Lumpy Skin Disease from an Australian industry perspective and research update

AgTrade Group Veterinarian Dr Bronte Sutton will present "An industry perspective on the potential impacts of Lumpy Skin Disease (LSD) in an Australian context" and UQ Research Fellow Prof Tim Mahony will provide an update about the current research activities linked to the LSD virus. 

PROFILE - Dr Bronte Sutton 
Dr Bronte Sutton is Group veterinarian with AgTrade holdings, a large-scale domestic and international livestock, genetics and food security group that includes AUSTREX, the largest Australian live cattle exporter from both Northern and Southern Australia. During eight years with the company, she has worked and lived across South East Asia and Australia. She is now based in rural NSW running a private livestock veterinary business whilst also providing technical animal health and welfare support across the AgTrade portfolio’s diverse supply chains.  

PROFILE - Prof Tim Mahony 
Professor Tim Mahony is a molecular virologist based at UQ’s Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation (QAAFI). Prof Mahony's research interests include the characterisation of cattle pathogens and how they interact with their host. By improving our understanding of disease development, his research aims to improve disease prevention and management in livestock industries. Prof Mahony’s research has been published in international journals and has been subjected to patenting. From UQ Prof Mahony currently leads research projects on bovine respiratory disease and innovative vaccine technologies.

ABSTRACT 
The Lumpy Skin Disease (LSD) virus has emerged as a significant and imminent threat to Australia’s cattle industries, potentially shutting down beef exports. LSD virus vaccines currently used overseas are unsuitable for use in Australia as they are attenuated live viruses that risk reversion to virulence and are reported to have safety concerns. A likely incursion point of LSD virus into Australia is through the extensive cattle production systems of Northern Australia. The current management practices in these systems make the application of conventional multidose vaccines problematic. What is needed to address the threat posed by the LSD virus is an efficacious single-dose vaccine. 

Join the seminar online via Zoom between 12:00 and 1:00 PM on Tuesday 27 September 2022 https://uqz.zoom.us/j/85339423878