African swine fever (ASF) virus has been proven to remain stable and infective in a wide array of feed ingredients. Kemin Industries, a global ingredient manufacturer, announced on Tuesday that it has acquired a U.S. patent application for a method to control the ASF virus in feed and feed ingredients.
Sal CURB Liquid Antimicrobial, a global pathogen control product manufactured by Kemin, has shown to effectively inactivate ASF virus in livestock feed, according to new data generated by Kansas State University (KSU) and Megan Niederwerder.
The data in support of the patent application, “Mitigating the Risk of African Swine Fever Virus in Feed with Antiviral Chemical Additives,” was recently published in Transboundary and Emerging Diseases, Kemin said in a company release.
Niederwerder and her team conducted the research utilizing the ASF virus at the Biosecurity Research Institute at KSU, a biosafety level-3 facility and one of only two locations in the U.S. that can handle and conduct scientific studies with the virus.
This antimicrobial solution is known to maintain the Salmonella-negative status of complete feeds and feed ingredients for up to 21 days, in addition to controlling mold, the company said. By using a blended solution of formaldehyde and propionic acid, known to eliminate mold and pathogens, Kemin said Sal CURB can play an important role in reducing biosecurity risks.
“Sal CURB is a proven solution, backed by 25 years of research, innovation and safety – we are thrilled to explore this new application and further invest in solutions that may prevent the transmission of African Swine Fever virus,” said Chris Nelson, president and CEO of Kemin Industries.
Researchers including Scott Dee, Director of Research at Pipestone Veterinary Clinic, Niederwerder and additional colleagues at KSU, demonstrated that an array of viral pathogens could survive in feed ingredients under simulated transboundary shipping models.
Among the pathogens studied, ASF virus was shown to remain stable and infective in a wide array of feed ingredients. Niederwerder’s continuing research on this devastating virus went on to show that although feed is not the only transmission route for ASF virus, the high number of animal exposures to this disease transmission vector increases the possibility of infection dramatically.
“Our new research reports novel data evaluating the efficacy of feed additives on inactivating ASFv in an in vitro cell culture model and a feed ingredient transoceanic shipment model,” Niederwerder said in the release. “This will provide valuable information to the swine industry with regards to mitigating the risk of potential routes for introduction and transmission of ASF virus through feed and ingredients.”
According to Kemin, this new development is the result of a years-long relationship between Kemin and the KSU Research Foundation. Kemin said it anticipates further data will be generated in support of this patent application.
