Disease Resistant Livestock

Summary

The goal of our Newcastle disease resistant chicken research is to help poor third world families increase their standard of living. A new technology called cellular adaptive resistence is being developed with funding from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to produce disease resitant livestock.

Situation

Disease and death of livestock is a significant problem particularly in underdeveloped countries were veterinary care is minimal and livestock plays such a large role as a key source of food source, savings, income, credit, insurance, loans, gifts and investments. In the last 30 years, access to animal health services, vaccines and medicines has decreased significantly in Africa. As a result, at least 25% of the livestock in many African countries die every year compared to <5% in developed countries. The loss of even a few animals on a small family farm, a farming scenario common in many developing countries, can have long lasting repercussions on family stability, health and the ability to provide for children. Major diseases of poultry in Africa that have been predominantly identified in commercial poultry are Newcastle disease (ND), infectious bursal disease (IBD) or Gumboro, Marek disease (MD), fowl typhoid, cholera, mycoplasmosis and coccidiosis (Adene, 1996). Chabeuf (1990) argued that the most devastating disease of village chickens in Cameroon is ND. Source: Village chicken production systems in rural Africa Household food security and gender issues FAO, 1998

Response

We provide a novel strategy to create disease resistant animals utilizing animal stem cells and cellular adaptive resistance (CAR) technology. This will produce animals with natural resistance to specific diseases resulting in animals that need less veterinary care and will significantly reduce livestock mortalities.

Impact

We have secured a $1.5 Million grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to develop naturally resistance chickens. Cellular adaptive resistance or CAR was a term coined by the Georgia research team, but the phenomena has been observed previously in canine, swine, rabbit and chicken cells lines. The likely mechanism is that a small number of cells undergo an adaptive change preventing the virus from entering the cells. We are submitting manuscripts for publication.

State Issue

Agricultural Profitability and Sustainability

Details

• Year: 2013
• Geographic Scope: International
• County: Clarke
• Program Areas:
  • Agriculture & Natural Resources