Roadmap for the development of diagnostic tests for FMD

What are we trying to achieve and why? What is the problem we are trying to solve?

To increase the capability to perform virus isolation, which is essential for antigenic characterisation of field isolates and is a critical step in the preparation of conventional vaccine seed stocks. To identify cell cultures for virus amplification.

What are the scientific and technological challenges
(knowledge gaps needing to be addressed)?

• Cost
• Availability
• Sensitivity

What else needs to be done before we can solve this need?

Sample collection/preparation.

Existing knowledge including successes and failures

Isolation of live virus from the oropharyngeal region is time-consuming and unreliable. Primary bovine thyroid cell cultures have been shown to be the most sensitive for field strains of FMD although sourcing these cells can be problematic particularly in the face of an outbreak.

The ZZ cells (tongue goats cells) are now used instead of primary bovine cells and are as sensitive