Challenges and Opportunities for Controlling and Preventing Animal Diseases in Developing Countries through Gene-based Technologies

Abstract

Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) technology allows scientist to amplify,copy, identify, characterize and manipulate genes in a relatively simpleway. Exploitation of the technology to devise new products and translatethese to the commercial sector has been remarkable. Moleculartechnologies are not difficult to establish and use, and can appear tooffer developing countries many opportunities. However, developingcountries should look in a different way at the apparent advantagesoffered. Whilst molecular biological science appears to offer solutionsto many problems, there are a number of drawbacks. This desire to adoptthe latest technology often overrides any considerations of the use ofmore conventional technologies to address needs. The conventional, andoften more practical, methods already provide many specific tools in thedisease control area. Changing the technology can also deflect criticalresources into the molecular field in terms of laboratory funding andtraining. This may cause redundancy of staff, limit further developmentin conventional techniques, and polarize scientists into the older (lessglossy) and newer (molecular) camps.Animal disease diagnosis still primarily utilizes conventionaltechniques such as Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA). This willnot change drastically in developing countries, but developments willcombine such methods with more discriminatory molecular techniques, anda balanced and parallel development is needed. An understanding of theuse and possible advantages of the various technologies is required byboth scientists and policy-makers in developing nations.Vaccines based on molecular science could have a real impact indeveloping countries, but ``vaccinology{''} needs to examine both theanimal (immunology of target species) and the disease agent itself Thisis a research-based science and, as such, is expensive, with no suretyof success. Developing countries should exploit links with developedcountries to provide the ``field{''} genetic resource (endemic diseasesituation) in order to devise and test vaccines developed throughmolecular studies.Development of technologies cannot be divorced from an understanding ofthe epidemiology of the diseases found in developing countries. This isfrequently not undertaken due to the many competing demands on thescarce resources available. However, increased livestock tradepossibilities may provide the focus and catalyst needed to ensure thatanimal health science is applied appropriately and usefully for thebenefit of developing countries.