Buffalopox was first reported in the Indian subcontinent during 1934 (Sharma, 1934). Since then, regular outbreaks have been reported from time to time (Bhanuprakash et al, 2010). The disease affects buffaloes, % cows and human beings (Singh et al, 2007 Bhanuprakash et al, 2010). The infection in buffaloes results in considerable morbidity, mortality, productivity losses and reduction in draught capacity of the affected animals. Infection in milch animals leads to reduced milk yield and mastitits (Venkatesan et al, 2010). As such there is no commercial vaccine for the control of buffalopox in India. Therefore, this vaccine is derived from indigenous strain (Buffalopox virus, Vij96) of buffalopox virus can be used for control of buffalopox in the country where the disease outbreaks occur. The vaccine is expected to significantly bring down the incidence of the disease contributing eventually to the enhanced buffalo productivity and gradual control of the disease. Thus, the vaccine developed, described and claimed in this patent, can effectively be used for control of buffalopox where buffalopox infection is enzootic. The invention relates to the development of live attenuated buffalopox vaccine for control of buffalopox. The vaccine is given intra-dermally at the abaxial surface of the tail @ 0.5 ml per £ animal. It is expected to provide life-long immunity as that of vaccinia virus, which was successfully used for control and eradication of smallpox in humans. Further, the attenuated buffalopox virus can be used as a vector for expression of immunogenic proteins of important pathogens also.
