St Kilda’s wild sheep may hold secret to pest vaccine
● Experts research single cell parasite to aid treatment of livestock diseases
Wild sheep on uninhibited Scottish islands could hold the key to creating a vaccine that would help protect livestock around the world from an infectious parasite.
Experts are researching a single cell parasite from St Kilda, the chain of uninhabited islands 40 miles north-west of the Outer Hebrides, that could increase the effectiveness of vaccines for treating livestock diseases.
The harmless Trypanosoma melophagium parasite spreads efficiently throughout the body of an animal.
Scientists believe that using it to deliver vaccine proteins will offer better host immunity, limiting the need for booster jabs.
A team from the University of Edinburgh, led by Professor Keith Matthews, is working with Roslin Technologies to develop the parasite to host proteins for a wide range of ailments.
They are focusing on creating a vaccine to tackle peste des petits ruminants virus (PPRV), a highly infectious disease that threatens 80 per cent of the world’s sheep and goats, and is a significant problem in Asia and Africa.
St Kilda’s last residents left in 1930 and it is now home to wild Soay sheep, among other wildlife.
Trypanosoma melophagium is spread by sheep ked – a wingless insect – and is usually absent in farmed sheep that are routinely dipped to eliminate such infestations. It is understood there are about two billion small livestock farmed globally, all of which are vulnerable to challenges from a wide range of infectious diseases.
The global animal vaccine market was worth more than £6 billion in 2018, which includes the world’s one billion sheep and 900 million goats.
Prof Matthews said: “Our major advance is that we will be able to immunise sheep against a wide range of pathogens using a harmless organism that they naturally harbour.”
Karen Fairlie-clarke, innovation and engagement manager for Roslin Technologies, said researchers hoped to establish proof of a concept for the parasite as a delivery system by early next year.
From there she said she believed it could be three to five years to reach the commercial market.
Scientists have studied wild sheep living in the archipelago of St Kilda for more than 30 years.
Past research has also offered insights into how wild animals age and how they are responding to climate change.
With the busy sheep sale season about to kick off in earnest, farmers have been reminded once again of the importance of following Covid-19 guidelines when attending these events, which remain an irreplaceable part of the business cycle for many producers.
And while a derogation to allow the sales to go ahead has been granted by the Scottish Government, the sector was reminded that it would only take the “disappointing actions” of a few to put the whole live auction trade in jeopardy.
Yesterday the National Sheep Association Scottish Region implored buyers, sellers and hauliers using livestock markets to be aware of the importance of sticking to the rules which had been put in place to allow trade to continue while ensuring the safety of those attending during the pandemic.
“The Institute of Auctioneers and Appraisers in Scotland (IAAS) have done amazing work to ensure markets remain open and have provided risk assessments and protocols to keep everyone safe,” said the organisation’s chair Jen Craig.
“There are still many sales to come in the next couple of months and it would be incredibly disappointing if the actions of a few were to cause serious repercussions for others and the markets themselves.
“Our thanks must go to Neil Wilson and everyone else at IAAS for all the hard work they have done and will continue to do during this time to allow us all to continue as normally as possible. I would implore everyone to adhere to the rules – the industry cannot afford at this critical stage to get this wrong.”
The association also took the opportunity to criticise once again proposals to reintroduce the apex predator, the Eurasian lynx, into Scotland’s countryside.
Craig said the Lynx UK Trust had been denied licences to release lynx in the Borders in the past and made it plain that NSA Scottish Region would again be highlighting to those who had proposed the move the devastating effects that farmers and others believed this would have on the sheep industry, both now and in the future.
“NSA Scottish Region will continue to represent the views of sheep farmers and crofters in Scotland who would be greatly impacted by any reintroduction of species into the country,” she said.
“The last consultation to date carried out by Lynx UK Trust was flawed and subsequently denied.
“It is also worth remembering that the Cabinet Secretary Fergus Ewing has also made his disapproval of any reintroduction in the past quite clear and we will continue to ensure that view is maintained in Scotland.
“Yet another predator to our flocks is certainly not required in these very tumultuous times.”