Abstract

Current and Future Perspectives of Vaccine Development for ORFV Infection: Opportunities and Challenges

Authors: Ghazala Shaheen, Muhammad Khalid Mansoor, Nahl Jameel, Talha Ahmad, Nouman Tariq, Muhammad Shahzaib Ashfaq, Samavia Abid, Badar Rasool, Ruqayyah Moiz, Anam Tariq, Ghulam Hussain, Mubasher Hussain and Ali Hamza

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.71081/cvj/2025.052

Abstract
Contagious ecthyma (CE), caused by the Orf virus (ORFV), is a globally prevalent zoonotic disease that primarily affects sheep and goats, leading to significant economic losses in livestock production. Despite decades of research, vaccine development against ORFV remains challenging. Currently, live attenuated vaccines are the only commercially available option, yet they pose safety risks due to potential reversion to virulence and provide only short-term protection. The virus’s genetic diversity and its ability to evade host immunity further complicate vaccine efficacy. Recent advances in molecular virology and immunology have, however, opened new avenues for vaccine design. Novel approaches, including recombinant and genetically modified vaccines, DNA and subunit vaccines, and vector-based strategies, show promise in eliciting robust and durable immune responses. Additionally, ORFV is being explored as a vaccine vector and immunotherapeutic platform due to its strong immunomodulatory properties. This review highlights the limitations of current vaccination strategies and discusses emerging perspectives that may pave the way toward safer, more effective, and sustainable vaccines for controlling ORFV infection in livestock populations worldwide.

Keywords: Orf virus (ORFV); Zoonotic disease; Livestock, dermatitis; Modified vaccines