Due to climate change, Ethiopia's livestock population is vulnerable to an increasing number of diseases.
Using nuclear techniques, the country can protect animal health, and ensure domestic food security and exports.
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Ethiopia's livestock population, including 60 million cattle, is the largest in Africa. The livestock sector accounts for around a fifth of the country’s economy and about 10% of its exports.
However, climate change is leaving livestock more vulnerable to an increasing number of diseases. Due to warmer temperatures and different rain patterns, animals are migrating and spreading diseases into new geographic areas, threatening domestic food security as well as exports.
Using nuclear techniques, Ethiopia can prevent the spread of animal diseases by detecting them early, characterizing potential variants, and developing and producing vaccines.
◼︎ The Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory (VETLAB) Network
In Ethiopia, the Animal Health Institute and the National Veterinary Institute have expanded their capacities through the VETLAB Network, which was created by the IAEA through the Joint FAO/IAEA Centre to support the detection of transboundary animal diseases, such as foot-and-mouth disease, peste des petits ruminants and avian influenza, among others.
Veterinary staff have been trained to diagnosis disease variants using nuclear techniques, including real time RT–PCR. When variants of animal diseases are identified, corresponding animal vaccinations can be produced or developed to help control the spread of outbreaks.
Irradiated vaccines offer a cost-efficient approach to vaccine preparation, and do not contain any chemicals or other compounds that are traditionally used in inactivated vaccines.
A researcher at Ethiopia's National Veterinary Institute uses equipment and materials donated by the IAEA to research the genetic make up of a virus in order to develop the right vaccine.
A researcher at Ethiopia's National Veterinary Institute uses equipment and materials donated by the IAEA to research the genetic make up of a virus in order to develop the right vaccine.
◼︎ What is Real time RT–PCR?
Real time RT–PCR is a nuclear-derived technique that allows scientists to detect specific genetic material of disease-causing pathogens. Chemical reagents with fluorescent dyes are used to mark the genetic material of the pathogen. This method allows scientists to see the results almost immediately while the process is ongoing.
◼︎ What are irradiated vaccines?
Nuclear techniques can also be used to develop irradiated vaccines. These vaccines do not contain the chemicals or other compounds used in inactivated vaccines, and also offer a cost-efficient approach to vaccine preparation.
Some vaccines use live microorganisms, such as viruses, to elicit an immune response in the host body. To ensure that animals are not infected by the virus, the microorganisms have to first be made inactive. This has traditionally been achieved using heat or chemicals, but it can also be done by irradiating the microorganisms. This method makes the virus inactive, but does not harm its structure, ensuring that it still produces an immune response. It is a safer alternative to chemical treatment, and it also has the added benefit of decontaminating the vaccine at the same time.
Ethiopia now produces more than 260 million animal vaccine doses per year.
The Ministry of Agriculture distributes the vaccines to farms, including those in remote areas where the farm animals have a higher chance of interaction with wild animals that potentially carry disease. In cooperation with the IAEA, Ethiopia is also developing a novel gamma-irradiated vaccine against fowl cholera in poultry, and another against lumpy skin disease in cattle.
The IAEA promotes nuclear-based solutions to preserve and restore the environment from climate-related weather events and disasters through the mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions, adaptation to and monitoring of the adverse consequences of climate change.
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The IAEA looks forward to strengthening and establishing partnerships to support Member States towards the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals and the implementation of the Paris Agreement in areas such as energy, sustainable land use, climate smart agriculture, food production systems, analysis of global greenhouse gas emissions, water management, and oceans and coastal protection. The IAEA brings together experts, coordinates research, and fosters cooperation between countries to reduce carbon emissions and mitigate the effects of climate change.
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