Isolation and Characterization of Circulating Bovine viral diarrhea virus of Ethiopia for candidate vaccine strain selection and development as an appropriate control option toward a more sustainable dairy sector in Ethiopia

Summary Bovine viral diarrhea is a disease caused by the Bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) in the genera Pestivirus, Family Flaviviridae. The disease has a significant economic impact on cattle-producing industries (Dairy and Beef) and highly prevalent disease worldwide, and becomes an emerging disease in Africa, particularly in Ethiopia. In Ethiopia, the dairy industry is growing; however, diseases such as BVDV are becoming a bottleneck to improving the dairy sector. The aim of this project is to enhance animal health to intensify the production and productivity of dairy sectors through appropriate disease prevention and control programs for BVD. For this purpose, isolation and genomic diversity of the virus will be studied, candidate vaccine strains will be identified, and a next-generation vaccine and appropriate rapid diagnostic kit for the detection of BVDV will be designed. Moreover, capacity building in terms of knowledge and skill will be made to the biotechnology laboratory in Ethiopia.