EuFMD: Recent Episodes
EuFMD
All about Foot-and-Mouth Disease! The European Commission for the Control of Foot-and-Mouth Disease (EuFMD), based in FAO HQ, Rome, Italy.
Can the Danish vet authorities achieve their key performance indicator targets in the event of a FMD outbreak?
Karima Ouali, risk manager for foot-and-mouth and similar transboundary animal diseases at the European Commission for the Control of FMD, focuses on risk-mapping activities implemented in the European neighborhood, against the framework of the EuFMD work programme.
عب مراقبة صحة الحيوانات في الأردن دورًا حيويًا في نظام الإنذار المبكر. من خلال الكشف المبكر عن الأمراض الحيوانية يمكن للسلطات اتخاذ التدابير اللازمة لمنع انتشارها وحماية صحة الإنسان والحيوان. يعتبر نظام رصد المتلازمات، الذي يراقب أعراض الأمراض المتوطنة أو الناشئة، ذا قيمة خاصة. إن تبني الأردن لهذا النظام، المدعوم بنظام الرصد الإلكتروني المتكامل للأمراض، يمكّن من الاستجابة السريعة للأمراض العابرة للحدود. انضموا إلى الدكتورة سائدة صلاح، مديرة النظام الإلكتروني المتكامل لرصد الأمراض في الأردن، وهي توضح تبني نظام رصد المتلازمات في الأردن
Animal health surveillance in Jordan plays a crucial role in the early warning system. By detecting animal diseases promptly, authorities can take necessary measures to prevent their spread and safeguard both human and animal health. The syndromic surveillance system, which monitors symptoms of endemic or emerging diseases, is particularly valuable. Jordan’s adoption of this system, supported by an Electronic Integrated Disease Surveillance System (EIDSS), enables rapid responses to cross-border diseases. Join Dr. Saeda Salah, manager of the Electronic Integrated Disease Surveillance System in Jordan as she discusses Syndromic Surveillance adoption in Jordan
Controlling FAST diseases increases the resilience of livelihoods, improves trade conditions, and enhances food security. Join Valentina Busin, EuFMD Capacity Development and Learning Specialist, as she shares insights into the EuFMD's "Move FAST, Get prepared" strategy. In this episode, Valentina discusses the organization's efforts to control Foot-and-Mouth and similar transboundary (FAST) diseases through targeted capacity development and investment prioritization. Discover tools that support safer animal trade, collaboration with international organizations, and the assessment of socioeconomic impacts of FAST diseases.
Welcome to a new podcast episode! Marco De Nardi, Associate Professor of Animal Infectious Diseases and Epidemiology at the University of Bologna, discusses the key role of Syndromic Surveillance Systems in our current Anthropocene epoch, where global challenges like climate change, intensified livestock practices, and emerging diseases pose significant risks. Listen to this episode, to learn more about the importance and power of data and to find out more about how Syndromic Surveillance Systems function as part of the broader surveillance framework.
In this episode, Marcello Nardi, Programme Learning Lead at the EuFMD, speaks about the cascading concept. He explains how veterinarians, after participating in EuFMD training courses, can spread their newfound knowledge to colleagues, creating a powerful multiplier effect. Discover how EuFMD supports this process through various tools and resources, including presentations, videos, and microlearning. Marcello shares insights on the impact of cascading and the importance in the overall capacity development of veterinarians.
Dans cet épisode, Alex Drouin, expert en gestion des risques des maladies FAST et en soutien à la modélisation à l'EuFMD, présente ses recherches sur la modélisation de la fièvre de la vallée du Rift dans l’ouest du bassin méditerranéen et les défis liés à la nécessité d’obtenir de données entomologiques. L'étude se penche sur l'émergence du virus de la fièvre de la vallée du Rift dans la région méditerranéenne, mettant l'accent sur le risque de circulation du virus, en particulier dans l'ouest de cette région. Les travaux présentés ici permettent d’évaluer la compétence vectorielle des principales espèces de moustiques vectrices du virus et utilisent la modélisation pour évaluer les variations spatio-temporelles du risque de transmission du virus dans la région.
In this episode, Alex Drouin, an Expert in FAST Risk Management and Modelling Support at the EuFMD, introduces his research on "Rift Valley fever modeling in the Western Mediterranean basin" and the challenges of working with entomological data. The study focuses on the emergence of the Rift Valley fever virus in the Mediterranean region, emphasizing the risk of viral circulation, particularly in the Western Mediterranean basin. The research assesses the vector competence of key mosquito species and employs modeling to assess the spatio-temporal variations in the risk of virus transmission in the region.
xplore the intricate world of Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) and its economic implications in our latest podcast episode featuring Polly Compston, EuFMD veterinarian and socio-economist. Polly unravels the economic impacts of FMD, shedding light on how this contagious disease affects livestock economies worldwide, with a focus on the stark differences between FMD-free countries and those facing endemic outbreaks. Discover the advantages of FMD-free nations, including international livestock trade, and the significant costs incurred during outbreaks.
Get prepared for new tools and resources to enhance emergency preparedness. Zorana Mehmedbasic, EuFMD's Emergency Preparedness Expert, introduces 'Get Prepared: The Wall,' a cutting-edge tool crafted to bolster crisis readiness by facilitating collaboration among contingency planners. The Wall is a centralized hub for a wealth of resources, decision-making tools, templates, and expert insights, organized into four layers covering key phases of emergency preparedness. It caters to a broad audience, from contingency planners to veterinarians and farmers, promoting knowledge exchange and best practices.
Explore the role of Foot-and-Mouth Disease vaccines with David Mackay, Vaccine Prequalification Specialist at the EuFMD. In this episode, David introduces the concept of vaccine security and its role in the FMD control. Discover the challenges and strategies behind ensuring a stable vaccine supply and effective disease prevention. Tune in for a deep dive into the world of FMD vaccines and their crucial impact on livestock health. Video available here: https://youtu.be/ujEbKszhxFs
FMD is a highly contagious virus with significant economic repercussions, affecting a wide range of animals, including cattle, buffaloes, sheep, goats, pigs, and wildlife species. Swift and accurate diagnosis is paramount for effective outbreak management, and that is where our podcast comes in. We explore the challenges of diagnosing FMD, especially when it shares clinical signs with other diseases like Seneca Valley Virus Disease. At EuFMD, we're committed to supporting field veterinarians in recognizing FMD symptoms and distinguishing them from similar diseases.
Welcome to "Introduction to Animal Health Surveillance," the new podcast episode with Valentina Busin, EuFMD Capacity Development and Learning Specialist. In this podcast, Valentina shares her expertise in supporting countries and veterinary services in their preparedness and control of FAST diseases. At the EuFMD, we prioritize the development of training tools, collaborating closely with leading experts in the field to create a range of courses, some of which are open-access and available on our virtual learning webpage. Valentina's expertise includes passive surveillance, a fundamental pillar of animal health surveillance that emphasizes early disease recognition and prompt reporting, particularly crucial for fast diseases. Our open-access course aims to enhance the general understanding of surveillance systems in the context of animal health. It provides valuable insights into how each of us can effectively contribute to reducing the impact of transboundary diseases. With a duration of approximately one hour, this course serves as an engaging and useful tool for various audiences, including veterinarians, paraveterinarians, and farmers, ultimately increasing the likelihood of reporting suspicions of FAST diseases. Join us on this journey as we explore valuable and interactive ways to increase capacity in the sector of animal health surveillance, ensuring successful prevention and control of FAST diseases.
TOM est le système EuFMD de gestion de la formation qui permettra aux pays de gérer le développement individuel de leurs vétérinaires et de leur capacité vétérinaire. L'EuFMD teste TOM avec les services vétérinaires suisses. Ludovica Nela, responsable de l'information de l'EuFMD, a interviewé Edoardo Giani, responsable de la formation à la BLV, afin de discuter les objectifs, les attentes et les avantages pour la communauté vétérinaire suisse suite au nouveau système de gestion de la formation. Ecoutez pour savoir comment cela s'est passé!
TOM ist das Trainingsmanagementsystem der EuFMD, das Ländern ermöglicht, die individuelle Entwicklung ihrer Tierärzte und tierärztlichen Kapazitäten zu verwalten. Das Lern-Team führt derzeit einen Pilotversuch mit den Veterinärdiensten der Schweiz durch. Ludovica Nela, Information Manager der EuFMD, führte ein Interview mit Edoardo Giani, dem Leiter der Ausbildung bei der BLV, um Ziele, Erwartungen und Vorteile für die Schweizer Tierärztliche Gemeinschaft im Zusammenhang mit dem Pilotversuch des neuen Trainingsmanagements zu besprechen. Schalten Sie ein, um zu erfahren, wie es gelaufen ist!
The EuFMD Learning team has developed TOM, a capacity development support tool that allows countries to monitor the delivery of competency-based education for veterinarians and similar roles. Learn more about TOM with Marcello Nardi, EuFMD Learning Lead, that introduces the new features and functionalities that have been recently integrated. www.fao.org/eufmd/global-situation/tom-capacity-development-support-tool/en/
Fast response to FAST diseases is key in protecting livestock and livelihoods. The GET Prepared Wall is designed to help contingency planners and emergency responders. It contains decision-making tools and templates that enable contingency planners to assess local situations and requirements in advance of an emergency. Learn more and access the Wall on our Trello board. https://trello.com/b/SrsgHKzM/get-prepared-the-wall
Welcome to a new episode of our podcast.
Marisa Martínez interviewed Rodolfo Bellinzoni from Biogenesis Bago to explore the available tools for the prevention and control of an FMD emergency. Learn more about the impact cost, the level of investment required to control an outbreak, and some of the most effective tools for prevention and preparedness.
Marisa Martínez is a Doctor in Veterinary Medicine, and graduated in 2008 from the Universidad del Salvador, Veterinary School, in Argentina.
She worked on a dairy farm as Milk Quality Solution Manager in DeLaval from 2010 to 2012. Marisa joined Biogenesis Bagó in 2012, as Dairy Technical Service. Later on, as part of the Innovation
Department, she developed intramammary products that were launched to the market in 2016. From 2019, she was Technical Department Manager, and in 2022, became Product Manager for FMD and Biosecurity.
Since 2012, she is an active Member of the Honorable Board of Directors of APROCAL, a non-profit organization that works towards milk and dairy products quality in Argentina, and from 2015 to 2020 was its President. She has a Certification in Biosecurity Audits by Biocheck, from Ghent University and holds several publications at renowned congresses, both on dairy and FMD.
Rodolfo Bellinzoni is a Veterinary Doctor, who graduated from the Faculty of Veterinary Sciences of the Universidad Nacional del Centro de la Provincia de Buenos. He then obtained his Ph.D. degree and did postdoctoral training in Molecular Virology at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas, USA.
He joined Biogénesis Bagó in 1990 as R&D Manager and later, in 2000, he took the position of Director of Industrial Operations.
In parallel to his work in the company, between 2010 and 2014 he was the Director of Operations of Sinergium Biotech, where he managed technology transfer processes for the manufacture of influenza and pneumococcal vaccines in Argentina.
For Biogénesis Bagó, he led the design, engineering, construction, and technology transfer processes for the foot-and-mouth disease vaccine production plant that the company developed in Yangling, China.
From 2019, he was Director of Industrial Operations and Innovation for Biogénesis Bagó. His achievements for the company include leading the licensing process by which Biogénesis Bagó achieved supplier status with the Foot-and-Mouth Disease Antigen and Vaccine Bank of the USA, Canada, and Mexico and the National Animal Vaccine and Veterinary Countermeasure Bank (NAVVCB) of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).
In 2017, he became a full member of the Argentine National Academy of Agronomy and Veterinary Science for his main contribution to the control of foot-and-mouth disease.
The cross-border movement of animal pathogens can lead to dramatic social and economic consequences. Therefore countries implement prevention measures (e.g. surveillance, border controls and trade restrictions) to reduce the probability of entry of new pathogens. However, resources available for such risk mitigation measures are limited, especially considering the large number of potential source areas and different pathways of entry of the pathogens. We propose a simple and easy-to-use tool to monitor the risk of introduction of foot and mouth and similar transboundary (FAST) animal diseases (Peste des Petits Ruminants, Lumpy Skin Disease, Rift Valley Fever, Sheep and Goat Pox) with the aim of assisting health authorities to identify the most likely routes and source countries for the introduction of these diseases.
Since 2018, the Republic of Korea (ROK) has been vaccinating all susceptible livestock with one out of three approved vaccines which serotype O and A antigens according to the prime and boost vaccination schedule. We were carrying out continuously monitoring the vaccination status and immunity level through serological surveillance and if the standard antibody positive rate is below, a heavy fine will be imposed. In this regard, in this study, serological surveillance was performed using serum collected in 2021, and the collected data were analyzed immunity level.
In this study, we used the Platform for Automated extraction of Disease Information from the web (PADI-Web) as an epidemic intelligence tool to detect West Nile virus (WNV) outbreak signals, and epidemiological information throughout Europe from 2006 to 2021 in online news reports. The purpose of this study is to characterise epidemiological information on an outbreak event (such as: location and date of the event, diseased host, implicated vector and covariate risk factors) found in media reports. This descriptive analysis will allow us to explore the role of media reports and how they can help map disease occurence and predictions in complement with traditional indicator based surveillance.
Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) is endemic in Kenya, with frequent outbreaks. Understanding socioeconomic drivers affecting disease control within Kenya’s livestock systems, and the cost-effectiveness of control options, are important components of designing an FMD control programme. This study aimed to integrate quantitative economic analysis with qualitative data to provide recommendations for disease control.
Dataset visualization has now become the most popular and user-friendly tool for enabling audiences to capture data easily in a visual context. There are varied tools available for data intelligence and analytics which use an interactive environment to explore datasets. Digitalization of animal disease outbreak data using interactive visualization tools allows end-users to gain insights into vast amounts of data by clear display of disease patterns, including spatial and temporal trends, and provides direction for interventions needed to enhance disease prevention and control. This paper focuses on the interactive presentation of FMD datasets collected from SEACFMD Members and visualized using Microsoft Power Business Intelligence (BI). FMD outbreak data were mined from various available resources, then analyzed by location, the species affected, FMDV subtypes detected during 2019-2021, and visualized using figures such as graphs and maps in an interactive tool.
Following an important outbreak of Lumpy Skin Disease in Israel, a question raised concerning the possible use of drones for the disease surveillance. The idea of using drones to assist in finding affected herds in the field and surveil affected herds seemed logical and useful. A pilot study has been done to evaluate the pros and cons to this thought.
Sensors have become ubiquitous in our current world and the livestock farming sector offers multiple research avenues for the application of sensor technology, from early disease detection to virtual fencing. Animal health surveillance in Scotland currently relies on post-mortem examinations of animals and on data derived from laboratory submitted samples. Sensor-derived syndromic surveillance of livestock has been identified as a gap in Scotland’s current animal health surveillance capabilities. Real-time data from on-farm herds has the potential to underpin improved production and endemic disease detection and the earlier identification and investigation of potential outbreaks. Using the data journeys approach, the aim of this project is to elucidate the conceptual journey of thermal imagery and drone-derived data from farm to policy. This approach aims to situate data across interconnected sites of practice, highlighting the movement of data in and between sites and exposing areas of potential ‘data friction’. The term ‘data friction’ is used to describe the complex factors (political, ethical, legal, social and economic) that come together to slow down and restrict data generation, movement and use.
Environmental sampling, in particular taking swabs of any surfaces likely to have been contaminated by infected animals, presents an opportunity for non-invasive sample collection, enabling cost-effective FMD surveillance beyond regular investigation of clinical cases. Linking the results of environmental sampling with those of other surveillance methods (e.g. oral swabs or serum samples) allows a comparison of the methods and shows how the results of different sampling methods are correlated.
Seven serotypes of foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) (O, A, C, SAT (1, 2, 3), and Asia 1) occur across seven regional virus pools. In each pool, the specific serotypes that circulate in the susceptible populations varies. Since 2004 there has been a noticeable absence of serotype C from recorded outbreak data. This serotype historically occurred across European countries, however the most recent cases (2004) occurred in pool 4 (Eastern Africa) and pool 7 (South America). Detailed reports from these outbreaks suggest the outbreak in pool 4 resulted from vaccine escape, while in pool 7 the outbreak resulted from natural infection in an isolated cattle population. Following these outbreaks, response measures were taken to address the vaccine quality and coverage in isolated populations. Now, with continued lack of serotype C detection, we are evaluating whether the available data and knowledge about FMD epidemiology can substantiate a claim of serotype C extinction.
Spatial Qualitative Risk Analysis (SQRA) is a collaborative method and tool developed by Cirad and partners for sharing the knowledge of a college of academic and field experts in veterinary epidemiology and animal health about the relative risks of introduction and dissemination of an animal or zoonotic infectious disease within a territory. SQRA is of particular interest when historical records about the disease in question are scarce or inexistent (exotic, or new emerging disease). It is also very useful to target high-risk areas and / or time periods, and to prioritize disease surveillance and control activities. Although the collegial procedure might help reducing subjective biases, the accuracy of the outcome is necessarily limited by the quality and amount of information available to the experts and to the analyst. Therefore, a validation step is proposed to assess the predictive performance of the SQRA maps, based on either observed disease outbreaks or planned surveillance data such as a serological survey on a representative sample of the target population. Rather than adopting a binary mindset of either accepting or rejecting an SQRA map, this analysis should be regarded as an assessment of prior knowledge embodied in the map. It provides an opportunity to identify gaps in the epidemiological knowledge to update the collective perception of disease risk in a progressive process of learning by accumulating evidence.
Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) is a notifiable disease to the World Animal Health Organization (OIE). FMD is one of the most contagious zoonotic diseases, with important economic losses. FMD causes a low mortality rate in adult animals but often causes a high mortality rate in young animals due to myocarditis. United Arab Emirates (UAE) intensifies the effort in line with the Progressive Control Pathway for Foot-and-Mouth Disease (PCP-FMD) developed by FAO and EuFMD and further endorsed by the OIE, guiding endemic countries through a series of incremental steps to manage FMD risks better. This study aims to assess the impact of control strategies, including early detection, movement control, surveillance, and vaccination. The benefit of this study is to inform the policy maker on required actions for making progress towards eradicating FMD from the UAE.
Data-driven innovations to inform disease control and prevention - A. Delgado by European Commission for the Control of FMD
The early detection of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) incursion in an FMD-free country is of critical importance for timely control and eradication. The objective of this study was to assess the epidemiological and economic impacts of different ‘times to detection (TTD)’ of a potential FMD outbreak using a multi-country version of the EuFMDiS model.
Rift Valley fever (RVF) is a major emerging, zoonotic and arboviral haemorrhagic fever that greatly affects public and animal health, primarily in Africa. The ability of RVF virus to persist within distinct environments has raised questions over its potential to spread and persist within currently disease-free settings. Viral persistence requires suitable meteorological factors for vector competence and breeding alongside sufficiently susceptible local host communities. Prior to our work, no study had formally estimated the importance of these persistence mechanisms from field data, preventing any formal assessment of disease control strategies in a real-world setting.
The aim (focus) of this poster is to consider digital transformations of Analog Geography Hunting Grounds Maps (AGHGMs) (image 1) as well opportunities of introduce digital hunting grounds maps (DHGMs) in veterinary surveillance, monitoring, control programme for wildlife populations. Geographical Information System (GIS) as a computer based analyzing system displaying digital data with spatial sets. Spatial veterinary epidemiology (SVE) enabled the spatial/location of TADs and FAST diseases to aim identify the susceptible populations (domestic and wildlife) and epidemiological risk factors. Epidemiologic surveys calculate the disease incidence to facilitate the disease investigation and to frame preventive measures.
The movement of livestock between farms was one of the main risk factors for infection at the farm level during the high-risk period (HRP) of the 2001 FMD epidemic in Uruguay. This corresponds to the period where the virus was present but not yet detected in the country and the movements between livestock operations facilitated contact between infected and susceptible farms.
The aim of this study is to describe and quantify the transmission network of animal movements between farms during the initial phase of the 2001 FMD epidemic in Uruguay. These results are crucial to identify targets for surveillance and control measures.
Transboundary animal diseases pose a continual threat to the health of livestock and the welfare of livestock producers, with foot-and-mouth disease and similar transboundary (FAST) animal diseases (including peste des petits ruminants, Rift Valley fever, and capripoxvirus diseases) being of exceptional concern. The role of wildlife in maintaining or propagating these diseases is an area of active research, and should epidemic incursions occur into formerly disease-free regions, achieving disease control can require measures targeting both the domestic and the wild compartments. Understanding how transmission dynamics and applied control measures in one compartment can influence dynamics in the other compartment may be key to enacting optimal strategies, and parameterized models that account for this interface could play an important role in such decisions. Using the current African swine fever pandemic as a case study, we’ve created a model to mechanistically explain these transmission dynamics in an environment with suspected disease spillover.
Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) is a widespread and economically important livestock disease endemic in large regions of the world, including most of Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa. Despite this computer modelling of FMD spread generally focuses on areas free of the disease. Modelling of disease spread is useful to assess the benefits and drawbacks of potential control strategies prior to their implementation, which is of specific importance to resource-constrained endemic countries considering eradicating the disease within their borders.
Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) is a notifiable disease to the World Animal Health Organization (OIE). FMD is one of the most contagious zoonotic diseases, with important economic losses. FMD causes a low mortality rate in adult animals but often causes a high mortality rate in young animals due to myocarditis. United Arab Emirates (UAE) intensifies the effort in line with the Progressive Control Pathway for Foot-and-Mouth Disease (PCP-FMD) developed by FAO and EuFMD and further endorsed by the OIE, guiding endemic countries through a series of incremental steps to manage FMD risks better. This study aims to assess the impact of control strategies, including early detection, movement control, surveillance, and vaccination. The benefit of this study is to inform the policy maker on required actions for making progress towards eradicating FMD from the UAE.
Outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) in disease-free countries can lead to millions of animals being culled and can cost billions of pounds. To control an outbreak, rapid detection and application of control measures are required to contain the spread. To do this it is essential to understand the transmission dynamics within a farm to determine the number of infected animals over time and the levels of environmental contamination.
Livestock mobility plays an important role in the dissemination of major diseases in West Africa, including Foot-and-Mouth disease, Rift Valley Fever, and Peste des Petits Ruminants. There is a need to identify reliable predictors of livestock movements. So far, a majority of studies have focused on the analysis of static movement networks. We aimed at modelling the temporal dynamics of cattle and small ruminant movements in Senegal using a set of predictors: livestock market prices, rainfall, and biomass production.
One of the most infectious livestock diseases in the world, Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) presents a constant global threat to animal trade and country economies. To assist control measures, the global clustering of FMD viruses has been divided into 7 virus pools, where multiple serotypes occur but within which are topotypes that remain mostly confined to that pool. This clustering of viruses suggests that if vaccination is to be a major tool for control, each pool could benefit from the use of tailored/more specific vaccine formulations relevant to the topotypes present in that pool.
Challenge of vaccinated animals for evaluation of foot-and-mouth disease vaccines will always be essential when new strains are implemented in vaccine production. To replace, reduce and refine animal experiments, producers are using alternative tests for batch release of vaccine. Producers either check the antibody response in standardised tests after vaccination or rely on GMP production and the quantification of 146S antigen in the vaccine.
The Nagoya Protocol on Access and Benefit sharing is an international agreement that became effective in 2014, whose objective is "the fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising from the utilization of genetic resources". It requires users to obtain authorization from the country of origin before accessing a genetic resource and to negotiate the terms and conditions of its use.
While the intention of the Protocol is to contribute to the sustainable use of biodiversity, its application to the field of infectious pathogens has resulted in increased bureaucracy, which makes it difficult to share strains and sequences. This red tape hampers innovation in the field of vaccines against FMD and other transboundary diseases (FAST) and it is ultimately detrimental for disease control and pandemic preparedness.
The Pandemic Influenza Preparedness (PIP) framework could be used as example of a framework that facilitates rapid sharing of virus strains, sequences and information. The veterinary scientific community and the international organizations needs to come together to define a similar innovative framework for FAST animal pathogens and ultimately exclude them from the scope of the Nagoya Protocol.
Smart farming technologies provide the farmers with their animal location and health status in real time. Equipped with these technologies, farmers can take immediate actions to improve the health and welfare of their herd and of every individual animal. The use of smart farming technologies provide a valuable time optimization in detecting and managing disease outbreaks. A connected global system to live track animals, allow secure localization and early detection. Once the time gap is closed, we advance towards transmissible diseases eradication.
Vaccination is an important measure for prophylactic control of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) in endemic countries. One of the main factors for successful disease control is to select the most suitable vaccine strain, which will protect against currently circulating viruses. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy in pigs by vaccination of commercially available FMD vaccines against heterologous challenge with A/Asia/G-VII lineage viruses, which have exhibited insufficient cross-protection.
Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) O/CATHAY lineage virus is a known porcinophilic virus that has caused devastating damage to the pig industry. In vaccine matching and efficacy results by other FMD reference laboratories, there have been concerns that many commercially available vaccine could not confer effective protective immunity against O/CATHAY lineage viruses. In this study, we conducted the in vivo efficacy tests to find the applicable regimen for three commercial vaccines (O1/Manisa+O/3630, O1/Campos, and O/Primorsky/2014) and one experimental vaccine (O/Boeun/SKR/2017, O/ME-SA/Ind-2001e lineage) to confer the protective immunity against heterologous challenge with the O/CATHAY field virus, O/VN/30/17, in pigs.
Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) remains endemic in East-Southeast Asia, Middle East and North Africa causing significant economic losses; multiple variants of serotypes FMDV O and A are currently circulating. FMD vaccines from Argentina, are widely used in South America and in some countries in Asia and they have shown excellent efficacy in controlling FMD in these regions. Here we report satisfactory in vitro and in vivo vaccine matching studies of FMD vaccines formulated with O1 Campos, A24 Cruzeiro and A2001 Argentina vaccine strains against Type O and A field viruses circulating in endemic regions.
Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD)-susceptible sheep’s play an important epidemiological role in the spread of FMD. Outbreaks in sheep due to multiple serotypes FMDV O, A, Asia 1 have been reported in endemic regions such as the Middle East and North Africa. In the present study, we assessed the onset and duration of immunity (DOI) elicited by FMD single oil emulsion polyvalent Asia1 vaccine (FMDV O, A and Asia 1) and trivalent vaccine (FMDV O, A, A) in sheep after a single dose and two doses. The booster effect and the comparison in the immune response induced by the two vaccine compositions was investigated.
We earlier isolated 10 single-domain antibodies (VHHs) that specifically bind intact (146S) FMDV particles but not the (12S) degradation products of serotype A strain A/TUR/14/98. Such 12S particles are much less immunogenic than 146S particles. As a result, the 146S particle specific VHHs are useful tools for quality control of FMDV antigens used in vaccines. Conventional monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) were shown to bind at least 5 independent antigenic sites by competition ELISAs and sequencing of mutants that are resistant to neutralization by mAbs. Escape mutants of serotype A binding 146S specific mAb 9 had mutations in VP3, near the 2-fold symmetry axis where separate 12S particles join into a 146S particle. This suggests that 146S specificity is caused by the epitope lying on two adjacent 12S pentamers that is separated by 146S particle dissociation. However, cryo EM structural analysis the serotype O 146S specific VHH M170 showed that it recognizes a loop on VP3 that has a different 3D structure in the 12S particle compared to the 146S particle. This change in conformation most likely causes the 146S particle specificity. To further understand the mechanism of 146S specificity, we mapped the antigenic sites of serotype A binding VHHs by competition ELISAs, VNTs and cross-linking mass spectrometry.
By Haozhou Li
Lumpy skin disease (LSD) is a WOAH notifiable transboundary cattle disease caused by lumpy skin disease virus (LSDV), a dsDNA virus member of the Capripoxvirus genus, belonging to the Poxviridae family. LSD primarily affects cattle, causing fever, enlarged lymph nodes, lesions of the oral mucous membranes, of the respiratory, and digestive tract, abortions and a reduction in milk production. Considering the important economic impact on livestock, innovative and effective tools to detect the virus in fields would be of the greatest interest to speed up the diagnosis. Given its feasibility in field conditions and its easiness to use, lateral flow immunoassay (LFIA) could fulfil this goal. This study aimed at developing LFIA using monoclonal antibodies (mAb) produced against p32 LSDV structural protein and evaluating the preliminary specificity and sensitivity.
Lumpy skin disease (LSD) is a WOAH notifiable transboundary cattle disease caused by lumpy skin disease virus (LSDV), a dsDNA virus member of the Capripoxvirus genus, belonging to the Poxviridae family. LSD primarily affects cattle, causing fever, enlarged lymph nodes, lesions of the oral mucous membranes, of the respiratory, and digestive tract, abortions and a reduction in milk production. Considering the important economic impact on livestock, innovative and effective tools to detect the virus in fields would be of the greatest interest to speed up the diagnosis. Given its feasibility in field conditions and its easiness to use, lateral flow immunoassay (LFIA) could fulfil this goal. This study aimed at developing LFIA using monoclonal antibodies (mAb) produced against p32 LSDV structural protein and evaluating the preliminary specificity and sensitivity.
Virus Neutralization Test (VNT) and Solid Phase Competitive ELISA (SPCE) are useful tools for a wide range of in vitro investigations, focused on serology studies in livestock and wild animals. After vaccination campaigns or immunogenicity studies, related to the control of Foot-and-mouth Disease (FMD), VNT and SPCE are usually performed to detect immune response of animals and, subsequently, the effectiveness of a vaccination. VNT remains the diagnostic gold standard, but various issues are related to this assay, first and foremost the manipulation of viable viruses and the related maintenance of an acceptable biosecurity level. Together with the complexity of test, mainly due to its affecting variables, this reason had often induced to find a correlation with SPCE, in order to substitute VNT with a safer and easier assay. In this study, comparing the data collected analysing sera from vaccinated animals, we evaluated the potential correlation between the two tests, focusing on the effect of homology/heterology of the strains behind the assays and those used during vaccination.
Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) is a highly important disease of domestic and wild cloven-hoofed animals caused by the foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV). Among FMDV serotypes, serotype O and A are the most widely distributed serotypes in Asia and serotype Asia 1 occurs only in Asia. Rapid and accurate detection and serotyping of foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) is essential for implementing control policies against emergent foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) outbreaks. Current serotyping assays, such as VP1 reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR)/Sequencing (VP1 RT-PCR/Sequencing) and antigen detection enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), have problems with increasing serotyping failure of FMDVs from FMD outbreaks. Digital PCR is a PCR technology where it generates a numerous reaction space and it allows to display the result values in O and 1. Even in only one well amplifies, the signal is detected. Because of this, digital PCR has highly sensitivity especially in ultra-low concentration samples. Therefore, this study was conducted to apply a digital RT-PCR for specific detection and differential serotyping of FMDV serotype O, A, and Asia 1 directly from field clinical samples.
Peste des Petits Ruminants and Rift Valley Fever events 2020-2022 - V. Chevalier by European Commission for the Control of FMD
Livestock diseases have gender implications. Female livestock keepers who make up 60% of the world's poor livestock keepers (World Bank et al. 2009), can be particularly affected and are therefore an important target group for last-mile animal health services. In low-to-middle-income countries (LMICs), veterinary paraprofessionals (VPPs) play an important role for smallholder farmers (SHF) who often lack adequate access to veterinarians. Women VPPs, who are an important channel for reaching women SHFs, often make up only a minority of the VPP workforce and may face gender barriers to accessing training and upscaling their businesses.
An Augmented Reality (AR) tool for mobile devices and the Hololens AR headset has been designed to help educate farmers, stock agents and students to identify key signs of some of the most important emergency animal disease (EAD) threats to the Australian sheep industry - foot & mouth disease, bluetongue, scrapie and sheepox. The tool allows them to scan a room, paddock or any other space and place a virtual flock of sheep, identify symptoms being displayed and guess the disease. An information page is then shown describing the EAD and where to contact if they suspect they have an animal with this disease.
A competency-based approach able to incorporate the knowledge produced by the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH), is the basis of its new Training System. Organised around sixteen competency packages (CPs), the system aims at developing capacities in WOAH Members to facilitate the implementation of the international standards and guidelines and to strengthen Veterinary Services resilience, in the new contexts and expected roles.
Understanding the level of preparedness to use emergency vaccination for FAST diseases in European countries by Kathy Gibson
EuFMD is conducting a program of work to better understand the role of emergency vaccination for Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) and similar Transboundary Animal Diseases (FAST) in Europe and its neighbourhood.
Materials and Methods
In 2022, EuFMD hosted two online workshops with participants from EuFMD member nations and other organisations. Participants used scenarios modelled in four European countries to develop a list of criteria for implementing emergency vaccination. Subsequent epidemiological modelling compared the effect of different emergency control measures, including different vaccination strategies, on hypothetical outbreaks of FMD in four different European countries. Scenarios were simulated using the stochastic spatial simulation model EuFMDiS (The European Foot-and-Mouth Disease Spread Model).
The scenarios modelled for these workshops were selected on the basis that they would lead to discussion and were not necessarily ‘typical’ of expected outbreaks in the selected countries.
As Denmark has not had an foot and mouth disease (FMD)-outbreak since 1983, the objective of this study was to use epidemiological modelling to compare the effects of a set of different mitigation measures on e.g. predicted number of infected and culled herds, and epidemic control duration1. The epidemiological impact of basic mitigation measures was compared to additional mitigation strategies on top of the basic measures. Additionally, the geographical influence and the impact of specific cattle production systems as index herds were analysed in terms of the predictive variables.
The aim of our research was to learn and discuss the personal experiences of Canadian emergency management professionals working in a VEOC environment during the COVID-19. The main research questions were:
1. What are emergency management professionals’ personal experiences of working in a VEOC environment during the COVID-19 pandemic response?
2. What are the benefits and challenges emergency management professionals experienced working in a VEOC environment?
3. What lessons for VEOC planning, preparedness, and operations are available from these reflections on the COVID-19 response?
Application of trading zones when managing livestock disease outbreaks has the potential to markedly reduce the economic impact of trade restrictions placed on countries. This involves establishing areas within a country, which are considered of negligible risk of transmitting disease through livestock and livestock product shipments to other areas of the country or internationally. The objective of this study was to estimate the economic benefits of trading zones as part of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) control measures for limited duration outbreaks in Australia.
A response system including outbreak investigation, emergency control measures, and risk assessment in the event of transboundary animal diseases such as foot-and-mouth disease (FMD), African swine fever (ASF), and highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in Korea, is describe in this presentation.
There are seven antigenically distinct FMDV serotypes; O, A, C, Asia1, SAT1, SAT2 & SAT3, with no cross protection between serotypes. There are five known antigenic sites on the FMDV capsid against which neutralizing antibodies bind to confer protection against the viral infection. VP1 contains the virus attachment motif (RGD) on the G-H loop that binds to the cellular receptor integrin for all the seven serotypes known and carries the serotype specific immune dominant epitope which is part of antigenic site 1. It has been shown that the RGD motif is not an essential constituent of peptides able to elicit neutralising antibody responses against the virus (Brown et al., 1999). Monoclonal antibody (Mab) D9 is a neutralising Mab that binds to the linear immune dominant epitope of G-H loop, where for serotype O, its neutralising activities are affected by the changes at amino acid positions VP1 (L144, L148 and K154). In this study we hypothesised that there are two different types of epitopes on the G-H loop, one is conserved between serotypes, and non-neutralising, while the second epitope is neutralising and serotype specific.
Peste des petits ruminants (PPR) and Rift Valley Fever are examples of transboundary animal diseases having major consequences in terms of health and economics. PPR is a highly pathogenic viral disease infecting principally sheep and goats, but also some wild artiodactyls, camelids and suids. This disease circulates in large parts of Africa, Asia, Eurasia and Middle-East and it has recently appeared at the gates of Europe in Georgia (2016) and Bulgaria (2018). A vaccine sxiste and the disease is the target of an eradication campaign by 2030. RVF is an arbovirus also affecting small ruminants and camelids, but also cattle and can be transmitted to human. The virus is transmitted among ruminants through the bite of infected mosquitoes (belonging to the Aedes and Culex species) and to human through the direct contact with infected blood or tissues. The disease circulates mostly in most countries in North, East, West and Sahelian Africa as well as in the Arabian Peninsula. Despite the different way of transmission, transboundary animal movement is the most likely route of the spread of the two diseases. Even though the livestock trade is strictly regulated between endemic regions of the two diseases and most of the Mediterranean countries, regional, locally adapted strategies are needed to control the diseases efficiently. The aim of this talk is to provide a panorama of the epidemiological situation around Europe and provide some preliminary scenario for the introduction of the diseases, through animal movement, and risk of transmission due to the presence of competent vectors (only for Rift Valley Fever).
Foot -and- mouth disease (FMD) is an acute, highly contagious disease of cloven-hoofed animals with impacts on farming and is responsible for major economic losses. Serological assays that measure FMDV-specific antibodies are used to monitor the presence of FMDV, for checking quality of FMD vaccine and levels of post-vaccination immunity. The aim of this work was to develop a multiplex immunoassay with recombinant empty viral capsids for FMD serological diagnosis using Luminex technology. Such a test could be used as an indicator of pre-exposure of FMDV or vaccination and to estimate immune protection in a single reaction and from a single sample against all 7 serotypes
The benefits of complete genome sequencing have become increasingly clear, for example the identification of emergent lineages with altered phenotypic characteristics or the fine scale tracking of virus movements. Indeed, in the UK in 2007 complete genome sequencing enabled the tracing of an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV), in turn allowing the identification of a missing premises.
Previously, we showed that it was possible to sequence the capsid-coding region of the FMDV genome using nanopore sequencing technology (Oxford Nanopore Technologies) following amplification of the P1 region by RT-PCR. Here, we designed a universal RT-PCR based amplification strategy for the amplification of complete FMDV genomes prior to nanopore sequencing using the MinION sequencer.
Member Nations and relevant stakeholders have asked EuFMD to provide an efficient solution to enable National Veterinary services to map the progression of the individual skills, monitor the development of capacity and incentivize veterinarians’ education.
TOM aims to support National Veterinary authorities to develop capacity development, identifying the gaps in specific competencies and how to fill the gaps.
Post-vaccination serological monitoring is an important method for control of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD). In particular, a liquid-phase blocking enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (LPBE) is more accessible than the virus neutralization test (VNT) for a large-scale serological screening. A FMD A/ASIA/Sea-97-G1 sublineage virus occurred and was named A/Pocheon/SKR/2010 (A/Pocheon) in 2010 in Korea. A vaccine strain was developed using the A/Pocheon virus. In this study, the LPBE was developed and evaluated for the detection of antibodies to A/ASIA/Sea-97-G1 sublineage virus using the A/Pocheon virus as an antigen for post-vaccination monitoring.
1st isolation, molecular detection and phylogenetic analysis of FMDV A/AFRICA/G1, Sultanate of Oman by European Commission for the Control of FMD
In a sector that continues to witness increasing levels of risks that could disrupt our agricultural system, communities and economy, it is critical that we explore alternative means to preparing for and responding to emergencies. One such example has been the use of a virtual control centre (VCC) which has been considered here through a national (Exercise Network) and a state-based (QDAF VCC exercise series) example.
Post vaccination monitoring is essential to assess the effectiveness of vaccination campaigns against foot-and-mouth disease (FMD). There are several methods to screen FMD virus structural protein antibodies including Solid-phase competitive ELISA (SPCE), Liquid-phase blocking ELISA (LPBE) and Virus neutralization test (VNT). Among these, SPCE is widely used since VNT (gold standard test) has practical limitations. Commercially available SPCE kits which are serotype-specific do not have the same sensitivity for the detection of antibodies induced by the different vaccine strains. Here, we analyzed sera from animals vaccinated with O1 Campos, A24 Cruzeiro, and A2001 Argentina strains by Priocheck™, Izsler, and ID Screen™ ELISA kits (type O and A) and compared them with LPBE and VNT strain-specific methods.
Abattoir activities are key components of veterinary training, however, accessing facilities can be difficult. The digital abattoir (DA) is a novel teaching tool that combines the advantages of blended learning and Virtual Reality to replicate and complement abattoir visits. The Digital Abattoir (DA) portrays five commercial establishments, including read and white meat species, delivering the content of a traditional visit. Students from universities across the globe have implemented this tool and data are being gathered.
Consistency and reliability of official controls is fundamental for disease surveillance. The variability in backgrounds and age of those involved has a potential to lead to discrepancies in the baseline knowledge. Here, 2 types of online teaching are shown which are easily deliverable to large cohorts at remote locations. The first format is a CPD designed as formative assessment and delivered online to professionals undertaking official controls. Formative assessment (FA) allows for the participant to learn whilst tackling a challenge in a supported manner. This “enjoyable” challenge makes the activity more engaging and the anonymity removes worries of outside judgement. In addition, following feedback, the participant can assess their own knowledge build up and/or determine the areas where they would benefit from further study. The second format, is a virtual “escape room” using Microsoft One Note. This was a self-directed exercise where participants in the virtual session were divided into different breakout rooms and set tasks with a minor competition element of let’s see who gets to the end first. Both of these formats are already being applied in further contexts showing their reproducibility and benefit.
This research shows how Virtual Reality (VR) can be used as a biosecurity training tool to better equip animal industry workers to undertake emergency animal disease surveillance.
A pilot training application for foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) education using VR is being developed in 2 phases by Australian VR company Novus Res Pty Ltd in partnership with the Australian Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) and the European Commission for the Control of Foot-and-Mouth Disease (EuFMD). The aim is to determine how VR can be used as a cost-effective, scalable and realistic tool for FMD-related emergency training and response purposes.
The spread of infection amongst livestock depends not only on the traits of the pathogen and the livestock themselves but also on the veterinary health behaviours of farmers and how this impacts their implementation of disease control measures. Disease management practices employed by livestock owners can vary, due to differing responses to complex factors such as increased awareness of disease risks, pressure to conform to social expectations and the direct imposition of animal health regulations. Controls that are costly may make it beneficial for individuals to rely on the protection offered by others, though that may be sub-optimal for the population. Therefore, failing to account for socio-behavioural properties may produce a substantial layer of bias in infectious disease models.
The occurrence of transboundary animal diseases (TADs) causes serious socio-economic consequences, as it affects productivity, welfare, livelihoods, food security and trade. Communities that mainly depend on livestock are the most vulnerable, and the consequences of TADs may vary within and across countries/areas depending on the disease and its spread, the structure of the livestock sector, the social context and related control strategies. Therefore, it is often difficult to provide systematic estimates of their economic impact. The objective of this study was to develop a tool for the economic evaluation of any TADs affecting ruminants, by adapting and validating the already available tool for swine disease outbreaks, known as OutCosT-Pig.
Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) is an international epidemic disease that infects cloven-hoofed animals such as cattle and swine. FMD is one of the most highly contagious viral diseases that causes devastating economic losses. There are seven FMD viruses (FMDv) serotypes, O, A, Asia1, C, SAT1, SAT2 and SAT3. The wide range of hosts, ability of small doses to infect, rapid replication, high levels of viral excretion and multiple forms of transmission make FMD difficult to control and eradicate. Since FMD can spread fast and cannot be differentiated clinically from other vesicular diseases such as vesicular stomatitis (VS) and swine vesicular disease (SVD), rapid and specific identification of the agent is of utmost concern. In regards with those international sanitary needs, Innovative Diagnostics has launched a Double Antibody Sandwich (DAS) antigen ELISA for rapid and specific multi-serotype FMDv detection.
Environmental sampling enables disease surveillance beyond regular investigation of clinical cases, extending data on the circulation of a pathogen in a specific area. Developing straightforward, low technology methods suitable for use in field conditions is key to the inclusion of such approaches alongside traditional surveillance techniques. Here we present methods to improve the collection and shipping of environmental samples, including recovery of infectious virus, pooling of samples and recovery of virus from dry swabs.
This research was commissioned by the EUFMD and its partners, the Veterinary World Association and Health for Animals as part of the needs assessment to guide implementation of the project “Sustainable business in animal health through training of veterinary paraprofessionals. The project aims to increase livestock productivity among small holder farmers in Nigeria through competency and capacity development of veterinary paraprofessionals (VPPs). The goal of the research is to explore capacity building opportunities for Veterinary Paraprofessionals and suggest the most appropriate modes of delivery of such training. The study looked critically at the issues around barriers to inclusive delivery of online/digital based trainings especially from the gender perspective. training modalities.
Digital tools provide ample opportunities for fast communication, monitoring and quick risk assessment. A veterinary workforce that embraces new technologies and makes use of available tools can at large contribute to better preparedness and response to FAST disease outbreaks and beyond. Training, including digital training (DT), can hugely support the digital transformation of veterinary practice. DT in particular can increase outreach in a harmonized approach, facilitate access to more veterinary healthcare workers - even those established in remote areas, allow the individualization of the learning process and be cost-effective. It can also be an important tool for increasing resilience both in peace and crisis periods, such as in cases of FAST disease outbreaks. This review discusses opportunities and policy gaps related to the use of DT for continuous professional development (CPD) of the veterinary workforce.
The SEACFMD campaign is a large, complex, and ambitious undertaking that aims to boost livestock productivity and economic output by controlling and eradicating FMD in South-East Asia, China, and Mongolia. Throughout the Campaign, a variety of learning resource materials for communication have been developed in conjunction with national veterinary services and partners. Various means of dissemination have also been used.
The emergence of cloud computing has brought forth a variety of opportunities, such as knowledge management. Utilizing the power of the cloud, Microsoft SharePoint Online, a feature of the Office 365 service, provides out-of-the-box support for implementing Knowledge Management as a Service. Here, we present the SEACFMD portal, a web-accessible archive of digitally available learning resources, as well as an interactive visualization dashboard of FMD situation in Southeast Asia.
The research gives a new approach to the detection of foot and mouth disease (FMD) using deep learning techniques. The purpose of this study is to provide a timely and accurate early detection of FMD in cattle based on the symptoms. There is a shortage of veterinary specialists across the country due to brain drain which leaves farmer’s cattle vulnerable, timeous advice for the detection of FMD as the disease leads to loss of production of livestock meats and also milk to farmers and also a major impediment as countries with foot and mouth faces trade restrictions moreover the disease is difficult and costly to control and eradicate.
Mizoram, a mountainous state nestling in the southern tip of the northeastern region of India, remains in constant threat of TADs, affecting the growth of livestock value chains. In recent years, the State suffered from Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome (PRRS) outbreak. Subsequently, the first outbreak of African Swine Fever (ASF) emerged and is continuing.
The existing initiatives within the State primarily focus on emergency management cycle stages, viz. prepare, prevent, and detect. The expected outcome of the study is policy initiatives to enable the commissioning of a GIS-based decision support system (DSS) to support the implementation of action plans related to the 'response' and 'recover' phases.
The first pillar is founded on seven components. They assist in achieving increased European expertise in FMD crisis management and improved quality of national FMD preparedness training programmes, improved contingency planning, surveillance, especially in the Thrace region of Greece, Bulgaria and Turkey.
The activities in Pillar I one also provide for Improved emergency management capacity for FMD in the Balkan region, research outputs relevant to resolve policy issues, and provide assistance to emergency response operations. Better channels to communicate risk enables and improves early warning system.
Learn more: https://www.fao.org/eufmd/what-we-do/pillar-1/en/
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As part of the measures in the Phase V workplan of the EuFMD to promote vaccine security, a proposal has been developed to establish a procedure for prequalification (PQv) of vaccines against Foot-and-Mouth and Similar Transboundary diseases. A PQv scheme is intended as the first step in establishing a system for Assured Emergency Supply Options (AESOPs) for FAST diseases. The PQv procedure aims to provide an independent peer review of information on the quality and properties of FMD vaccines. Ludovica Nela is a Communications Specialist at the EuFMD with a Master Degree in Government and Policies and Major in Communication and New Media. She interviewed David Mackay and Martin Ilott to learn more about the PQv procedure and the benefits of introducing this scheme for vaccine security.
David qualified as a veterinary surgeon and worked in general veterinary practice before embarking on a career as a research scientist in exotic viral diseases of livestock, specializing in FMD, and, ultimately as Head of the Pirbright Laboratory of the Institute for Animal Health (IAH) in the United Kingdom. He subsequently moved into the regulatory area, assuming posts as Head of Immunologicals and then Director of Licensing at the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) in the UK. David then worked at the European Medicines Agency (EMA) in London as the Head of Veterinary Medicines and Product Data Management. After retiring from the EMA, David has taken on a number of consultancy roles and works as a vaccine technical security technical specialist with EuFMD .
Martin is a veterinarian who has spent most of his career in the regulation of veterinary medicines with a focus on veterinary vaccines in government, the EU, and the pharmaceutical sector. He completed a PhD at the World Reference Laboratory, Pirbright on FMD. He has had positions with National Regulatory Authorities in the UK (VMD) and Australia (The Australian Pesticides & Veterinary Medicines Authority; APVMA) and with the European Medicines Agency (EMA). He also spent many years with a major veterinary pharmaceutical manufacturer as a technical director for FMD vaccines and antigen banks and was head of compliance and biosecurity and the Qualified Person (QP) at one of the world's leading manufacturing sites of FMD vaccine in Pirbright. Martin now works as avaccine technical security technical specialist with EuFMD.
Exploring the frontiers of digital possibilities - innovating for veterinary education and FAST disease control
The Special Committee on Biorisk Management (SCBRM) provides guidance on training including the Minimum Standards. It supports the needs of the FMD Biorisk management community. Therefore providing assistance to training initiatives of the commission It aims to maintain an overview of development in biocontainment and improve the channel of communication with experts in member nations who have FMDV Biorisk management responsibilities.
Learn more: https://www.fao.org/eufmd/who-we-are/structure/biorisk-management-committee/en/
Simulation exercises are an excellent tool to test contingency plans and procedures to improve countries’ preparedness against animal diseases. EuFMD supports the organization of simulation exercises, and has found new solution to recent challenges.
A new concept for delivering simulation exercises was implemented: partially and/or fully online simulation exercises using an online platform for delivering injects, communication between players and remote exercise control, facilitation and evaluation. This allows national authorities to continue to test and improve national crisis management systems and train national professionals to respond to animal health crisis.
So far, the EuFMD has supported the organization of four national and one multi-country simulation exercises, online or partially online, in national languages. The EuFMD also supported the online conduction of a multi-country simulation exercise organized by OIE (World Organisation for Animal Health).
This open-access online course will help you to learn more about simulation exercises, and the crucial role they play to test contingency plans: https://bit.ly/2ZQ5c26
Open Session 2022: What is the impact of digital transformation on the veterinary domain? What cultural shifts and new technologies are changing the way in which we understand and control Foot-and-Mouth and Similar Transboundary animal diseases (FAST diseases)?
Mattia Begovoeva, EuFMD Animal Health Officer, introduces the "Open Session 2022". More information is available on our website https://www.fao.org/eufmd/meetings-and-events/os22/en/
With the support of EuFMD, the European private sector stakeholders in livestock production have launched a public-private partnership (PPP) Initiative for anticipating FAST-Disease Outbreaks, to explore a collaboration with public partners and academia in addressing animal health management in a structured and open discussion.
🎙️ PPP in 2 minutes by Bouda Ahmadi. How much can you learn in 2 minutes?
And our Learning of the month is on PPP, why don't you take an online course to learn more? https://eufmdlearning.works/mod/page/view.php?id=13130
Virtual Learning. What does it mean? How does the EuFMD Learning team develop new virtual activities? What has been the impact of recent events on the development of virtual learning activities?
🎙️Virtual Learning in 2 minutes by Jenny Maud. How much can you learn in 2 minutes?
More info about our Virtual Learning course is available on our website: https://eufmdlearning.works/mod/page/view.php?id=13130
"Focusing on epidemic preparedness means that the steps that need to be taken before, during, and after an outbreak are defined and with a well-planned and tested system in place."
Epidemic Preparedness explained in a 2-minute podcast episode, by Tsviatko Alexandrov, Pillar I Coordinator.
How much can you learn in 2 minutes?
"Factors such as livestock industry practices, the species of livestock farmed, vaccine supply, and the resources available to deliver vaccines, will all influence how vaccines might be used to control outbreaks in different countries. Understanding these factors, can help countries to tailor their contingency plans to their own circumstances, and help to reduce the impact of livestock diseases on business continuity. "
Epidemic Preparedness in a 2 minutes podcast episode, with Kathy Gibson, EuFMD FAST Diseases emergency preparedness specialist.
How much can you learn in 2 minutes?
Effective crisis management is particularly important in epidemic and pandemic situations and depends very much on the preparedness of all the stakeholders involved.
Epidemic Preparedness in 2 minutes with Kees Van Maanen, veterinary virologist.
When veterinarians and veterinary paraprofessionals are equipped with relevant skills to detect and control outbreaks of transboundary animal disease epidemics, the negative impact is minimized and livelihoods of smallholder and rural communities are safeguarded.
🎧 Epidemic Preparedness explained in a 2 minutes podcast episode, with Wilmot Chikurunhe, Coordinator of the Virtual Learning Centre in Southern Africa.
How much can you learn in 2 minutes?
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During the roundtable discussion on exploring animal health solutions for farmers, Dr Miftahul Barbaruah introduced different models for provisions of animal health services to farmers. Before describing various models and key studies, he highlights factors affecting animal health services delivery, few guiding principles, and global policy options. What are the vital elements for the innovative design of the service delivery-related interventions?
As a regional expert, Miftahul Barbaruah reviews South Asia's enabling environment for the EuFMD project Sustainable Business through Training for Veterinary Paraprofessionals. Following his graduation in Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry from Assam Agricultural University (India), he has attended postgraduate and executive programs at prestigious schools like Tezpur University (Master in Business Administration), Asian Institute of Management, Manila (Master in Development Management); Indian Institute of Management –Calcutta (EDP on Managerial Excellence), etc. He also attended expert training related to the OIE Performance of Veterinary Services (PVS) Pathway and Capacity building of Veterinary Paraprofessionals (VPPs). He is an entrepreneur and currently serving as a director of a development consulting company: Vet Helpline India Pvt Ltd. The company helps organizations conduct studies and implement development projects in animal health care, animal welfare, livestock development, food safety, and public health. He had the opportunity to work for VPP related advocacy programs of GALVmed and The Brooke Hospital for Animals. As a consultant of the Agriculture Skill Council of India, Barbaruah helped develop the National Occupational Standards for various categories of VPPs in India. He also contributed as a member of the OIE Adhoc expert group related to veterinary paraprofessionals to prepare VPP competency and curriculum guidelines. His core areas of expertise include policy advocacy, development planning, project management, capacity building, animal disease risk management, and Agri-livestock value chain development. His research activities acknowledge transdisciplinarity as an approach and aptly integrate veterinary science, animal husbandry with social science for sustainable development.
The project Sustainable Business through Training for Veterinary Paraprofessionals to explore our approach to reinforce veterinary service provision systems: www.fao.org/eufmd/training/veterinary-paraprofessionals/en/
7 Member Nations: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Turkey, the Russian Federation, the Islamic Republic of Iran, and Iraq have joined the Statement of Intentions(SOI)between Transcaucasia and neighboring countries.
What are the main activities included by this statement?
SOI in 2 minutes by Carsten Poetzsch, EuFMD Component Manager in Pillar II for the Southeast European Neighbourhood.
How much can you learn in 2 minutes?
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What is the relation between wildlife and domestic animals when it comes to infectious diseases?
Rodrigo Nova, EuFMD Training Technical Coordinator, discuss with Christian Gortazar, Veterinarian and Professor at the IREC about wildlife infectious diseases and how to reach disease control addressing multi-hosting pathogens.
Christian Gortázar is a veterinary and doctor from the University of Zaragoza. In 1999, he became Associate Professor in the Instituto de Investigación en Recursos Cinegéticos (IREC, Universidad de Castilla La Mancha). Since 2003, he is responsible for the Animal Health Unit, currently Research Group in Health and Biotechnology (SaBio). His research activity combines tools of ecology, veterinary science, and biotechnology. This includes viral, bacterial, and parasitic diseases with an emphasis on control of shared problems between wildlife, domestic animals and man, such as tuberculosis or vector-borne infections.
Rodrigo Nova is a veterinarian working at the EuFMD as Training Technical Coordinator for Pillar I activities. His work focus on providing training for Member Nations and supporting the development of veterinary capacity in countries the EuFMD supports. He studied veterinary medicine at the University of Concepcion, Chile, where he later worked in official controls in red meat industry and later on, as a veterinary consultant in food safety for dairy and meat industry. He was awarded a PhD in Food Microbiology from the University of Nottingham (UK) and a Post Graduate Certificate in Veterinary Public Health from the University of Ulster (UK). There, he was appointed as a member of the academic staff at the School of Veterinary Medicine and Science University of Nottingham, where he developed the veterinary public health curriculum.
The Real-Time Trainings play a vital role in developing a cadre of personnel who have seen field cases of FMD and have detailed knowledge of FMD diagnosis and outbreak investigation.
So far, over 1000 participants from over 60 countries have benefitted from these courses.
Learn more in our website: https://www.fao.org/eufmd/training/real-time-training/en/
20 years ago, in 2001, the UK had an outbreak of Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD). It had devastating consequences, not just on those directly affected, but also on the rural communities, tourism, economy, and government.
Christine Middlemiss, Chief Veterinary Officer UK, was with thousands of veterinarians, to work to eradicate the disease as fast as they could.
The critical role played by Veterinary Paraprofessionals in delivering essential animal health services for smallholder farmers (SHFs) demands up to date technical competences and the development of enabling business environments for the provision of quality services and supplies. In key geographies of Africa and Asia there is the need to improve Veterinary Paraprofessionals technical and business skills and to support the establishment of efficient and profitable livestock value chain with benefits to all stakeholders at national levels.
Learn more: www.fao.org/eufmd/training/vete…raprofessionals/en/
The critical role played by Veterinary Paraprofessionals in delivering essential animal health services for smallholder farmers (SHFs) demands up to date technical competences and the development of enabling business environments for the provision of quality services and supplies. In key geographies of Africa and Asia there is the need to improve Veterinary Paraprofessionals technical and business skills and to support the establishment of efficient and profitable livestock value chain with benefits to all stakeholders at national levels.
Learn more: http://www.fao.org/eufmd/training/veterinary-paraprofessionals/en/
Welcome to a new episode of our podcast
In preparation for our new online course, Rodrigo Nova, EuFMD Training Technical Coordinator talks with Gary Flory, Agricultural & Stormwater Program Manager for the Valley Regional Office of the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality, about Culling and disposal for FAST Diseases; 2) Depopulation for FAST Diseases; 3) Culling/Disposal, cleaning and disinfection in a FAST Disease;
Rodrigo is a veterinarian working at the EuFMD as Training Technical Coordinator for Pillar I activities. His work focus on providing training for Member Nations and supporting the development of veterinary capacity in countries the EuFMD supports. He studied veterinary medicine at the University of Concepcion, Chile, where he later worked in official controls in red meat industry and later on, as a veterinary consultant in food safety for dairy and meat industry. He was awarded a PhD in Food Microbiology from the University of Nottingham (UK) and a Post Graduate Certificate in Veterinary Public Health from the University of Ulster (UK). There, he was appointed as a member of the academic staff at the School of Veterinary Medicine and Science University of Nottingham, where he developed the veterinary public health curriculum.
Gary Flory founded G.A. Flory Consulting, a global consulting firm, to help clients with a range of services including animal disease and natural disaster response, agricultural emergency planning, and emergency response training. He has been a lead investigator on numerous research projects focused on providing new tools in the fight against animal diseases and natural disasters affecting agriculture. Gary has conducted training, given presentations, and deployed on numerous animal disease outbreaks around the country and internationally to a number of countries including the Dominican Republic, Vietnam, Tunisia, Korea, Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, and Azerbaijan. He also serves as a technical reviewer and Subject Matter Expert on agricultural issues for a variety of organizations including the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), and the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE). Gary currently serves on FAO’s African Swine Fever Global Pool of Expertise.
Welcome to a new episode of our podcast
Drs Seabrook and Nardi introduce for the first time TOM, the new Training Management System developed by the EuFMD, describing the uses and benefit to countries and learners and explaining of competency frameworks
Marcello Nardi works as Chief Learning Officer at EuFMD. Learning professional with experience in training delivery, design, evaluation of impact, needs assessment and competency mappings. He holds a title in Communication Studies and post-graduate degrees in Training Management, Evaluation of the Training Impact and Microlearning design.
Leah is a veterinarian who has been working in the public health regulatory veterinary medicine field since 2000 and training since 2010. She has designed and delivered classroom and virtual training for veterinarians and inspectors. Over the last few years this work led her into the area of competency development and how using competency frameworks can drive needs assessment and ultimately program and course design to support capacity building within organizations.
Erika Chenais, epidemiologist, doctor in veterinary medicine and a Foot and Mouth Disease and similar Transboundary Animal Diseases emergency preparedness specialist with the European Commission for the Control of Foot-and-Mouth Disease.
As a part of our work towards improving preparedness for Foot and Mouth Disease and similar Transboundary Animal Diseases crises by Member nations and across Europe, the Emergency Preparedness Network facilitate networking among emergency preparedness experts, contingency planners and between the public and private sector.
The Emergency Preparedness Network allows contingency planners to share information and experience regarding topics related to Foot and Mouth Disease and similar Transboundary Animal Diseases, including topics such as modelling, emergency vaccination and Contingency Planning, with the purpose to better prepared for outbreaks of these diseases. The network also allows us to provide up-to-date information on new development and tools concerning Emergency Preparedness.
As an example, one of the latest activities of the network was a workshop sharing information and discussing emergency preparedness for a Foot and Mouth Disease and similar Transboundary Animal Diseases.
You are welcome to sign up to join the network via the v-learning site!
Etienne Chevanne, FMD risk management specialist working for the EuFMD talks about what is "Risk mapping and mitigation", how it works and why it is so important.
Dr Michael Eschbaumer, epidemiologist veterinarian, Head of the National Reference Laboratory for Foot-and-Mouth Disease at the FLI (Germany) talks about the importance of the creation of the Laboratory Biorisk Standards for laboratories working with FMD.
Welcome to a new episode of our podcast
Drs Krstevski & Romey discuss about Proficiency of Test Service, one of the EU- Reference Laboratory activities. It is organized and delivered annually to promote harmonization of the FMD diagnosis and to ensure proficiency and quality of FMD testing across EU member countries.
Dr Krstevski is an associate Professor in Infectious diseases at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine in Skopje, North Macedonia. He works with EuFMD on the part of the program focused on improved preparedness, coordination and networking of the laboratories in the South Eastern Europe region.
Dr Romey is assistant Ingenior at ANSES, OIE/FAO/EU FMD Reference Laboratory, Virology Unit, Animal Health Laboratory. She is also an expert in virology diagnostic (molecular, serological and virological diagnostic), Proficiency Test coordinator and FMD EURL Technical manager.
L. Comtet - Proven performances for FMDV NSP antibody detection with ID Screen® by European Commission for the Control of FMD
L. Comtet - A new pan FMDV DAS antigen ELISA using multi-serotype-reactive monoclonal by European Commission for the Control of FMD
L. Comtet - A pan-serotype solid phase blocking ELISA prototype by European Commission for the Control of FMD
Ready-to-use solid phase blocking Elisa kits for detection of specific antibodies to FMDV serotypes O, A, Asia1
We describe the performances of a new Solid Phase Blocking ELISA (SPBE). The ID Screen® FMD Type Asia1 Competition ELISA (cELISA) specifically detects FMDV Asia1 serotype-specific antibodies in serum or plasma from cattle, swine or any other susceptible species.
Test specificity was evaluated by testing 1672 samples coming from non-vaccinating and non-endemic areas including 352 small ruminants, 704 swine and 616 cattle. Measured specificity of the ID Screen® cELISA was 100% (CI95% = 99.77 % - 100 %), regardless of the species tested.
Analytical sensitivity was assessed by comparison with two others commercially available SPBE cELISAs, by testing 7 samples from experimentally vaccinated animals and 11 samples from vaccinated animals in endemic area. Results indicated a globally comparable analytical sensitivity, regardless of the kit tested.
Exclusivity was tested with the IAEA serum panel from infected cattle (FAO/IAEA), that includes sera against the 6 FMDV serotypes. The ID Screen® cELISA correctly identified as positive only the Asia1 antiserum, whereas all the antiserum from other serotypes from this panel were found negative.
When comparing the results with other kits, the ID Screen® cELISA also showed an improved discriminatory capacity between infected/vaccinated and naïve/negative samples.
Kit stability was tested by accelerated ageing. All components were stable enough to allow shipment without room temperature control, like all other kits from the ID Screen® range.
The new ID Screen® FMD type Asia1 Competition ELISA demonstrates excellent performance. It allows for serotype-specific antibody detection to FMDV serotype Asia 1. The kit is particularly user-friendly: all reagents are ready-to-use and very stable. Results are obtained in 2h15. With the ID Screen® FMD Type O, type A and Type Asia 1 Competition ELISAs, IDvet now offers a complete and full range for the serotype-specific antibody detection of FMDV serotype O, A and Asia 1 respectively.
Carpentier, Alix1 ; Donnet, Fabien1 ; Roche, Mickaël ; Comtet, Loïc1 ; Pourquier, Philippe 1
IDvet, 310 rue Louis Pasteur, 34790 GRABELS, France
EuFMD Open Session
www.eufmdvirtual.com
A new pan FMDV das antigen Elisa using multi-serotype reactive monoclonal antibodies
The wide range of hosts, rapid replication, high levels of viral excretion and multiple forms of transmission make FMD difficult to control and eradicate. As FMD can spread fast, rapid and specific identification of the agent is required, as FMD is clinically indistinguishable from other vesicular diseases such as vesicular stomatitis (VS) and swine vesicular disease (SVD).
In this study, we describe the preliminary performance evaluation of a Double Antibody Sandwich (DAS) ELISA for FMDV detection.
Reactivity profile of different panFMD Mabs was investigated by indirect ELISAs. The Mabs that showed the wider spectrum of recognition were selected and submitted to further testing for their ability to capture and reveal the different virus strains in DAS ELISA format.
Inclusivity was assessed by testing different serotypes including O, A, Asia1, SAT1 and SAT2. The analytical sensitivity was evaluated by testing serial dilutions of these viruses. Results obtained with the new panFMDV DAS ELISA were compared to commercially available techniques: a Mab –based ELISA kit produced by reference laboratories and a lateral flow device test based on the well described 1F10 Mab.
The new panFMDV DAS ELISA was able to detect all strains tested. SVD virus was not detected. Interestingly, SAT1 and SAT2 strains were very well detected, whereas a very low signal was observed with the other DAS ELISA. The new panFMDV DAS ELISA showed an improvement in analytical sensitivity (up to 10-fold) compared to the other techniques, and seemed to have a wider spectrum of detection.
Further testing on more strains is ongoing to better characterize the Mabs recognition pattern and the usefulness of their use in viral detection tests. This new panFMD DAS ELISA allows for rapid and specific FMDV detection. It could be a useful tool for detecting and controlling FMDV outbreaks.
Comtet, Loïc1 ; Carpentier, Alix1 ; Donnet, Fabien1 ; Roche, Mickaël1 ; Pourquier, Philippe 1
IDVET, 310 rue Louis Pasteur, 34790 GRABELS, France
EuFMD Open Session
www.eufmdvirtual.com
F. Reviriego - Improving business continuity in the EU - the regulatory and policy challenges by European Commission for the Control of FMD
Continuity of Business during Transboundary Animal Diseases – Lessons Learned from California’s Implementation of the Secure Food Supply Program
Abstract
Food-and-mouth disease And Similar Transboundary (FAST) animal diseases are a constant threat to the European livestock sector. They do not only cause large animal health and welfare problems, they are also disruptive for private partners of the livestock production value chain, as well as for public authorities and institutions involved. Successful prevention and control of FAST diseases requires the involvement and collaboration of private and public partners.
A group of 8 European organisations - representing farmers, breeders, traders, feed producers, renderers and the animal health sector - supported by EuFMD, has set up a platform against FAST diseases. The platform seeks communication and collaboration with public partners in a Public-Private-Partnership, and listed items for debate including:
reconsidering criteria for application of emergency vaccination and creating a lever for keeping vaccinated animals in the food chain;
incentivising biosecurity on farms for preventing FAST diseases;
capacity on farms, in test laboratories, on rendering plants, etc. in the face of FAST disease outbreaks;
biosecurity management in the feed chain.
This initiative is well in line with EuFMD Workplans Phase V 2019 – 2021, which aims to establish Public and Private Sector Platforms (PPSP) for FAST diseases. With the support of EuFMD, the private stakeholders wish to invite their public stakeholders’ partners and academia to a series of workshops and simulation exercises that addresses specific aspects of FAST disease prevention and control.
Abstract
The current pandemic of African Swine Fever (ASF) has caused major losses to the swine industry worldwide. Compartmentalization is one of the available tools to address the threat to business continuity posed by ASF to the industry. Although compartments have been implemented for various diseases and production types, no ASF-free swine compartment has been published by OIE to date.
First, we outline the advantages of the approach as well as general challenges for implementation of an ASF-free swine compartment. ASF risk management ranges from prevention, preparedness and early detection activities in disease-free territories to response and eradication after disease introduction has occurred. We discuss the role for zoning and compartmentalisation within this spectrum and specific challenges associated with compartmentalisation (e.g., zero downtime, acceptance by the Veterinary Authority and trading partners).
Then, we discuss two aspects of compartmentalization which are central for successful implementation: biosecurity and disease surveillance, using an illustrative example from North America. Both components are designed to provide evidence that compartment products are free from ASF virus. Biosecurity should be sufficient to mitigate the risk of introduction of virus via all potential routes such as people, fomites, live pigs, pork products and proximity pathways. Implementation of biosecurity measures should be thoroughly documented and auditable. Options for disease surveillance include barn-based observational surveillance, which is able to both support early detection and demonstrate freedom from ASF.
Last, we discuss the relevant stakeholders, roles and responsibilities involved in the development of an effective national ASF compartmentalisation programme. Such programme should include a governance structure, standards for biosecurity, surveillance and traceability, auditing requirements and national ASF surveillance. While integrated swine production systems lend themselves well to compartmentalization, substantial work is required to develop such a programme. Benefits go beyond ASF preparedness,
G. Savioli Et Al. - A methodology to estimate indirect costs by European Commission for the Control of FMD
Introduction
Scoping work was carried out to gather information on the state of preparedness for emergency vaccination for FAST diseases in EuFMD Member Nations (MN); and on the issues that constrain them from inclusion of vaccination in their plans. Different aspects of emergency vaccination were investigated including vaccination strategies, access to vaccines and operational preparedness. The scope of the work was category 1 FAST diseases which is Foot- and- Mouth Disease (FMD), Lumpy Skin Disease (LSD), Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR) and Sheep and Goat Pox (SGP).
Materials and methods
An online questionnaire was sent out to 39 EuFMD member nations plus three additional European countries. The online tool SurveyMonkey® was used and the data was analysed using R. The questionnaire was aimed at risk managers/ contingency planners.
Results
The response rate was 15 out of 42 countries. Some examples of preliminary key findings were that the level of planning for emergency vaccination is higher for FMD than PPR and SGP, many of the responding countries rely on the EU bank with no other arrangements to source vaccines, not all countries have a system to perform a rapid evaluation and approval of vaccines for emergency use, a relative high number of member nations would choose a vaccinate-to-cull strategy over a vaccinate-to-live strategy for FMD and over 50% of countries have an exit plan for FMD but only one country has stated they have an exit plan for PPR or SGP.
Discussion
The questionnaire result will be followed up by semi-structured group interviews with EuFMD MNs risk managers/ contingency planners to validate the results and to capture more detailed information on the gaps and needs in MNs.
B Sanz-Bernardo1 & M Grant2
1 The Pirbright Institute
2The European Commission for the Control of Foot-and-Mouth Disease (EuFMD)
G. Graeme - Comparing surveillance approaches to support regaining free status by European Commission for the Control of FMD
T. Marschik - The epidemiological and economic impact of a potential outbreak in Austria by European Commission for the Control of FMD
SECURE FOOD SUPPLY PLANNING IN THE U.S. – CONTINUITY OF BUSINESS DURING A TRANSBOUNDARY LIVESTOCK DISEASE OUTBREAK
D. Bickett-Weddle1, R. Dewell1, M. Lee1, V. Lenardon1, P. Zaabel2, P. Hullinger3, T. Goldsmith4, M. Sanderson5, C. Hanthorn5, J. Roth1
1 Center for Food Security and Public Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, US
2 National Pork Board, Clive, IA, US
3 The European Commission for the Control of Foot-and -Mouth-Disease, Food and Agriculture Organization, Rome, Italy
4 Department of Veterinary Population Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN, US
5 Center for Outcomes Research and Epidemiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, US
Introduction
A transboundary disease outbreak in the U.S. would have immediate and long-lasting impacts on livestock and allied industries. Response plans include immediate movement restrictions for animals and their products that pose a risk of disease spread. This market disruption will impact food availability, animal welfare, and the economic viability of livestock producers. Balancing disease control efforts with business continuity is complex.
Materials and Methods
The USDA APHIS, the National Pork Board, and the American Sheep Industry Association contributed funding to university veterinarians to develop the Secure Food Supply Plans for Continuity of Business. National and international standards for disease control were reviewed. Subject matter experts were consulted. Stakeholders were identified from the dairy, swine, beef, and sheep industries, and state and federal regulatory officials to review and improve guidance documents. Workshops, field demonstrations, tabletops and functional exercises were conducted. Frequent stakeholder webinars are held to collect feedback.
Results
The Secure Milk, Pork, Beef, Sheep and Wool Supply Plans were created to provide guidance to producers, packers/processors, regulatory officials and veterinarians for preparedness and response actions to promote business continuity during a U.S. transboundary animal disease outbreak. Each Plan has industry-specific materials to support contingency planning for movement restrictions, enhance biosecurity, and conduct surveillance. Pro-active risk assessments for milk and pork were conducted. Foundations for movement permitting were created for livestock premises with no evidence of infection. All resources are available online at: www.securefoodsupply.org.
Discussion
The negative animal health, welfare, and economic repercussions will be significant if a transboundary disease is introduced to the U.S. The Secure Food Supply Plans for Business Continuity provide a framework for the livestock industries, state and federal officials to build resiliency now. It is up to stakeholders to put effort into preparedness planning and implementation to increase their likelihood of maintaining business continuity.
M. Barbaruah - Animal disease emergency management by European Commission for the Control of FMD
S. Heon Lee - Correlation Between Serological Titer And Protection In Pigs Vaccinated by European Commission for the Control of FMD
S. Heon Lee -Development Of A LPBELISA On FMD Virus A by European Commission for the Control of FMD
S. Heon Lee - Experimental Evaluation Of FMD O SKR Vaccine by European Commission for the Control of FMD
C. Croton - Oculus quest virtual reality demonstration to support FMD training by European Commission for the Control of FMD
A. Dekker - Neutralising antibody response poor predictor of heterologous protection by European Commission for the Control of FMD
E.A. Foglia - Field trial to estimate effectiveness of vaccination program against FMD in TCC by European Commission for the Control of FMD
A. Shaw - Exploring foot-and-mouth disease virus antibody affinity using bio-layer interferometry by European Commission for the Control of FMD
S.H. Lee - Evaluation Of The Antigenic Relatedness by European Commission for the Control of FMD
S.H. Lee - The Changes Of Serological Cross Reactivity by European Commission for the Control of FMD
D. Kwon - Comparison of diagnostic performances of three commercial ELISA kits by European Commission for the Control of FMD
A. Capozzo - Indirect Elisas bases on purified viral particles that measure different aspects by European Commission for the Control of FMD
C. Turco - Filtration assisted luminometric Elisa (FAL-ELISA) by European Commission for the Control of FMD
F. Mansilla - Avidity Elisa provides a good correlate with the virus neutralization by European Commission for the Control of FMD
M.Y. Park - Duration of immunity in cattle and pigs under national vaccination programme against FMD by European Commission for the Control of FMD
Y. Han - Development of solid-phase competition Elisa for detection of Type-A FMD by European Commission for the Control of FMD
SH Park - Swine protection in the early stage with intradermal vaccine against typeA by European Commission for the Control of FMD
C. Potzsch - FMD risk reduction in Transcaucasia and neighbouring countries by European Commission for the Control of FMD
Introduction
Intranasal administration of Peste des petits ruminants (PPR) vaccine as a potentially effective means for mass vaccination has been experimentally demonstrated to induce strong mucosal and systemic immune responses in goats. However, little is known about the influence of intranasal PPR vaccination application methods on the induction of immune response in goats. This study compares the influence of two different intranasal vaccine application methods on the immune responses in goats.
Materials and methods
Twenty, male, PPR immunologically naive West African dwarf goats were divided into four groups (n=5). Groups A and B were vaccinated intranasally (IN) with live attenuated PPR vaccine (Nigeria 75/1) by either nasal dropper (Group A) or nasal spray (Group B) methods and compared with the subcutaneous route vaccination (Group C) and unvaccinated control (Group D) for 28 days.
Results
PPR blocking ELISA based on the H-antigen demonstrated high-titres of PPRV-specific antibodies in all vaccinated animals regardless of vaccination route with peak mean percentage inhibitions of 79.3% (day 14); 69.8% (day 21) and 86.6% (day 21) for IN-Drop; IN-Spray and Subcutaneous vaccination groups, respectively. Pulmonary histomorphological assessment showed the development of bronchus-associated lymphoid tissues (BALT) in IN-Spray Group only. PPR Immunohistochemistry showed PPR viral antigens in the lymphoid cells of the germinal centers of the BALT. PPRV antigen was also detected in the spleen and mediastinal lymph nodes of all vaccinated animals after 28 days post-vaccination.
Discussion
The findings of this study shows that the choice of application methods for intranasal PPR vaccine delivery is essential in the induction of immune response and suggests that the IN-Spray method may hold greater potential for earlier induction of systemic immune response as well as pulmonary protection against the pneumonic form of the disease.
PRIORITISATION OF VACCINES – APPROACHES TO MAXIMISING IMPACT
The often-accepted approach to FMD vaccination campaigns is that it is important to vaccinate as many animals as possible against as many strains as may occur in the country. However, this approach is subject to resource limitations. For instance, with constrained budget then cheaper, low quality vaccines may be purchased, or with the limited veterinary manpower then unskilled operatives may be used.
Modelling shows that high quality vaccines will eliminate disease quicker than low quality vaccines and is cost effective. Prioritization is therefore imperative, but first we need to understand what prioritization means as this can take different forms. Once we have defined prioritization then two elements become key, one is the understand of where the disease is occurring, ie surveillance, and the other is predicting need, ie forecasting.
Finally we can consider examples of prioritization such as the focus on areas where the greatest spread may occur or targeting the strain most likely to be of current risk.
The goal of all players is to control FMD as quickly as possible to reduce the impact of the disease and to remove the risk to disease free areas. Prioritization of vaccine usage is an important component in achieving that goal. During this talk we highlight these points and open the discussion on how best to implement these approaches.
Alasdair King
Merck Animal Health, USA
M. Grant - FASTer vaccination: assessing level of preparedness by European Commission for the Control of FMD
IMPACT of ON-FARM biosecurity level in pig herds on the spread and control of foot and mouth disease
K. Mintiens*,1, H. Ferreira2, G. Garner1, R. Bradhurst3, S. Yadav1, E. Moroney4, M. Casey5, M. de la Puente1, J. Dewulf2, P. Hullinger1
1 European Commission for the Control of Foot-and-Mouth Disease, FAO, Rome, Italy
2 Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
3 Centre of Excellence for Biosecurity Risk Analysis, School of BioSciences, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia.
4 Elise Moroney, Irish Department of Agriculture, Food & Marine, Dublin, Ireland
5 Centre for Veterinary Epidemiology and Risk Analysis, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
Introduction
Interest in biosecurity has risen considerably over the last decade in parallel with increasing food trade, outbreaks of transboundary animal diseases, and increasing antimicrobial resistance. Enhancing biosecurity is crucial for both preventing and controlling FAST diseases. In this paper we describe the impact of enhancing biosecurity on pig farms on simulated foot-and-mouth disease epidemics (FMD) in Ireland, using the EuFMDiS model.
Materials and methods
EuFMDiS is a continental-scale modelling platform of livestock disease spread and control that simulates transmission within and between countries. EuFMDiS considers on-farm biosecurity as a protective measure for indirect and local disease spread between herds. It is parameterised as a biosecurity weight of the destination herd that influences the probability of this herd to become infected.
The biosecurity weights are derived from a FMD biosecurity score that is estimated for different pig herd types in Ireland based on the data that are collected by Biocheck.Ugent®, a risk-based scoring system for evaluating the quality of on-farm biosecurity. To estimate the impact of enhanced on-farm biosecurity on the spread and control of FMD, the minimum value of the FMD biosecurity score were truncated at a higher value, simulating a compulsory implementation of additional biosecurity measures on all farm.
Results
The mean (min/max) FMD Biosecurity Score estimated from the Biocheck.Ugent data for Irish pig herds (n=254) was estimated at 63% (41%;83%), which is higher than the mean Score for pig herds (n=2066) in all European countries that participate in Biocheck.Ugent, i.e. 62% (18%, 96%). Truncating the minimum Score for Irish pig herds to 50% resulted in reduction in size and duration of FMD outbreaks in Ireland.
Discussion
This pilot study shows the potential positive impact of implementing on-farm biosecurity management systems on the resilience to FAST disease outbreaks. The study requires further elaboration but can potentially contribute to solutions for business continuity during epidemics.
P. Compston - How do you define a Foot-and-Mouth Disease outbreak in an endemic context by European Commission for the Control of FMD
S. Fevre Et Al - Empowering veterinary paraprofessionals in Africa by European Commission for the Control of FMD
P. Durr-Spread: deciphering farm-to-farm FMD transmission through a big data decision support system by European Commission for the Control of FMD
C. Ezeasor -Intranasal vaccine application methods influence the immune responses in goats by European Commission for the Control of FMD
S. Hamilton and G. Garner -How much is enough? by European Commission for the Control of FMD
R. Khorchani -Evaluation of human resources needed and comparison with HR available to control FMD by European Commission for the Control of FMD
S. Watson -Developing an analytical model to predict FMD vaccine demand for endemic countries. by European Commission for the Control of FMD
THE EPIDEMIOLOGICAL AND ECONOMIC IMPACT OF A POTENTIAL OUTBREAK OF FOOT-AND-MOUTH DISEASE IN AUSTRIA
Introduction
An outbreak of foot-and mouth disease (FMD) in an FMD-free country with substantial export volume of livestock and livestock products, such as Austria, would likely have serious consequences on national economy. This could be mitigated by a rapid intervention to control disease spread. The objectives of this study were to assess the epidemiological and economic impact of FMD outbreaks in Austria by simulation studies, to evaluate the effect of various control strategies and to assess the resources that would be required to respond to an FMD outbreak in Austria.
Materials and methods
The multi-country FMD outbreak simulation model EuFMDiS was used to simulate a potential FMD outbreak in Austrian regions with both low and high livestock densities. The consequences on the Austrian economy were evaluated by a model, which combines the economic results from EuFMDiS with our own calculation of costs. Direct costs linked to the implementation of several control strategies under consideration, as well as the indirect costs caused by production losses and international trade restrictions were estimated. A sensitivity analysis was performed on potential influential input parameters.
Results
The results showed that there is a significant influence of the livestock density of the affected region on the dynamics of the outbreak and its economic impact. Comparison of different control strategies suggested that, from an economic point of view, implementation of additional control measures would be efficient if the epidemic started in an area with high livestock density. Analysis of the simulations demonstrated that success of control measures depends substantially on the adequate availability of resources and the speed of intervention. The vast majority of financial losses associated with an FMD outbreak could be attributed to export losses. Surveillance cost accounted for the largest share of the costs linked to the control strategies.
Discussion
The current study indicates that control of an FMD outbreak may be improved by implementation of a contingency strategy adapted to the affected region and by consideration of a range of factors evaluated in this work.
T. Marschik1, I. Kopacka2, S. Stockreiter3, F. Schmoll4, J. Hiesel5, A. Höflechner-Pöltl3, A. Käsbohrer1, B. Pinior1
1 Institute of Food Safety, Food Technology and Veterinary Public Health, Unit of Veterinary Public Health and Epidemiology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, 1210 Vienna, Austria
2 Division for Data, Statistics and Risk Assessment, Austrian Agency for Health and Food Safety (AGES), Zinzendorfgasse 27/1, 8010 Graz, Austria
3 Department for Animal Health and Animal Disease Control, Federal Ministry of Labour, Social Affairs, Health and Consumer Protection, Radezkystraße 2, 1030 Vienna, Austria
4 Division for Animal Health, Austrian Agency for Health and Food Safety (AGES), Robert-Koch-Gasse 17, 2340 Moedling, Austria
5 Department of Veterinary Administration, Styrian Provincial Government, Friedrichgasse 9, 8010 Graz, Austria
This talk discusses how the wellbeing of veterinary services is a key element of resilient FAST crises. The talk includes a summary of relevant findings from the UK Government Vet Wellbeing Survey 2018. This report was collated following a self-selected anonymous survey across vets undertaking work for government (including both those directly employed by government, under contract, and those working for other employers who deliver contracted government work) designed to assess opinions on various aspects of wellbeing including health and safety, workplace, and mental health.
The survey was disseminated via office notices, targeted emails, online blogs and social media and received over 700 responses. Most replies originated from vets that have undertaken work for government for more than 10 years, working full time and spending the majority of their working time in the field.
The talk also introduces examples of veterinary services wellbeing impact factors and concludes that we must explore wellbeing impact factors for veterinary services and identify tools and processes that help manage and improve wellbeing within veterinary services.
A METHODOLOGY TO ESTIMATE INDIRECT COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH A POSSIBLE OUTBREAK OF TADs IN SWITZERLAND
V Muñoz-Gómez1, G. Savioli2,3, B. Vosough Ahmadi4, M. Schuppers1
1 SAFOSO AG, Waldeggstrasse 1, CH-3097 Liebefeld, Switzerland
2 Veterinary Public Health Institute (VPHI), Schwarzenburgstrasse 161, CH-3097 Liebefeld, Switzerland 3 Swiss Armed Forces, Competence Centre for Veterinary Services and Army Animals, Caserne Sand CH-3000 Bern, Switzerland
4 The European Commission for the Control of Foot-and-Mouth Disease (EuFMD), Viale delle Terme di Caracalla, 00153 Rome, Italy
Introduction
African swine fever (ASF) is a transboundary animal disease associated with high economic, trade and food security relevance. While direct costs of outbreaks of transboundary animal diseases are often well understood, little information is available about indirect and/or consequential costs of control measures. In this study, a spreadsheet model was developed to estimate the indirect consequential costs of ASF in domestic pigs and wild boars, considering different outbreak scenarios in Switzerland.
Materials and methods
First, qualitative interviews were conducted with international stakeholders to identify the sectors that may be indirectly affected by an ASF outbreak and how this impact can be characterized. Various outbreak scenarios in domestic pigs and wild boar were defined, and Swiss stakeholders were interviewed to gather data on the economic impacts in these scenarios. Finally, a cost-calculator model was used to estimate the indirect costs of an ASF outbreak in Switzerland and a decision-tree model was used to analyse various scenarios given incursion probabilities.
Results
Interviews with international stakeholders demonstrated that actors beyond the pig value chain were also indirectly affected by ASF, including, for example, the timber industry, agricultural insurance companies and feed crop producers. Important drivers for indirect costs in Switzerland were consumer demand, slaughter restrictions and biosecurity requirements.
Discussion
The findings demonstrate that the impact of an ASF outbreak will be felt well beyond the pig farms directly affected. Changes in consumer demand will impact the entire pig value chain. Furthermore, certain measures, including biosecurity measures (e.g. compulsory indoor housing) or transport restrictions for healthy pigs may lead to significant indirect consequential costs throughout the value chain. It is crucial for all stakeholders to be informed about the emergency measures that will be taken in an outbreak and their consequences to enable them to prepare for and mitigate their impacts.
COMPARING SURVEILLANCE APPROACHES TO SUPPORT REGAINING FREE STATUS AFTER A FOOT AND MOUTH DISEASE OUTBREAK
Introduction
Following an FMD eradication program, surveillance will be required to demonstrate that the program has been successful. The World Animal Health Organization (OIE) provides guidelines including waiting periods and appropriate surveillance to support regaining FMD-free status. Serological surveillance is the recommended method for demonstrating freedom but is time consuming and expensive. New technologies such as real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) tests and sampling techniques such as bulk milk testing (BMT) of dairy cattle, oral swabs, and saliva collection with rope tethers in piggeries could enable surveillance to be done more efficiently.
Materials and methods
Epidemiological modelling was used to simulate FMD outbreaks, with and without emergency vaccination as part of the response, in Australia. Baseline post-outbreak surveillance approaches for unvaccinated and vaccinated animals based on the European FMD directive (EU 2003) were compared with alternate approaches in which the sampling regime, sampling approaches and/or the diagnostic tests used were varied. The approaches were compared in terms of the resources, time taken, cost, and effectiveness i.e. ability of the surveillance regime to correctly identify the infection status of herds.
Results
In the non-vaccination scenarios, the alternative approach took less time to compete and cost less, with the greatest benefits seen with larger outbreaks. In vaccinated populations, the alternate surveillance approaches significantly reduced the numbers of herds sampled, the total number of tests done and costs of the post-outbreak surveillance. There was no reduction in effectiveness using the alternate approaches, with one of the benefits being a reduction in the number of false positive herds.
Discussion
Alternate approaches to FMD surveillance based on non-invasive sampling methods and RT-qPCR tests have the potential to enable post outbreak surveillance substantiating FMD freedom to be done more quickly and less expensively than traditional approaches based on serological surveys.
MG Garner1, W Vosloo2, S. Tapsuwan1, R Bradhurst3, A Seitzinger1, A Breed4 and T Capon1
1CSIRO-Land and Water, North Road, Acton, 2601, ACT. Australia
2CSIRO-Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness, 5 Portarlington Road, 3220, Geelong, Australia
3 Centre of Excellence for Biosecurity Risk Analysis, School of BioSciences, University of
Melbourne, Parkville, 3010. Victoria, Australia
4Department of Agriculture, Water Resources and the Environment, Canberra. 2601, ACT. Australia
C. Alvarez - FMD serological blocking Elisa based on VHH for post-vaccination monitoring. by European Commission for the Control of FMD
P. Hudelet - Solutions to vaccine security - a manufacturer's perspective. by European Commission for the Control of FMD
R Garcia Fast Crises Vet Services Wellbeing by European Commission for the Control of FMD
D. Lazarus - Goat movements within the FMD protection zone of South Africa by European Commission for the Control of FMD
The use of foot-and-mouth disease models in disease free and endemic settings: prediction, control and targeting of interventions for emerging outbreaks
K. StCharles - Workload schedules, biosecurity practices, and communication preferences of truck by European Commission for the Control of FMD
Y. Tao - Misspecifying operational delays may produce biased forecasts by European Commission for the Control of FMD
S. Messori - Focusing the global reasearch effort to deliver the required tools and strategies by European Commission for the Control of FMD
O. Nekouie - Modeling of freedom from PPR and SGP in Thrace by European Commission for the Control of FMD
O. Mtaallah - A new approach to fight against FMD in Tunisia by European Commission for the Control of FMD
WHEN IS FMD VACCINATION IN ENDEMIC SETTINGS PROFITABLE?
Introduction
Vaccination is central to FMD control in many endemic settings. Yet the financial justification of this approach varies. In this study we assessed how FMD vaccination affects herd-level income considering various cattle production systems in different endemic settings.
Materials and methods
A stochastic partial-budget calculator was designed to assess the change in farm income from FMD vaccination. Expected FMD impact without vaccination was compared to costs and reductions in impact with vaccination. Model inputs included incidence, production losses, treatment and vaccination costs, and vaccine effectiveness. Data for parameterisation were obtained from field studies, literature and expert opinion. Data was available on the losses incurred due to FMD for a range of husbandry systems in different countries, but data on FMD incidence and vaccination effectiveness often had to be estimated.
Results
In some settings FMD vaccination was expected to greatly increase herd-level income. In others it tended to reduce herd-income. This was greatly influenced by the importance of milk production, the frequency of FMD outbreaks, vaccine effectiveness, and vaccination costs.
Discussion
Although some farmers should invest in FMD vaccination, for others vaccination-based control only makes sense if it is at least partly funded by others as part of a wider FMD control programme. Furthermore, as incidence and risk reduce, the incentives for individuals to invest in vaccination diminish expanding the need for public or sector-level funding to further progress FMD control. A calculator with associated framework and guidance are provided to help stakeholders to identify information gaps and estimate the financial incentives for FMD vaccination in different settings.
T.J.D. Knight-Jones1
N.A. Lyons2,3, P. Motta2, B.V. Ahmadi2, J. Rushton3, D.J. Paton4
1 – International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI); 2- EuFMD, FAO; 3 – University of Liverpool; 4 - The Pirbright Institute
A. Bulut - A new approach on outbreak investigations by European Commission for the Control of FMD
N. Lyons - Economic considerations for advancement through the progressive control pathway by European Commission for the Control of FMD
C. Colenutt - Foot-and-mouth disease virus surveillance at markets and abattoirs in Cameroon by European Commission for the Control of FMD
S. Yadav - Evaluation of the impacts of "Time to detection" of a foot-and-mouth disease incursion by European Commission for the Control of FMD
E. Chevanne - Bovine Ephemeral Fever in the European neighbourhood between 2015 and 2019 by European Commission for the Control of FMD
S. Inel Turgut - Monitoring to combat foot-and-mouth disease virus serotype O in Turkey by European Commission for the Control of FMD
D. Hadžović - Evaluation of a brucellosis control strategy in small ruminants in Bosnia by European Commission for the Control of FMD
K. VanderWaal - Forecasting the spread of viruses in swine in the U.S. by European Commission for the Control of FMD
G. Torres - The GF-TADs initiative for the global control of African swine fever by European Commission for the Control of FMD
A. Dekker - Survival of FMDV in the environment and its role in virus transmission by European Commission for the Control of FMD
L. G. Corbellini - Planning foot-and-mouth disease surveillance system in Brazil by European Commission for the Control of FMD
E. Snary - Cross-validation of generic risk assessment tools: an ASF case study by European Commission for the Control of FMD
A. Rivera - Control of an outbreak of foot and mouth disease in Colombia 2017-2018, lessons learned by European Commission for the Control of FMD
CROSS-VALIDATION OF GENERIC RISK ASSESSMENT TOOLS: AN ASF CASE STUDY
Introduction
Risk assessments are often developed to assess the risk for a single disease and introduction pathway. However in recent years, generic risk tools have been developed that can assess the risk of incursion for multiple pathogens via multiple pathways. A collaborative project provided an opportunity for cross validation of several generic risk tools; each assessing an identical incursion scenario using, where possible, the same input data.
Materials & Methods
Seven generic RA tools were used to assess the incursion risk of African swine fever (ASF) virus to the Netherlands and Finland for the epidemiological situation in 2017 and for two hypothetical scenarios in which ASF cases were reported in wild boar and/or domestic pigs in Germany. The generic tools ranged from qualitative risk assessment tools to stochastic spatial risk models but were all parameterised using the same global databases for disease occurrence and trade in live animals and animal products. The risks for each country and scenario were calculated for each tool, for the three pathways most in common (trade in live animals, trade in animal products, and wild boar movements); relative risks were computed, and then compared across tools.
Results
For the 2017 situation, all tools evaluated the risk to the Netherlands to be higher than Finland for the live animal trade pathway, the risk to Finland the same or higher as the Netherlands for the wild boar pathway, while the tools were inconclusive on the animal products pathway. All tools agreed that the hypothetical presence of ASF in Germany increased the risk to the Netherlands, but not to Finland.
Discussion
The case study illustrated that conclusions on the risk of ASF virus incursion were similar across the generic RA tools, despite differences observed in calculated risks. It was concluded that the cross-validation contributed to the credibility of the results.
Research funded by an EFSA Partnering Grant (GP/EFSA/AFSCO/2017/01) and the CoVetLab consortium (CoVetLab 2017-5)
Emma L. Snary1
Rachel A. Taylor1, Robin R. L. Simons1, Helen Roberts2, Cecilia Hultén3, Aline A. de Koeijer4, Tapani Lyytikäinen5, Sebastian Napp6, Anette Boklund7, Ronald Petie4, Kaisa Sörén3, Manon Swanenburg4, Arianna Comin3, Leena Seppä-Lassila5, Maria Cabral4 and Clazien J. de Vos4,
1Department of Epidemiological Sciences, Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA), Weybridge, United Kingdom
2Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra), London, United Kingdom
3National Veterinary Institute (SVA), Uppsala, Sweden
4Department of Bacteriology and Epidemiology, Wageningen Bioveterinary Research (WBVR), Wageningen University & Research, Lelystad, Netherlands
5Finnish Food Authority (Ruokavirasto), Helsinki, Finland
6Centre de Recerca en Sanitat Animal (CReSA IRTA-UAB), Bellaterra, Spain
7Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Section for Animal Welfare and Disease Control, University of Copenhagen, Frederiksberg, Denmark
R. Bradhurst - Modelling the spread of transboundary by European Commission for the Control of FMD
W. Probert - Vote-processing rules for combining rankings of control interventions - multiple models by European Commission for the Control of FMD
P. Compston - Factors Influencing Decision-Making For Foot-And-Mouth Disease Control In Kenya by European Commission for the Control of FMD
A. Adedeji - Risk factors associated with sheeppox by European Commission for the Control of FMD
A. Shaw - Enhanced complete genome sequencing of FMD virus using probe enrichment by European Commission for the Control of FMD
M.Y.Park - Validation of recombinant protein-based Elisa for detection of antibodies by European Commission for the Control of FMD
A.H. Bazid - Assessment of potency and effectiveness of hepta-valent FMD by European Commission for the Control of FMD
S. Grazioli - A multiplex lateral flow device for on-field identification and serotyping by European Commission for the Control of FMD
S. Baselli - Serological ELISAs based on monoclonal antibodies as diagnostic tools for LSD by European Commission for the Control of FMD
G. Pezzoni - Diagnostic performance of FMD virus detection and serotyping assays with field samples by European Commission for the Control of FMD
BooMi La - Enhanced diagnosis efficacy of a newly developed ELISA kit for FMDV by European Commission for the Control of FMD
J. Lee -Development of lineage-specific real-time RT-PCR for the recent FMDV by European Commission for the Control of FMD
E. Brown - CHARACTERISING FOOT-AND-MOUTH DISEASE VIRUS IN CLINICAL SAMPLES USING NANOPORE SEQUENCING by European Commission for the Control of FMD
D. Blight - Genetic analysis of the 2013/14 SAT2 FMD outbreak in Mpumalanga province, South-Africa by European Commission for the Control of FMD
H. Lee - Genetic characterization of serotype and genetic relatedness of foot-and-mouth disease v by European Commission for the Control of FMD
MODELLING AND PREDICTING NATIONAL AND REGIONAL ANIMAL MOBILITY AFFECTING LIVESTOCK’S DISEASES CIRCULATION. A COMPARISON FROM STUDIES IN NORTH/WEST AFRICA AND SOUTH-EAST ASIA.
We are going to present some of the results from our recent works on animal mobility in 2 contrasted Regions: West Africa and South-East Asia. In both cases we tried to understand what the driving factors are behind observed mobility patterns. Different methodologies where used in the 2 contexts.
Live animals trade is in most of the West and North African countries one of the main economics activities. In general, the consumption and production areas are several hundred km apart. Due to the absence of infrastructures, animals are sold alive at local markets to traders, and then moved to capital or coastal cities where they are slaughtered and butchered. Because of this, livestock mobility is an intrinsic component of the farming systems in the region, aiming at optimizing the availability of natural resources (grasslands, surface water) which shows a highly seasonal pattern for a given grazing area. Livestock mobility in the region is a complex phenomenon involving several temporal (from days to months) and spatial scales (from a few km to reach local markets, to international transhumance or trade movements).
The possibility of providing a reliable picture of livestock mobility in the area is hindered by the fact that few quantitative data are collected.
We are presenting the results of the analysis of data provided by Veterinarian services in West and North Africa countries on ruminants' mobility. We used complex network approach to describe mobility patterns and a suite of models (gravity, ERGM) to understand its driving factors of animal mobility. The analysis shows the existence of largest transboundary communities of movement, that could facilitate the spread of the disease in Region. The analysis has shown the existence of 2 important periods for mobility: a routine one, and the period around the religious festivity of Tabaski (during which a young male sheep is slaughtered in each family). The mobility drivers include environmental factors (conditioning the availability of natural resources), commercial reasons (demand and market price), economical (gdp difference between producer and consumer areas) and social factors like the Tabaski celebration.
Andrea Apolloni, Alexis Delabouglise
Representatives of the AQCR team CIRAD). CIRAD-UMR Astre, France
See the whole paper at www.eufmdvirtual.com
R. Condoleo Ranking FMD Hazard using expert knowledge elicitation and PCP activities by European Commission for the Control of FMD
T. Chaligava - Foot-and-mouth disease risk mapping in Georgia by European Commission for the Control of FMD
E.A. Foglia - The role of Local and Regional Livestock movements in FMD spread in EA by European Commission for the Control of FMD
K. Absalanfard - Survey on 10years foot and mouth disease outbreaks in Bushehr province, Iran by European Commission for the Control of FMD
U. Gunasekera - Molecular surveillance of FMD virus through slaughterhouse in Vietnam by European Commission for the Control of FMD
I. Mugezi - Risk of FMD spread through cattle movements in Uganda by European Commission for the Control of FMD
G. Silva - Coverage of slaughterhouse surveillance for bovine tubercolosis by European Commission for the Control of FMD
S. Mielke - Predicting FMD virus in tropical endemic settings by European Commission for the Control of FMD
S. Jamal - Spread of foot-and-mouth disease virus serotype O/ME-SA/Ind-2001e sub-lineage in Pakistan by European Commission for the Control of FMD
A. Apolloni - Modelling and predicting national and regional animal mobility by European Commission for the Control of FMD
EARLY WARNING OF INFECTIOUS DISEASE OUTBREAKS ON CATTLE-TRANSPORT NETWORKS
Introduction
Surveillance of infectious diseases in livestock is traditionally carried out at the farms, which are the typical units of epidemiological investigations and interventions. In Central and Western Europe, high-quality, long-term time series of animal transports have become available and this opens the possibility to new approaches like sentinel
surveillance. By comparing a sentinel surveillance scheme based on markets to one based on farms, the primary aim of this paper is to identify the smallest set of sentinel holdings that would reliably and timely detect emergent disease outbreaks in Swiss cattle.
Materials and methods
Using a data-driven approach, we simulate the spread of infectious diseases according to the reported or available daily cattle transport data in Switzerland over a four year period.
Results
Investigating the efficiency of surveillance at either market or farm level, we find that the most efficient early warning surveillance system [the smallest set of sentinels that timely and reliably detect outbreaks (small outbreaks at detection, short detection delays)] would be based on the former, rather than the latter. We show that a detection probability of 86% can be achieved by monitoring all 137 markets in the network. Additional 250 farm sentinels, selected according to their risk, need to be placed under surveillance so that the probability of first hitting one of these farm sentinels is at least as high as the probability of first hitting a market. Combining markets and 1000 farms with highest risk of infection, these two levels together will lead to a detection probability of 99%.
Discussion
We conclude that the design of animal surveillance systems greatly benefits from the use of the existing abundant and detailed animal transport data especially for highly dynamic cattle transport networks. Sentinel surveillance approaches can be tailored to complement existing farm risk-based and syndromic surveillance approaches.
B. Vidondo5,
F. Schirdewahn1, H. H. K. Lentz2, V. Colizza3, A. Koher1,
P. Hövel1,4,
1 Institut für Theoretische Physik, Technische Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
2 Institute of Epidemiology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Greifswald - Insel Riems,
Germany
3 Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Univ Paris 06, INSERM, Institut Pierre Louis
d'épidémiologie et de Santé Publique, Paris, France
4 School of Mathematical Sciences, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
5 Veterinary Public Health Institute, University of Bern, Bern-Liebefeld, Switzerland
EuFMD Open session
www.eufmdvirtual.com
PARTICIPATORY MAPPING OF ANIMAL MOBILITY PATTERNS USING FAO’S EPIDEMIOLOGY VALUE CHAIN PLATFORM
Introduction
Studies relating to animal movement patterns and are often conducted by academic authors, with dissemination of findings limited to grey literature and scientific journals. Consequently, objectives and outcomes may not incorporate the priorities of surveillance system actors or communicate results to stakeholders. The Food and Agriculture Organisations has developed a digital and interactive medium to facilitate and empower capacity building efforts related to market profiling and animal movement under its Epidemiology Value Chain (EVC) Platform, enabling users to maintain a live, online, and dynamic tool that can store, analyse, and display a magnitude of different data.
Materials and methods
‘Open-source’ electronic collection systems (e.g.EpiCollect5) allow national veterinary services to enter value chain locations and movement patterns. Data is continuously collected through interviews, expert opinion, or retrospectively via the collation of movement permits. Various ‘plug-in’ applications allow for the visualisation of data via maps, statistics, or graphs. These are created in conjunction with national epidemiology units to ensure relevance for selecting and planning intervention options. Lastly, the application allows for dissemination of data to engage key stakeholders.
Results
Over 1000 bird markets and network connections were identified, profiled, and analysed across Viet Nam, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Uganda, Rwanda, and Mozambique. Data collection in Ghana continues in conjunction with the national epidemiology unit, including expansion to livestock markets and other value chain nodes.
Discussion
The mapping of epidemiological significant locations such as markets, abattoirs, and border points along with seasonal and quantified animal movement flows can be utilised by veterinary services to plan and run prevention and control interventions. The tool can rapidly increase country capacities to identify high risk locations, i.e. those in need of urgent biosecurity improvements or those that need to be targeted through surveillance. Furthermore, data can be updated in real-time to maintain the cost efficiency and effectiveness of interventions.
R. Aguanno1,
2, S. Von Dobschuetz1, S. Khomenko1, A. Tripodi1, W. Kalpravidh1, K. Sumption1
1Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations, Viale delle Terme di Caracalla, Roma, Italia, 00153
2 Royal Veterinary College, University College London, 4 Royal College St, London, United Kingdom, NW1 0TU
EuFMD Open Session
www.eufmdvirtual.com
A MODEL EXPLORATION OF CARRIER TRANSMISSION SUFFICIENT FOR MAINTENANCE OF ENDEMIC FMD
There are many factors which might contribute to the persistence of FMD as an endemic disease in many regions. One such factor is persistently infected livestock – animals from whom virus can be isolated more than 28 days after infection, also known as carriers. Despite anecdotal evidence of transmission from carrier animals, and recent evidence that oropharyngeal fluid from such animals can transmit infection, experiment after experiment has consistently failed to demonstrate transmission via contact-challenge. It is clear that if carrier animals can infect naïve animals, the per-capita probability of such an event must be very low.
We investigate the required intensity of transmission from carrier animals to sustain transmission of FMD, and whether this minimum intensity can be consistent with the repeated failure to demonstrate transmission from carrier animals in many experimental settings. Using a realistic model of FMD transmission explicitly modelling transmission within and between farms, as well as real shipment records and farm locations from the Republic of Turkey, we simulate the spread of FMD with different intensities of carrier spread, as well as combinations of other relevant parameters, and measure how likely the persistence of FMD over the duration changes as these parameters vary.
The model finds that it is theoretically possible for carrier animals to contribute towards persistence even at very low transmission values, and that the average duration of the carrier state is the parameter with the greatest effect on FMD persistence, as well as the average duration of disease immunity. However, more work needs to be done to understand the dynamics of FMD spread with and without carrier animals.
G. Guyver-Fletcher1,
I. Keskin2, A. Bulut2, K. Shea3, M. Ferrari3, M. Huran3, X. Li3, C. Jewell4, E. Gorsich1, M. Tildesley1
1 SBIDER, The Zeeman Institute, The University of Warwick, Coventry, United Kingdom
2 Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Republic of Turkey
3 Penn State University, Pennsylvania, USA
4 CHICAS, Lancaster Medical School, Lancaster University, United Kingdom
EuFMD Open Session
www.eufmdvirtual.com
TRACKING LIVESTOCK MOVEMENTS TO UNDERSTAND THE PATTERNS AND RISKS OF FOOT-AND-MOUTH DISEASE SPREAD IN TRADITIONALLY MANAGED SYSTEMS IN EAST AFRICA
Introduction
Livestock are essential to food security and livelihoods in sub-Saharan Africa, but suffer from poor productivity due to infectious diseases such as foot-and-mouth disease (FMD). FMD is endemic in this part of Africa, and outbreaks are frequent, driven mostly by unrestricted livestock movements. To control endemic FMD, comprehensive information on the patterns of spread through herd contacts is needed. However, data on livestock movements across the landscape, and how and where contact occurs remain limited.
Materials and methods
We deployed Global Positioning System (GPS) collars on cattle in 52 different herds to understand fine-scale movements and between-herd contacts in rural areas of western Serengeti, Tanzania, representative of agropastoral systems in East Africa. We used the telemetry data to characterise the patterns of movements and identify locations of interactions between herds that suggest FMD flashpoints. In addition, we examined patterns of contact across a range of spatiotemporal scales, relevant to different FMD transmission scenarios.
Results
We observed that daily movement of cattle increased with herd size and rainfall. Herd contact rates were highest at large spatial and temporal scales. Furthermore, contact was greatest away from household locations, during low rainfall and close to dipping points. Generally, there were higher contacts proximal to resource areas such as grazing and water holes, but only for smaller spatiotemporal contact scales.
Discussion
We demonstrate how widespread movements could heighten the risk of endemic FMD spread. Given that risk is directly related to contact, the probability of FMD spreading between herds could be four times higher when virus survival in the environment increases from one to up to 24 hours. Our results point at times and locations of greatest FMD transmission potential and that could be targeted through tailored control strategies, for example when rainfall levels are low, and around dipping and water points.
D. Ekwem1,
2, T. Lembo1, J. Enright1 , J. Buza2, G. Shirima2, R. Reeve1, G. Hopcraft1, T. Morrison1
1Boyd Orr Centre for Population and Ecosystem Health, Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative Medicine, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Science, University of Glasgow, United Kingdom.
2Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology, School of Life Sciences and Bioengineering, Arusha, Tanzania.
EuFMD Open Session
www.eufmdvirtual.com
A MULTI-SPECIES CONTACT-NETWORK MODEL: BETWEEN-FARM DISEASE SPREADING AMONG BOVINE, SMALL RUMINANTS AND SWINE POPULATIONS.
Introduction
Many infectious diseases infect multiple species and persist through a combination of within- and between-species transmission dynamics and processes. Here, we explore the epidemiological impacts of host-specific disease spread dynamics, among farms raising multiple livestock species: cattle, buffalo, pigs, sheep and goat.
Materials and methods
We reconstructed multiscale stochastic susceptible-infected network-based transmission model for within-farm dynamics and between-farm animal movements. A wide range of introduction scenarios was simulated on the empirical network. To mimic an initial stage of an introduced foreign animal disease we generated 100 runs over available 2-year network starting with 1.000 infected farms. Infection was then started randomly in farms with only swine, only cattle, only small ruminants and final scenario it started in farms with all species. The model was used to simulate control actions based on the identification of farms mode likely to be infected by its contact network.
Results
The largest epidemic had 45% infected swine farms whiten the first six months of simulation. We found that epidemic sizes were governed by which species the index was seeded to. As expected, the swine contact network was the most prone to spread disease, with a simulated prevalence of over 60% at the end of second year of simulation, followed by small ruminants’ and cattle with prevalence over 20% and 10% respectively.
Discussion
The size of epidemics initiated in cattle and small ruminants generated a higher amount of infection into other single species farm holdings. This work highlights the relevance of other than cattle farms in the between-farm transmission of possible foreign animal disease, i.e., foot and mouth disease. These results may serve as basic data in the planning of national or regional to designing risk-based targeted surveillance strategies considering a multi-species approach.
1N. Cárdenas,
2A. Omar, 3F.P. Nunes Lopes, 2G. Machado
1 Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine and Animal Health, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
2 Department of Population Health and Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA.
3Secretary of Agriculture, Livestock and Agribusiness of State of Rio Grande do Sul (SEAPA-RS), Porto Alegre, Brazil.
EuFMD Open Session
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R. deJong - Epidemiological investigation of FMD outbreaks in a bear rescue center by European Commission for the Control of FMD
Geographic distribution of peste des petits ruminants (PPR)
Abstract
Peste des petits ruminants (PPR) is a highly pathogenic viral disease infecting principally sheep and goats, but also some wild artiodactyls, camelids and suids. This disease circulates in large parts of Africa, Asia and Middle-East. Despite global control efforts, PPR continues to emerge and re-emerge in new areas. Importantly, an outbreak in Mongolia in 2016-2017 resulted in high mortality in the endangered Saïga antelope, highlighting the impact PPR can have, not only on global economy and food security, but also on wildlife conservation. PPR also emerged in Georgia in 2016. Interestingly, it appears that this outbreak did not result from an introduction from a neighbouring country as originally suspected but originated from Africa possibly with infected animals brought by plane into Georgia. On-going PPR circulation in North Africa and Turkey represents potential routes of emergence into the European Union via uncontrolled movement of infected animals. The first and only incursion into EU took place in 2018 in Bulgaria at the border with Turkey. This outbreak was quickly detected through on-going disease surveillance programmes and rapidly controlled following EU directives. Symptoms were mild with low mortality, which was unexpected. Clearly, we still need to learn more about the epidemiology of the disease. Improvement and exchange of knowledge on the disease and its diagnostic are key for efficient actions (through international research and lab networks). Transboundary animal movement is the most likely route of PPR spread. Regional, locally adapted strategies are needed to control the disease efficiently.
Arnaud Bataille
CIRAD
EU reference laboratory (EURL) for PPR
OIE/FAO international reference laboratory for PPR
France
EuFMD Open session - OS20 -
www.eufmdvirtual.com
QUANTIFYING THE ROLE OF LIVESTOCK MOVEMENTS FOR THE TRANSMISSION OF RVF IN NORTHERN TANZANIA.
The buying and selling of livestock represents a substantial contribution to the income and livelihood of the people who husband them, however these movements also represent a risk of infectious disease transmission. While the health and commercial costs of disease means that there is incentive to control them, those affected by these costs are often not those most responsible for causing them. Thus market forces cannot be relied upon to restrict disease transmission, and policy-based interventions to prevent pathogen spread are necessary. Modern data-driven approaches to livestock management mean that in many higher income countries, data on livestock movements are collected routinely and stored digitally, and so they can readily be used to inform disease control efforts. However in Tanzania, as with many other LMICs, data on movement patterns must be generated. Here, I describe the collection and analysis of a substantial dataset generated from paper records, which is used to generate a ‘synthetic’ dataset that replicates key features of recorded patterns of movements to represent livestock movement patterns across northern Tanzania. A combination of network analysis and simulation is then used to determine key locations that can be targeted for control of many diseases including the important zoonosis, Rift Valley Fever (RVF). We show that targeting control efforts at locations that are critical because of either their role in the network of cattle movements or the inherent local risk of transmission can provide similar gains in control efficiency. While further investigations are necessary to corroborate these results, they suggest that multiple levers may be available to manage this and other livestock diseases. Efficient control of livestock diseases in areas with limited data and resources available is essential and here, by demonstrating the potential utility of livestock movement data in targeting interventions, this provides an argument for routine collection of such data. This will be especially important for ongoing assessment of risks as we face a future of increased uncertainty in living with environmental and land use change.
R.R. Kao,
G Chaters, W. de Glanville, L. Matthews, J. Nyarobi, E. Swai, S. Cleaveland, & P. Johnson.
EuFMD Open session
www.eufmdvirtual.com
P. Bastiaensen - Is African swine fever returning to Africa? by European Commission for the Control of FMD
Welcome to a new episode of our podcast
Drs Hullinger and Gaynor discuss the recent EuFMD activities in the area of Animal Health Emergency Preparedness for Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) and and other Similar Transboudary Animal Diseases (FAST Diseases).
Dr. Pam Hullinger is a veterinary epidemiologist, with over 30 years’ experience in private and public practice at the California state, US National and International levels. Her expertise includes animal health emergency response preparedness, diagnostics, modeling, animal welfare and continuity of business planning. She has led programs in animal disease spread modeling, FMD vaccination strategy and diagnostic assay development for transboundary animal diseases. Her experience with exotic disease outbreaks includes foot-and-mouth disease and velogenic Newcastle disease. Most recently was the Director of the Large Animal Teaching Hospital and the California Animal Health and Food Safety Laboratory System at UC Davis.
Dr. Sally Gaynor worked as a veterinary risk manager for the Department of Agriculture in Ireland for 27 years. She has over 20 years’ experience in emergency preparedness for, and control of, transboundary animal diseases and was Head of the National Disease Control Centre. Her experience of exotic disease outbreaks includes foot-and-mouth disease, avian influenza, Newcastle disease and swine influenza. She has been working for EuFMD as an Emergency Preparedness Expert since September 2018.
Welcome to a new episode of our podcast
Simulation exercises are an excellent tool to test contingency plans and improve countries’ preparedness against exotic animal diseases. EuFMD supports the organization of simulation exercises, particularly in South Eastern European countries, but the recent pandemic represented a challenge for their planning and implementation. As a solution, a new way of delivering simulation exercises was outlined: Simulation exercises remotely assisted, using a crisis simulation tool. The pilot simulation exercise organized in this way took place on June 2020 in Montenegro.
Maria de la Puente Arévalo works in the EuFMD in coordinating training, simulation exercises and other activities aimed at improving preparedness of European countries against FAST diseases. She graduated at the Complutense University in Madrid and has an MSc in One Health with the University of Edinburgh. She worked for more than 10 years as an official veterinarian in veterinary public health and animal health in Spain as was involved in the European Commission initiative Better Training for Safer Food.
Goran Filipovic works in the EuFMD in planning and implementation of simulation exercises, networking and other activities aimed at improving preparedness of South East Europe region. He graduated at the University of Belgrade Before working in the EuFMD, he worked on various national and regional projects for development and implementation of animal health strategies for prevention, control and eradication of animal diseases.
In Libya, veterinarians in the field are carrying out good work to control the current FMD outbreak. In this new episode, Dr Dayhum and Dr Eldaghayes start from the history of the FMD in Libya to contextualize the actual FMD situation in Libya, and highlight experiences and strategies to control the disease.
Ibrahim Eldaghayes is a veterinarian and Professor of Virology at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tripoli, Libya. He is working with EuFMD, coordinating the work under Pillar II as a Technical Specialist. He holds a PhD in Virology and Immunology from the University of Bristol, UK, 2005. As a formal committee member of the Libyan National Center of Animal Health (NCAH) and now as a scientific advisor for NCAH, he is involved in many activities in order to control animal and zoonotic diseases in Libya. He has been nominated by the Libyan National Center for Diseases Control (NCDC) as Member of the Scientific Committee to control COVID-19 in Libya, and also appointed as COVID-19 Awareness and Education Committee Leader of the University of Tripoli. Ibrahim is also founder and Editor-in-Chief of the peer-reviewed international journal “Open Veterinary Journal”.
Abdunaser Dayhum is a veterinarian and Professor of Epidemiology at the Department of Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tripoli, Libya. He is an epidemiologist, with experience in practice and development and cooperation projects. He is working with EuFMD in supporting the planning, development and implementation of the Pillar II Work Programme with technical assistance for FMD and other TADs risk reduction in European neighbouring countries. He was the director of National Center of Animal Health (NCAH) and also acted as CVO of the State of Libya and OIE delegate in 2012-2014. Abdunaser has a degree in Veterinary Medicine from the University of Tripoli in 1990. he has completed his Master’s Degree in Epidemiology at the Veterinary College, Guelph University, Canada, in 1997, and has a PhD in Veterinary Epidemiology from the Ecole National Vétérinaire d’Alfort, France in 2008.
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Against the framework of the EuFMD’s focus on virtual learning and training, Nadia Rumich, EuFMD Communications Officer spoke with Dr Marcello Nardi and Dr Leah Seabrook about learning and how it is possible to measure the impacts of training programmes.
Marcello Nardi is Chief Learning Officer at EuFMD and leads the design of a Quality Management (QM) system, the processes by which courses and training programmes can be designed for higher impact and the internal Training Management System (TMS). He has a degree in Communication Studies at La Sapienza University and post-graduate degrees in Training Management at Il Sole 24 Ore Business School and Evaluation of Training Impact at Association for Talent Development (ATD). Over the past 12 years he worked in companies operating in the Healthcare industry, where he held various roles within the L&D function, before joining the EuFMD team last December.
Leah Seabrook is a veterinary training specialist with experience in designing technical disease training for public practice veterinarians both virtually and face to face. Leah works with the EuFMD in the development of the Training Management System which will support the development of veterinary capacity in countries the EuFMD supports.
Leah completed her veterinary degree at the Western college of Veterinary Medicine (Canada). After a short period in small animal practice, she joined the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) where she worked mostly in the areas of public health in meat inspection. Leah has developed technical training in support of CFIA's Foreign Animal Disease preparedness measures including hands on face-to-face training, classroom and virtual classroom events.
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Dr Potzsch and Dr Plavsic speak about the collaboration between EuFMD and OIE in the framework of the implemented activities for improving surveillance and control of Foot-and-mouth and similar transboundary (FAST) animal diseases in the South-East European Neighbourhood, as the sharing of data and information under the Statement of Intentions (GF TADs).
Dr Plavsic is the OIE Regional Representative in Moscow. With his team, he is committed in improving on animal health and welfare, OIE standards setting, implementation of one-health principles and improvement of cooperation among Veterinary Services in Europe and beyond.
Dr Potzsch is a veterinary epidemiologists specialized in development, implementation and evaluation of livestock, wildlife and zoonotic disease surveillance and control schemes. He has been working with the EuFMD since 2004, with a focus on the Progressive Control Pathway for Foot-and-Mouth Disease (PCP-FMD), especially in the Southern Caucasus countries, Turkey and Central Asia and Central and West Africa.
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Dr Nick Lyons spoke with Dr Kees Van Maanen about the implementation of small-scale immunogenicity studies for evidenced-based decisions on FMD vaccine selection.
Dr Lyons is a veterinary epidemiologist based in the UK, working with EuFMD with a keen interest in the evaluation of vaccines.
Dr Van Maanen is a virologist and senior researcher at Royal GD Animal Health in Deventer, the Netherlands, who started his career in FMD vaccine control.
They are often involved in providing advice to FMD endemic countries on FMD vaccines and strategies for vaccination.
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Dr Bouda Vosough Ahmadi, EuFMD Risk Assessment Specialist, spoke with Dr Isabelle Dieuzy-Labaye, Senior Advisor on Partnerships at the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE), about Public-Private Partnership (PPP).
PPP is a mechanism to share resources and agree on responsibilities between the public and private sector to improve animal health and welfare. Application of PPP principles to control FMD and other similar transboundary animal diseases (FAST) is the focus of an e-learning course jointly developed by the EuFMD, the OIE and CIRAD.
Dr Dieuzy-Labaye has over 20 years of international experience in the animal health market with a focus in the private sector where she initiated and led multiple collaborations with various partners at the public-private interface. Dr Dieuzy-Labaye is a Board member at Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d’Alfort (ENVA) in France, at the Moredun Research Institute in Scotland and she has been appointed a Trustee of GALVmed and Chair of the Commercial Development Committee. She holds a DVM from ENVA and an MBA from INSEAD.
Dr Bouda Vosough Ahmadi is a veterinarian and animal-health and welfare economist currently working at the EuFMD. His main research focus is on agricultural policies, economics, and policies of animal-health and animal welfare. He currently leads socioeconomic impact assessment studies of livestock diseases as well as public-private partnerships in the veterinary domain at EuFMD/FAO.
Nadia Rumich, EuFMD Communications Officer spoke with Dr Garner and Dr Bradhurst about EuFMDiS, a multi-country Foot-and-mouth disease outbreak simulation model. The EuFMDis model can be used to evaluate various control options to eradicate the disease. It is an adaptation of the Australian Animal Disease Spread Model (AADIS).
Dr Garner is a veterinary epidemiologist who has worked for EuFMD, following his retirement from the Australian Department of Agriculture and Water Resources where he was a Senior Principal Research Scientist and Director of the Department’s Epidemiology and One Health Program.
Dr Bradhurst is a Research Fellow in the Centre of Excellence for Biosecurity Risk Analysis (CEBRA). His specialization is the fusion of multiple modelling approaches for the control of emergency animal, human, plant and environmental disease.
Our FMD Risk Assessment Specialist Dr. Bouda Ahmadi spoke with Dr Gareth Salmon at the FAO HQ in February. They discussed the new website called livestockdata.org that has been launched in May 2020 by The Livestock Data for Decisions (LD4D) Community of Practice. The website aligns with the LD4D’s objective to drive informed livestock decision-making through better use of existing data and analyses, and will be a source to access livestock evidence and data.
Dr Salmon works for Supporting Evidence Based Interventions (SEBI), which is based at the University of Edinburgh. Previously to that, he completed a PhD at Scotland’s Rural College and The University of Edinburgh. He modelled the productivity improvement potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from smallholder dairy production systems and considered the economic and social constraints to improvements.
Dr. Bouda Ahmadi is an FMD Risk Assessment Specialist and an Animal Health Socioeconomics expert. Bouda is working across the EuFMD Pillar II and Pillar III Work Programme.
Welcome to the podcast on rapid tests for FMD diagnosis. Dr Chevanne (EuFMD), had a talk with Dr Bakkali-Kassimi (ANSES) on rapid tests for the diagnosis of FMD and their contribution to virological surveillance. A rapid and easy-to-perform test is particularly useful for the confirmation of suspected FMD outbreaks on-site, and the fast implementation of control measures. The inactivation of positives tests on-site allows the safe transportation of samples from the field to the laboratory for virus characterization, without the need for maintaining the cold chain.
Dr Bakkali-Kassimi is a virologist at the Animal Health Laboratory of the National Agency for Food Safety, Environmental and Occupational Health (ANSES), Deputy director of UMR1161 Virology and Head of the Picornavirus biology team. He is the Director of the European Reference Laboratory for Foot and Mouth Disease and is also responsible for the international reference laboratory mandates for FAO and OIE.
Dr Etienne Chevanne is an FMD Risk Management Specialist and Animal Health expert. He works at the EuFMD in Rome.
Welcome to the podcast for the first issue of the Quarterly Report for 2020. This is also the first Joint report between EuFMD and the WRLFMD, replacing the former Global Monthly Report (GMR) which had been issued by the EuFMD for eight years.
Keith Sumption is the Executive Secretary of the EuFMD, and in this podcast he discusses the new Quarterly Report with Donald King, Head of the Vesicular Disease Reference Laboratory Group at the The Pirbright Institute and the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) World Reference Laboratory for Foot-and-mouth disease (WRLFMD).
The Quarterly Report is available on the EuFMD website: https://www.eufmd.info/ and on the WRLFMD one: https://www.wrlfmd.org/ref-lab-reports
All colleagues reading this report are encouraged to assist to increase the submissions from these gap areas. We also welcome feedback on this new report format.
During the EuFMDiS advisory group Meeting held in Rome at the FAO HQ in January 2020, we met Dr. Gabriele Zancanaro from EFSA. We discussed EFSA’s pilot project “SIGMA” and the possible collaboration with our modelling project “EuFMDiS”.
Dr Zancanaro is a doctor in Veterinary Medicine. He was Head Veterinary Offices of Regione Piemonte: reference for the regional National Plan for Residues and for the Regional Observatory of Anatomo-Pathology (ORAP). He has worked for EFSA since 2008 in the Assessment and Methodological Unit and in the Animal Health and Welfare Team where is also project manager of the “SIGMA” Pilot project.
During the “Improving neighbourhood surveillance and European preparedness for Foot-And-mouth disease and Similar Transboundary (FAST) animal diseases” workshop organized by EuFMD in Bari on 24 and 25 September 2019, we had the chance to meet the Dr. Germán Caceres Garrido, a Spanish veterinary, and to have an interesting small talk with him. We discussed the EuFMD FAST disease future work-plan as an important frame to tackle diseases other than FMD in developed and developing countries around the world.
Dr. Germán Caceres Garrido is the head of service of the Epidemiology Department of the Spanish Ministry of Agriculture, Fishieries and Food. In his present job activities, his responsibilities are mostly related with risk assessment, communication and management. He started his career on 1999 by obtaining a veterinary degree at Univeristy Complutense of Madrid and suddenly he become a clinician and surgeon for small animals. After this experience, he become an OVs in the United Kingdom working for DEFRA on meat hygiene, disease surveillance and welfare in slaughter houses until 2007, and then started working in Spanish Ministry of Agriculture in the Epidemiology department of the Animal Health Unit. He is also Focal point for the EuFMD since 2016.
Our FMD Risk Assessment Specialist Dr Bouda Ahmadi interviewed Dr Andrew Peters at the FAO HQ. They discussed on the Supporting Evidence-based Interventions (SEBI-livestock) program in Edinburgh which focuses on improving data collection and quality for livestock health and productivity in LMICs
Dr Peters is Professor of Tropical Veterinary Medicine at Edinburgh University and Director of SEBI-livestock, Centre for Evidence based Interventions, which aims to improve data on livestock health and productivity in low and middle-income countries. He also works as an independent consultant to the animal health industry and the third sector in development of veterinary medicines, with special emphasis on vaccines. He is a member of several public committees and charity trusts both in the Uk and internationally. He is a veterinarian with PhD and DSc degrees in animal science. He has published some 160 scientific papers and two books on Vaccines for Veterinary Applications and Reproduction in Cattle respectively.
Dr. Bouda Ahmadi is an FMD Risk Assessment Specialist and an Animal Health Socioeconomics expert. Bouda is working across the EuFMD Pillar II and Pillar III Work Programme.
We spoke with our EuFMD Veterinary Epidemiologist Dr Melissa McLaws about the Prioritization of Antigen Management with the International Surveillance Tool (PRAGMATIST). This tool has been developed by EuFMD in collaboration with the World Reference Laboratory for FMD, to assist risk managers make decisions about the FMD vaccines that they purchase/maintain, based on current risks to countries covered by the bank.
Dr McLaws is a veterinary epidemiologist trained in Canada. She has worked in private practice, for government and international organizations; and is currently working for the Canadian Food Inspection Agency as well as a consultant for EuFMD.
During the “Regional cooperation between Trans Caucasus and neighbouring countries for the prevention and control of FMD and similar Transboundary Animal Diseases” meeting held in Rome at the FAO HQ between the 16th and 17th of September, we spoke with Dr. Tamilla Aliyeva. Our discussion focused on the role of regional collaboration to control FMD and other Transboundary Animal Diseases the expected achievements.
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Dr. Tamilla Aliyeva is an Expert in virology and Veterinary epidemiology, with over 29 years of experience in the leading of laboratory, quality control of veterinary preparations, especially virus vaccines, storage and updating of virus strains, scientific investigations in viruses’ reproduction of animals and birds in different biological systems. She has a strong experience in disease control and management, outbreak epidemiological investigation of infectious diseases, development of National Strategy Plans, Contingency Plans for infectious diseases
She is currently working as Deputy Chairman of the Azerbaijan Food Safety Institute under the Food Safety Agency of Azerbaijan Republic National Consultant for Regional FAO Program «Strengthening FMD surveillance and control in the Transcaucasian countries to assist progression on the West Eurasia FMD Progressive Control Pathway»
During the “Regional cooperation between Trans Caucasus and neighbouring countries for the prevention and control of FMD and similar Transboundary Animal Diseases” meeting held in Rome at the FAO HQ between the 16th and 17th of September, we spoke with Dr. Carsten Pötzsch on FMD risk assessment and early warning systems through information sharing among countries.
Dr. Pötzsch is a veterinary epidemiologist from Germany. He has been working with EuFMD since 2004, specifically on the development and promotion of Progressive Control Pathway with a particular focus on the Southern Caucasus countries, Turkey and Central Asia. He has a broad international experience in Europe, Asia and Africa on development, implementation and evaluation of livestock, wildlife and zoonotic disease surveillance and control scheme.
At the time of the Vaccine Security meeting held in Rome at the FAO HQ on the 22-23 January 2020, Keith Sumption discussed Vaccine Security issues with David Mackay, the team leader on the vaccines project in the EuFMD.
They discussed on:
• What does the term ‘vaccine security’ mean and why is this important for FAST diseases? What makes the issue particularly challenging for this type of disease?
• What particular role can EuFMD play in promoting vaccine security for FAST diseases?
• Who needs to be involved in improving vaccine security and how can they best work together?
David Mackay retired from the EMA (European Medicines Agency) in 2018 and now provides independent advice to governmental and non-governmental bodies in relation to regulation and use of veterinary medicines. During his career, Dr Mackay worked upon international FMD surveillance and improving vaccines for a range of animal diseases, has published extensively in peer-reviewed journals on infectious disease of animals, veterinary vaccinology and regulatory affairs, particularly in relation to immunological veterinary medicinal products.
During the Presentation of the Warwick project on development of the simulation model for FMD control in endemic areas held in Rome at the FAO HQ on November 22nd , 2019, we spoke with Dr Michael Tildesley and Glen Guyver-Fletcher. We discussed the challenges of developing models for FMD endemic settings.
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Mike Tildesley is an Associate Professor in the Mathematics Institute and the School of Life Sciences at the University of Warwick. Dr Tildesley works upon the development of mathematical models of livestock and zoonotic infectious disease and their utility as predictive tools. He worked extensively on FMD in the aftermath of the UK 2001 outbreak, developing a model to determine optimal strategies for disease control in the event of future outbreaks. More recently, he has worked on model development in situations where precise demographic and disease incidence data are not available, with a focus on diseases such as foot-and-mouth disease, avian influenza, bovine Tuberculosis, rabies and lumpy skin disease. Dr Tildesley works closely with national policy makers and non-government organisations having previously advised the UK Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, the US Department of Homeland Security, the US Department of Agriculture, the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations and the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) upon strategies for disease control.
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Mr. Glen Guyver-Fletcher is a current PhD student working with Dr Mike Tildesley at the University of Warwick. Previously he completed an undergraduate degree in biology and worked as an intern at EuFMD, assisting in the organization of the 2018 Open Session. Currently he is modelling the spread of Foot-and-Mouth Disease in the Republic of Turkey, in an effort to compare and contrast control measures for the disease.
During the CIRAD Qualitative Risk mapping & Optimization of national monitoring systems meeting held on 15-19 of July 2019, in Rome at the FAO headquarters, we interviewed Dr Hanan Yousif on the Importance of training on Risk assessment and risk mapping on Transboundary animal diseases.
Dr Hanan Yousif obtained her Master Degree at the University of Khartoum, Sudan in veterinary Epidemiology with a special focus on Rinderpest disease in Sudan. She later completed her PhD studies at the University of Khartoum, in veterinary Epidemiology working on FMD in Sudan and is currently working for the Ministry of Animal Resources and Fisheries, Sudan as senior veterinary epidemiologist and as Director of the Disease Control Department.
Dr Yousif supervises the implementation of the zoosanitary measures to control Transboundary Animal Diseases and other diseases in the country and works on the capacity building in six countries in Africa and in Middle-East and at the national level in 18 states by strengthening existing capacities on Disease surveillance, risk assessment and risk mapping and in the use of the livestock emergency guidelines and standards in emergency situations, in collaboration with the Arab Organization of Agriculture Development (AOAD), UN -FAO and INGOs-ICRC and WVI.
During the CIRAD Qualitative Risk mapping & Optimization of national monitoring systems meeting held on 15-19 of July 2019, in Rome at the FAO headquarters, we interviewed one of the course trainers, Dr. Gabriel Poujol.
Dr Poujol spoke with us about the Challenges of the implementation of animal movement in the risk assessment and risk mapping for early detection of transboundary animal diseases.
Dr Gabriel Poujol is a geographer and an Expert in Geographical information sciences. After his graduation in Montpellier, he obtained a Master degree in Management of geographical information systems project and a PhD on staple crops mobility modelling for food security. Before joining Cirad, he worked for the French Government as an expert in risk mapping for decision makers. He is now a data scientist and trainer in the Qualitative Risk analysis field, focusing on risks and mobility in application to animal health.
During the CIRAD Qualitative Risk mapping & Optimization of national monitoring systems meeting held on 15-19 of July 2019, in Rome at the FAO headquarters, we spoke with Dr. Dayhum Abdunaser. We asked Dayhum to go into details about Qualitative risk mapping and optimization of national monitoring systems, with a special focus on the development of risk-based surveillance protocols.
After his degree at the University of Tripoli and a Masters at the Ontario Veterinary College in Canada, Dr Dayhum obtained his PhD at the Alfort National Veterinary School of France.
He was co-chair of the Mediterranean Animal Health Network in 2013; CVO and OIE delegate at National Center of Animal Health (NCAH) of Libya from June 2012 to Nov. 2014) He is now Head of Research, of the Consulting and Training Department for the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Tripoli since 2015
During the CIRAD Qualitative Risk mapping & Optimization of national monitoring systems meeting held on 15-19 of July 2019, in Rome at the FAO headquarters, we spoke with one of the course trainers, Dr. Elena Arsevska.
Dr Arsevska spoke with us about the national capacities in qualitative risk assessment and risk mapping for FMD and similar Transboundary Animal Diseases and the improvement strategies for an early detection and control of them.
Dr. Elena Arsevska obtained her Masters degree in 2013 at the University of Montpellier in France, where she specialized in veterinary epidemiology and tropical diseases. She later completed her doctoral thesis at the University of Paris XI, developing both a French Epidemic Intelligence system for animal health and a tool for the web-monitoring of news regarding the detection of disease emergency. She is currently based in Montpellier, where she works for Cirad as Senior Epidemiologist. Elena contributes to the EuFMD program in fifteen countries in Africa, Eastern Europe and Middle East by strengthening existing national capacities for epidemic intelligence, risk assessment, risk mapping and disease surveillance.
During the SAFOSO Technical meeting on evaluation of emergency preparedness for FMD and similar Transboundary Animal Diseases in North Africa, we interviewed Dr Manon Shuppers.
She leads SAFOSO's work on improving national veterinary and food safety systems with a particular focus on strengthening existing national capacities for epidemiology, risk assessment, surveillance and disease control measures.
Dr Schuppers gave us an overview on the role of evaluation of emergency preparedness capacity for FMD and similar Transboundary Animal Diseases in improving early detection and rapid response.
Dr. Joseph Adongo Awuni is a Laboratory expert on FMD in West and Central Africa, and Coordinator of West and Central Africa Veterinary Laboratory Network for Avian Influenza and other trans-boundary diseases. (RESOLAB)
Dr. Awuni spoke with our FMD Risk Management Specialist, Dr. Etienne Chevanne at the recent Workshop for PCP Support Officer(PSOs)in Accra, Ghana. They discussed the role of RESOLAB since its establishment in 2006, with an insight into its future direction.
Dr. Bessong Willington Ojong is a Veterinarian and International Animal Health Livestock Value Chain Expert in Cameroon. Willington was formerly a member of the EuFMD as a short term professional, working across Pillar III which aims to promote Improved uptake of the global strategy for the Progressive control of FMD.
We caught up with Willington in Borgo Egnazia, Puglia, Italy in the margins of the 2018 Open Session of the European Commission for the Control of Foot-and-Mouth Disease. The theme of the session was based around 'Global Vaccine Security'. He tooks us in-depth into some the common socioeconomic barriers that hinder the supply of effective FMD vaccine.
Dr. Bouda Ahmadi is an FMD Risk Assessment Specialist and an Animal Health Socioeconomics expert. Bouda is working across the EuFMD Pillar II and Pillar III Work Programme, and is contributing to the development of new EuFMD e-learning courses on socio economics and Public-Private partnerships (PPP).
Bouda agreed to talk to us about the sometimes overlooked crucial topic of socioeconomics around Animal Health issues. Bouda touches on some good examples of policy at country level by beneficiaries of the Progressive Control Pathway for Foot-and-Mouth Disease (PCP-FMD).
Professor David Paton is a virologist currently working as an international consultant with a particular focus on foot-and-mouth disease and its control. He provides expert support across EuFMD’s programme, including on training to assist emergency preparedness and contingency planning, and on progressive control of FMD. Previously, David led the World Reference Laboratory for Foot-and-Mouth Disease at the Pirbright Institute.
David sat down with us in October 2018 during the Open Session of the European Commission for the Control of Foot-and-Mouth Disease that took place in Borgo Egnazia, Puglia, Italy. David gave us insight to his interpreation on one of the meeting's main themes, "what do we mean by Vaccine Security?".
Animal Health Officer's Dr. Frank Busch & Dr. Kiril Krstevski are experienced Veterinary Officers, whom have been leading a number of Foot-and-Mouth Disease Simulation excercises and 'fact-finding' missions in the Balkan region, as well as in Moldova and Ukraine.
Frank and Kiril sat down with us in April to talk about their missions, what they look for in good emergency preparedness, as well as what they and the countries can learn in the aftermath of each exercise.
Dr. Jorgen Westergaard is a Senior Lecturer in the Agriculture Department, University of Copenhagen. He has extensive experience in field work, research and legislative matters concerning the epidemiology, prevention, control and eradication of infectious diseases.
Jorgen sat down with us in Borgo Egnazia, Puglia, Italy during the 2018 Open Session of the European Commission for the Control of Foot-and-Mouth Disease to walk to us about the evolution of the meaning 'vaccine security' in the field of FMD control.
Maria de la Puente Arévalo is an FMD Risk Manangement Specialist and EuFMD's Pillar I coordinator. Maria sat down with us in Borgo Egnazia, Puglia, Italy during the 2018 Open Session of the European Commission for the Control of Foot-and-Mouth Disease. The theme of the session was based around 'Global Vaccine Security'.
Maria presented to us an explanation of the European Commission for the Control of Foot-and-Mouth Disease Spread Model (EuFMDiS) which is used to evaluate various control options to eradicate the disease. It can also evaluate available resource and vaccine supply issues. The model is an adaptation of the Australian Animal Disease Spread Model (AADIS) developed by Graeme Garner & Richard Bradhurst.
Michael Sanderson is a Professor of Professor of Epidemiology in the Department of Diagnostic Medicine and Pathobiology, Kansas State University. Michael sat down with us in Borgo Egnazia, Puglia, Italy during the 2018 Open Session of the European Commission for the Control of Foot-and-Mouth Disease. The theme of the session was based around 'Global Vaccine Security'
Earlier in the day, Michael gave an insightful presentation on beef supply in the US and the percieved consequences of FMD outbreak. Michael talked to us about the economic barriers to sustained supply of quality vaccine in the United States of America.
Corissa Miller is a Veterinary Officer at Australian Government Department of Agriculture and Water Resources and former EuFMD Short Term Professional (STP). Corissa sat down with us in Borgo Egnazia, Puglia, Italy during the 2018 Open Session of the European Commission for the Control of Foot-and-Mouth Disease. The theme of the session was based around 'Global Vaccine Security'
Corissa talked about the changing demand of vaccine in FMD endemic environments and her own interpretation of the term, 'Vaccine Security'.
Kimberley VanderWaal, Assistant Professor at the Department of Veterinary Population Medicine (VPM),Universtry of Minnesota sat down with us in Borgo Egnazia, Puglia, Italy during the 2018 Open Session of the European Commission for the Control of Foot-and-Mouth Disease. The theme of the session was based around 'Global Vaccine Security'
Kimberley talked about a study into transmission dynamics between herd-types of Foot-and-Mouth Disease Virus (FMDV) in Kenyan rangelands.