Ancovax likely to be first given to zoo animals: ICAR

PUNE: The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), the developer of Ancovax — India’s first Covid vaccine for animals, would be recommending its use in zoo animals first owing to higher Covid mortalities among lions in Indian zoological parks.
Dr Trilochan Mohapatra, the director-general of Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), said, “The vaccine technology is ready, but necessary approvals would be required to make the vaccine reach the end-users. But the first set of animals the vaccine can be administered to could be those in zoos and national parks in India because Covid mortality in lions has been high.”
The vaccine developed by ICAR-NRC on equines and officially launched on June 9 was tested on army, pet and stray canines in various cities in India as well as in wild and laboratory animals. It was found to be safe and did not have any side-effects. The institute is roping in a private firm to produce bulk doses of Ancovax in India,” Mohapatra told TOI.
Ancovax contains inactivated SARS-CoV-2 (Delta) antigen and is effective against both, Delta and Omicron variants.
Dr Bhupendra Nath Tripathi, deputy director-general (animal science), ICAR, told TOI, “Sixteen lions and one leopard in some zoos in India were earlier infected with SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant, and most of them succumbed to the infection. Since more severe incidence of Covid has been reported in zoo animals, the initial doses could be given to animals like leopards, tigers and lions in such establishments when Covid cases begin surging there.”
ICAR recently tested over 1,500 canine serum samples from pets and stray dogs in India, and 30-42% of them had Covid antibodies, indicating virus spread from humans to animals. ICAR sources said this suggested that these dogs most likely got SARS-Cov-2 infection from humans.
“The test was done using recombinant nucleocapsid protein based iELISA kit for detection of anti SARS-COV-2 antibodies in canines. Sampling places included Bangalore, Delhi, Gurgaon and Hisar and 30% feline samples (15/50) showed Covid antibodies,” Dr Tripathi said.
He said more diagnostic tests to detect Covid in animals were being developed by ICAR. “ICAR’s research is under way to develop newer anti-Covid vaccines for animals based on different vaccine platforms such as viral vector and mRNA. More precise studies on animal-to-animal Covid transmission and possible animal-to-human transmission are being undertaken by ICAR. It will be interesting to know if the virus mutates in the animal population,” he added.