Moredun and the Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust (GWCT) are working together to get a new generation vaccine for louping ill, an often fatal tick-borne virus, to which sheep and red grouse are particularly susceptible.

Moredun developed an effective vaccine in the 1930s. However, this vaccine was recently withdrawn from manufacture.

Increasing

Ticks have been ever increasing and moving into areas where they have not historically been a problem. Subsequently, tick-borne diseases have spread with the ticks and in the absence of a louping ill vaccine, serious losses have been reported in both sheep and red grouse.

Reports

Dr Beth Wells, Moredun, confirmed: “We have had many reports from our hill farming members that they have been losing sheep, mainly ewe hoggs to louping ill, some losing up to 25% of their replacement females which is a serious loss. We already have successful partnerships with GWCT and are delighted they have joined us in a new project to work towards a novel vaccine for louping ill control.”