New Transgenic Vaccine Approved to Protect Puppies Against Deadly Viral Diseases – Argentina Takes Groundbreaking Step

The government gave permission to market a genetically modified vaccine to prevent distemper and parvovirus. It is intended for puppies between 4 and 6 weeks old and allows them to provide protection against both diseases. In addition, it will prevent the spread of viruses after infection.

Canine distemper and parvovirus are viral diseases that affect young puppies, and are highly contagious, as well as showing high morbidity, that is, many infected animals, and high mortality.

Distemper “affects many organs including the nervous system and spreads through the eye and nose secretions of infected dogs,” the Secretariat of the Bioeconomy reports.

It is a virus that is very resistant to disinfectants, which can cause intestinal and heart problems. It is eliminated in the fecal matter of sick dogs, which are usually young.

Infected dogs shed viral particles in their faecespolluting the environment, where it can last for more than six months

Some of the symptoms are presented by dogs infected have a lack of appetite and fever. And after a day or two, they get vomiting and bloody diarrhea, which causes dehydration and can cause the death of the animal.

Because it is a highly fatal disease with very low chances of survival even with treatment, prevention through vaccination is the best option against parvovirus.

If you have any questions, it is best to consult the puppy’s primary veterinarian, who will be able to assess risks and recommend the best vaccination strategy based on the needs.

To date, the existing vaccines on the Argentine market to prevent the two diseases are not genetically modified, while they are already being implemented in Europe and regions other of the world. Therefore, this authority promotes technological progress for the development of GMO vaccines.