Abstract
(Englisch)
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The object of this project was to establish a network of laboratories in Europe capable of implementing and evaluating surveillance schemes which will reliably identify transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSE) in cattle (BSE), sheep and goats (scrapie). Such schemes need to use standardised diagnostic tests of known sensitivity and specificity which have been validated for use in the diagnosis of early clinical and pre-clinical cases of bovine, ovine and caprine TSE. In order to achieve this the project had the following objectives:
· Examine those methods currently used for the immunodiagnosis of TSE in order to standardise the protocols and to establish a uniform interpretation of results and establish the sensitivity of the standardised protocols and develop a standard model for the evaluation of novel TSE diagnostic protocols which might, in the future, be presented for validation (Tasks 1 & 2);
· Establish a surveillance system which will suit the identification of a low incidence disease which, at present, cannot be diagnosed in the live animal. This system will take account of all pertinent risk factors and quality control procedures and will be sufficiently flexible to suit the particular requirements of any individual country (Task 3);
· Carry out a detailed clinical investigation into bovine, ovine and caprine neurological diseases in order to identify those populations which are the most suitable candidates for detailed surveillance Task 4).
During the final project year and the extension period, completion of the tasks and the dissemination of results took place. We attended final project-related meetings in Tours (March 2002), London (October 2002) and a task coordinator meeting to prepare the final report in November 2002, again in London.
Within tasks 1 and 2, our institution participated in the completion of the ring trial to establish a EU-accepted 'standard' protocol for immunohistochemistry (IHC) for BSE diagnosis. This protocol has now been identified, and uses a commercially available monoclonal antibody (primary AB). Our reference laboratory has established this protocol and will continue to function as one of the OIE reference laboratories for animal TSE's, using this in addition to our own range of diagnostic test systems.
As task 3 co-ordinator, M. Doherr together with Aline de Koeijer continued to arrange the completion and dissemination of task 3 objectives and results. The evaluation of the Swiss and EU surveillance schemes for BSE and - to some extent - the development of simulation models formed the core of the work done by the Swiss team within this project. Data from the Swiss population, passive BSE surveillance and the newly implemented active BSE surveillance were published and provided to the other partners within this task for comparison and model development. A range of publications have arisen from this work, and several more have been submitted or are in preparation. At the final task leader meeting (November 2002) it was decided that the final scientific report to the EU should be written in the format of a scientific review paper. This work is currently under way.
During 2002 a large effort was made to compile data on small ruminant TSE surveillance within Switzerland, and to evaluate new screening tests to be used in SR-TSE surveillance systems.
In task 4, Elisabeth Maurer provided a considerable amount on clinical data from small ruminants (sheep and goats) with neurological diseases for comparison. All submitted data are now compiled by the task coordinator for the final scientific report. Our own data are summarized in a vet. med. thesis of E. Maurer and another publication (work in progress).
Project-related publications:
· Baumgarten L.; Heim D., Zurbriggen A.; Doherr M.G. (2001): Vorkommen von Scrapie (Traberkrankheit) in der Schweiz: Eine anonyme Querschnittsstudie. Schweizer Archiv für Tierheilkunde 143(11): 539-547.
· Doherr M.G. und Audigé L. (2001): Monitoring and surveillance for rare health-related events - a review from the veterinary perspective. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B, Themed Issue on Population Biology of Emerging and Re-Emerging Pathogens 356: 1097-1106.
· Doherr M.G.; Heim D.; Fatzer R.; Cohen C.; Vandevelde M.; and Zurbriggen A. (2001): Targeted screening of high-risk cattle populations for BSE to augment mandatory reporting of clinical suspects. Preventive Veterinary Medicine 51(1-2):3-16.
· Schlüter H.; Doherr M.G.; Kramer M.; Teuffert J. (2001): Notwendigkeit von bestandsbezogenen BSE-Bekämpfungsmassnahmen zur Tierseuchenprophylaxe oder zum Verbraucherschutz?! Tierärztliche Umschau 56:344-351.
· Baumgarten, L.; Heim, D.; Fatzer, R.; Zurbriggen, A., Doherr, M. G. (2002): Assessment of the Swiss Scrapie surveillance approach. Veterinary Record 151:545-547.
· Doherr M.G.; Hett A.R.; Cohen C.H.; Fatzer R.; Rüfenacht J.; Zurbriggen A.; Heim D. (2002): Trends in prevalence of BSE in Switzerland based on fallen stock and slaughter surveillance. Veterinary Record 150(11):347-348.
· Doherr, M. G.; Hett, A. R.; Rüfenacht, J.; Heim, D., and Zurbriggen, A. (2002): Geographic clustering of BSE cases born after the feed ban in Switzerland. Veterinary Record 151(16):467-472.
· Doherr, M.G. (2002): Aetilogie, Übertragung und epidemiologische Situation von BSE in Europa. Der praktische Tierarzt 83(2):156-162.
· Heim D., Maurer E., Doherr M.G. (2002): Transmissible spongiforme Enzepalopathien bei Schafen und Ziegen [Transmissible spongiform Encephalopathies in sheep and goats]. Schweizer Archiv für Tierheilkunde 144(12):675-683.
· Schwermer H.P., Rüfenacht J., Doherr M.G., Heim D. (2002): Räumliche Verteilung der BSE in der Schweiz [Geographic distribution of BSE in Switzerland]. Schweizer Archiv für Tierheilkunde 144(12):701-709.
· Doherr, M.G. (2002): Bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) - infectious, contagious, zoonotic, or production disease?! Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica (in Druck).
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