.

India’s first ASF outbreak was reported in 2020, with the disease subsequently spreading across several states and union territories. 

The outbreaks have caused severe disruptions to the country’s pig industry, particularly in the North-Eastern region, where pig farming is an important source of income and food security.

According to the Government of India, outbreaks in Assam during 2020 and 2021 resulted in losses estimated at approximately ₹276 crore (US$29.3 million) due to pig deaths and culling. 

In neighbouring Mizoram, the disease had affected more than 11,382 households by 2025, with estimated financial losses reaching around ₹982 crore (US$104 million).

The vaccine has successfully completed laboratory evaluations covering sterility, purity, safety, genetic stability, immunogenicity, protective efficacy and virulence reversion studies.

It was also field validated in collaboration with the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying under the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying.

ICAR recommends the vaccine for healthy pigs older than eight weeks, administered as a 1 mL intramuscular injection followed by a booster dose after 14 days.

Dr. M.L. Jat, Secretary of the Department of Agricultural Research and Education (DARE) and Director General of ICAR, said the breakthrough demonstrates India’s growing capacity to develop indigenous animal health technologies while strengthening preparedness against emerging livestock diseases.

India joins a small group of countries developing ASF vaccines

The development places India among a limited number of countries that have successfully produced live attenuated ASF vaccines.

Vietnam became the first country to commercialise an African Swine Fever vaccine in 2022, followed by the release of additional licensed products for domestic use. Those vaccines rely on proprietary cell lines for manufacturing.

ICAR noted that using the non-proprietary MA-104 cell line offers greater flexibility for large-scale production while potentially reducing manufacturing costs and improving accessibility for disease control programmes.

Globally, African Swine Fever continues to threaten pig industries across Asia, Europe and parts of Africa, causing billions of dollars in economic losses through livestock mortality, movement restrictions and trade disruptions.

The disease remains one of the highest-priority animal health threats identified by the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH), underscoring the importance of effective vaccination alongside surveillance and biosecurity measures.

ICAR expects the indigenous vaccine to reduce pig mortality, minimise economic losses during outbreaks and strengthen the long-term resilience of India’s swine industry, particularly among smallholder producers who have borne the greatest impact of ASF since the disease entered the country.

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