sp-ebl
2
For further information contact [email protected] SUMMARY PROFILE FOR ENZOOTIC BOVINE LEUKOSIS (EBL) 1 DESCRIPTION A viral disease of cattle causing malignant tumours in affected animals. Clinical signs only appear in a very small proportion of infected cattle usually when they are at least 4-5 years old. Tumours develop in many parts of the body; there is loss of appetite, loss of weight and a fall in milk production. Once these clinical signs appear the disease rapidly leads to death of the animal. The virus is present in the white blood cells of infected animals and the disease is transmitted through close physical contact and the transfer of tissues containing blood. Transmission by contaminated needles, surgical instruments or biting insects is possible. 2 RATIONALE FOR GOVERNMENT INTERVENTION 2.1 Protection of Human Health The disease does not affect humans. 2.2 Society As only a small proportion of infected animals develop clinical, the economic consequences of the disease are relatively low at an industry level although the impact on individual farms may be considerable. 2.3 Trade Assurances on EBL status are required for trade in live animals and products. 2.4 Welfare Not the primary reason for intervention but welfare is compromised as a result of infection and subsequent illness. 3 LEGISLATIVE OVERVIEW EU and domestic legislation aims to eradicate the disease and to prevent its spread through trade in live animals and products. 4 Geographic Distribution GB – The disease was eradicated from GB in 1996 following a national programme of blood and milk testing. GB is classified as officially EBL-free by the EU. EU – A number of countries and regions of the EU have achieved officially EBL-free status. The disease however remains common in many European countries. International – The disease is common in Canada, the USA and in South America. There is a low level of infection in Australia and New Zealand. 5 Risk of introduction / spread LOW – Although the disease is widespread throughout the world, imported cattle are subject to certification and testing requirements which minimise the risk of introduction. Potential routes of entry of the disease to GB: Importation of infected carrier animals. Importation of semen containing infected blood cells. 6 Human health implications The disease does not affect humans and there is no risk to human health. 7 GB Disease control strategy The disease control strategy in GB is to maintain EBL free status by regular serological screening of the national herd through blood and milk sampling and to stamp out any disease which is introduced into the country. 8 Current Surveillance EBL is a notifiable disease and there is a national testing programme. Tumours in live animals or in carcases must be notified to the Divisional Veterinary Manager, who ensures that tests are carried out for EBL. Structured surveys of the national cattle herd take place by regular tests on bulk milk samples or blood samples. These show that the country remains free from the disease. 9 Costs No current disease costs to the industry. Surveillance cost £1 million in the year 2003/4 (there are no blood sampling costs as samples collected for brucellosis testing are also tested for EBL). 10 Stakeholder Impact Statutory – Farmers and vets have a responsibility to report the existence of suspected cases of the disease to the Divisional Veterinary Manager. Other – Farmers should consider the potential risks of importing animals form countries where the disease is prevalent. Benefits – The cattle industry gains potential trade benefits from maintaining GB’s EBL free status. 11 Compensation Compensation is payable for confirmed cases.
-
Upload
ennur-nufian -
Category
Documents
-
view
218 -
download
0
description
aaaaaaaaa
Transcript of sp-ebl
For further information contact [email protected]
SUMMARY PROFILE FOR ENZOOTIC BOVINE LEUKOSIS (EBL)
1 DESCRIPTION A viral disease of cattle causing malignant tumours in affected animals. Clinical signs only appear in a very small proportion of
infected cattle usually when they are at least 4-5 years old. Tumours develop in many parts of the body; there is loss of appetite,loss of weight and a fall in milk production. Once these clinical signs appear the disease rapidly leads to death of the animal. Thevirus is present in the white blood cells of infected animals and the disease is transmitted through close physical contact and thetransfer of tissues containing blood. Transmission by contaminated needles, surgical instruments or biting insects is possible.
2 RATIONALE FOR GOVERNMENT INTERVENTION2.1 Protection of Human HealthThe disease does not affect humans.2.2 SocietyAs only a small proportion of infected animals develop clinical, the economic consequences of the disease are relatively low at anindustry level although the impact on individual farms may be considerable.2.3 TradeAssurances on EBL status are required for trade in live animals and products.2.4 WelfareNot the primary reason for intervention but welfare is compromised as a result of infection and subsequent illness.
3 LEGISLATIVE OVERVIEWEU and domestic legislation aims to eradicate the disease and to prevent its spread through trade in live animals and products.
4 Geographic DistributionGB – The disease was eradicated from GB in 1996 following a national programme of blood and milk testing. GB is classified asofficially EBL-free by the EU.EU – A number of countries and regions of the EU have achieved officially EBL-free status. The disease however remainscommon in many European countries.International – The disease is common in Canada, the USA and in South America. There is a low level of infection in Australia andNew Zealand.
5 Risk of introduction / spreadLOW – Although the disease is widespread throughout the world, imported cattle are subject to certification and testingrequirements which minimise the risk of introduction. Potential routes of entry of the disease to GB: Importation of infected carrieranimals. Importation of semen containing infected blood cells.
6 Human health implicationsThe disease does not affect humans and there is no risk to human health.
7 GB Disease control strategyThe disease control strategy in GB is to maintain EBL free status by regular serological screening of the national herd throughblood and milk sampling and to stamp out any disease which is introduced into the country.
8 Current SurveillanceEBL is a notifiable disease and there is a national testing programme. Tumours in live animals or in carcases must be notified tothe Divisional Veterinary Manager, who ensures that tests are carried out for EBL. Structured surveys of the national cattle herdtake place by regular tests on bulk milk samples or blood samples. These show that the country remains free from the disease.
9 CostsNo current disease costs to the industry. Surveillance cost £1 million in the year 2003/4 (there are no blood sampling costs assamples collected for brucellosis testing are also tested for EBL).
10 Stakeholder ImpactStatutory – Farmers and vets have a responsibility to report the existence of suspected cases of the disease to the DivisionalVeterinary Manager. Other – Farmers should consider the potential risks of importing animals form countries where the disease isprevalent. Benefits – The cattle industry gains potential trade benefits from maintaining GB’s EBL free status.
11 CompensationCompensation is payable for confirmed cases.
For further information contact [email protected]
SUMMARY PROFILE FOR ENZOOTIC BOVINE LEUKOSIS (EBL)
VETERINARY AND EPIDEMIOLOGICAL INFORMATIONSource Data
A - Veterinary Medicine – Radostits, Gay, Blood and Hincliff (‘Blood and Henderson’)
C - The Animal Health Act 1981
D - Handbook of Orders relating to Diseases of Animals
E - The EUR-Lex database of EU legislation (Animal Health and Zootechnics)
H - The OIE (Office International Epizooties) website
N - The DEFRA ‘VIPER’ working instructions for SVS staff
R - DEFRA supplied documents and personal communication
LEGISLATIVE AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATIONSource Data
EBL surveillance records
EBL VIPER Chapter 20
Enzootic Bovine Leukosis Order 2000
