SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) — One of the vaccines for a specific strain of an avian virus could come from a research lab on the campus of South Dakota State University in Brookings.
A group of researchers led by Sunil Mor, an associate professor at SDSU, is studying the subgroups A and B of the avian metapneumovirus to develop diagnostic testing to identify it and a vaccine. Avian influenza has been in news frequently but avian metapneumovirus, or AMPV, can have similar deadly results and negative economic impact. AMPV is a respiratory virus that is highly contagious and infects poultry and wild birds.
The public may think that avian flu is the only challenge in the poultry industry now, but “AMPV because of its immunity suppression and secondary bacterial impacts, if you talk about economic losses, the impact is huge…,” Mor said.
The losses happen when poultry die or as egg production significantly decreases and never recovers.
AMPV subgroup C has been identified in the U.S. since the late 1990s when it was detected in turkeys. Strains of AMPV have now been detected in multiple states, Mor said.
Mor’s team identified the subgroup B of AMPV in January of 2024, Mor said. “We were the first ones to (identify subgroup B),” Mor said.
SDSU had worked with tissues from other states in 2024 when it identified subgroup B, Mor said. It also detected subgroup A which was identified by non-SDSU researchers.
“So in 2024 we have tested samples from 11 states,” Mor said. “You can imagine how widespread these viruses are, especially the subgroup B.”
The new strains and spread in the U.S. were unexpected.
“U.S. and North America were free from A and B,” Mor said. “But recently we have detected both these subgroups,” Mor said. “It’s important to have a specific diagnostic test, so that’s what we are doing.”
The SDSU lab team recently received a $150,000 from the Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research which was matched by SDSU. The grant will be used to develop a diagnostic test for subgroups A and B, establish a challenge model and develop a vaccine.
The National Turkey Federation advocated for an AMPV vaccine in August of 2024. The NFT said AMPV was more likely the cause of turkey egg and turkey loss than the avian flu.
A vaccine for subgroup B will be tested within the next several months and results should be known in July, Mor said.
There are no vaccines in America, Mor said. There are vaccines in Europe which have conditional approval that are based on what’s happening there.
A vaccine specific to the subgroup B happening in the U.S. “may provide even better protection as compared to the vaccines based on the European strains,” Mor said.
The vaccine needs to withstand the challenge model which helps determine the impact and effectiveness of the vaccine.
“This challenge model will help us evaluate the effect of the vaccines,” Mor said.
Distinguishing AMPV from other respiratory diseases like avian Influenza is challenging, according to dsm-Firmenich animal nutrition and health. It is also difficult to diagnose the subgroups A and B.
“Detection of this virus is very challenging,” Mor said. It’s important to develop a rapid test when there are possible infections of subgroups B and A, he said. Diagnostic testing can also help determine if there are other bacterial or pathogen issues.
If the research is successful, “We can say with confidence that this the outbreak…,” and that the specific, proper vaccine is used, Mor said.
