Turkey's first 'Inactivated Orf Virus Vaccine' developed at MAKÜ

The first inactivated Orf virus vaccine of Turkey, developed at Burdur Mehmet Akif Ersoy University (MAKÜ) and registered by the Turkish Patent and Trademark Office, was introduced to the public at a promotional meeting. The vaccine, developed against the Ecthyma disease that causes serious economic losses in small ruminant farming, is expected to make significant contributions to animal health and the sector's economy.

Under the leadership of Prof. Dr. Mehmet Kale, a faculty member of the MAKÜ Veterinary Faculty, the inactivated Orf virus (ORFV) vaccine was developed by Prof. Dr. Yakup Yıldırım, Prof. Dr. Saime İsmet Gürhan, Dr. Sevinç Kant, and Research Assistant Dr. Yakup Sinan Orta, and was patented on behalf of the university. The promotional meeting was held at the Rectorate Office, attended by MAKÜ Rector Prof. Dr. Hüseyin Dalgar and the university administration.

Local solution to an important problem in small ruminant farming

The ORFV disease, known as “Ecthyma” among the public, seen in sheep and goats, causes serious health problems, especially in lambs and kids, due to lesions formed in the mouth, gums, udder, and skin areas. The high mortality rates resulting from newborns being unable to suckle their mothers due to sores in their mouths, lips, and gums lead to significant productivity losses in herds.

Due to its zoonotic characteristics, the disease can also be transmitted to humans and is among the most significant health problems in the small ruminant farming sector in Turkey and worldwide.

Product of 10 years of fieldwork

Field surveys lasting approximately 10 years were conducted in the Western Mediterranean Region for the vaccine developed by MAKÜ researchers. In addition, over three years of laboratory work was carried out to identify the prevalent field strains in the region, and the vaccine was developed based on these strains.

It was stated that the vaccine, which achieved successful results in trials on test animals and target animals, has a reliable, effective, and low-cost technology.

Protected by patent

An application was made to the Turkish Patent and Trademark Office in 2023 for the production method of the developed vaccine on behalf of Burdur Mehmet Akif Ersoy University. After evaluations, the invention was granted a national patent certificate and was protected for 20 years.

A first in Turkey and the World

While the majority of commercial vaccines used against Orf disease worldwide consist of live lyophilized vaccines, there are very few inactivated vaccine studies. Although studies on recombinant and genetically modified vaccines have been conducted in recent years, this product developed at MAKÜ is one of the first inactivated Orf virus vaccines in Turkey and the World in terms of its preparation technique.

Rector Dalgar: “We are transforming knowledge into added value”

Speaking at the promotional meeting, MAKÜ Rector Prof. Dr. Hüseyin Dalgar stated that the university conducts studies that provide solutions to the needs of the sector in line with its mission in the field of animal husbandry, saying, “The inactivated vaccine we developed and patented against the Orf virus, known among the public as the ecthyma disease, is an important product of our understanding of transforming our scientific knowledge into social benefit. We believe that this vaccine, developed against this disease that causes serious losses in newborn lambs and kids, will protect the efforts of our breeders. Burdur Mehmet Akif Ersoy University will continue to produce concrete solutions in areas where our country needs, with its knowledge and technical infrastructure. I congratulate all our academics who contributed to this important work and wish that the developed vaccine will be beneficial for our sector and our country's livestock.”

Prof. Dr. Mehmet Kale: “Our goal is to reduce losses in small ruminants”

The developer of the vaccine, Prof. Dr. Mehmet Kale, a faculty member of the MAKÜ Veterinary Faculty, stated that the vaccine, which is the product of approximately 10 years of fieldwork and over three years of laboratory research, will meet an important need in the small ruminant farming sector.

Pointing out that the Orf disease is one of the significant problems that breeders have been struggling with for many years, Kale said, “With the inactivated vaccine we developed, we aim to create safe immunity in animals and reduce the economic losses caused by the disease. This work, protected by patent, is an important result of our university's mission to produce scientific knowledge and transform this knowledge into social benefit.”

Kale noted that efforts are ongoing to bring the vaccine into production, stating, “This vaccine has the feature of being Turkey's first inactivated Orf virus vaccine. Our goal is to provide safe and effective protection to our breeders by reducing the losses caused by the disease in small ruminants. We will continue our efforts towards the production and widespread use of the vaccine in the field with determination in the future.”

Prof. Dr. Yakup Yıldırım: “An important step for the protection of small ruminant health”

Prof. Dr. Yakup Yıldırım, one of the vaccine developers, stated that the developed patent encompasses a unique and innovative method for the production of the protective inactivated ORF virus vaccine against ecthyma disease.

Yıldırım noted that the technology aims to support the control of the disease, enhance animal welfare, and reduce the economic losses of breeders. He expressed that the patent registration officially confirmed the uniqueness and technological value of the method, emphasizing that this success contributes to Turkey's research capacity in the field of veterinary biotechnology.

Yıldırım added that using the locally isolated virus strain from the region in vaccine development studies is an important gain in terms of developing local biotechnological solutions.