NR AXUP
AU Polak,M.P.; Larska,M.; Rola,J.; Zmudzinski,J.F.
TI Animal TSEs in Poland - High Prevalence of Atypical BSE in Cattle with no Scrapie in Small Ruminant Population
QU International Conference - Prion 2007 (26.-28.9.2007) Edinburgh International Conference Centre, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK - Book of Abstracts: Epidemiology, Risk Assessment and Transmission P04.26
IA http://www.prion2007.com/pdf/Prion Book of Abstracts.pdf
PT Konferenz-Poster
AB
B. The prevalance of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) and scrapie within Eruopean Union Member States differs although general trend shows constant decline in the number of cases found despite high testing volume within active surveillance. New forms of both diseases termed as atypical are reported. A./O. The aim of the study was to describe the current status of BSE and scrapie in Poland.
M. Testing for BSE in Poland started in 1996 when histopathology was introduced within passive surveillance scheme to test clinical suspects. However, due to a low number of samples tested no cases were found. Active monitoring using rapid test was initiated in January 2001 and it continued on low scale until 2002 when 5 regional labs took over the regular testing of healthy slaughtered and risk animals. R. After testing around 110,000 samples mostly from slaughterhouses first case of BSE was diagnosed and confirmed in May 2002. Since then 49 cases were found within active surveillance while two additional cases were found in clinical suspects under passive monitoring. Due to the fact that majority of samples tested came from healthy slaughtered animals, 76% of total 51 cases confirmed so far were found in this group of animals. Surprisingly, atypical cases of BSE comprised 14% of all cases, which is relatively high when compared with other countries where this form of BSE was also found. On the other hand despite testing sheep and goats for scrapie since May 2002, Poland is still free from this disease. Small ruminant population in Poland is roughly 300,000 but majority of animals are slaughtered as lambs for meat, and testing volume is very low (4563 animals tested until the end of 2006 with 56% comprising fallen stock and the rest of samples coming from healthy slaughtered sheep and goats). D. One of possible explanations for the phenomenon of high frequency of atypical BSE in Poland is generally higher mean age of BSE cases (7.6 years), which favours the detection of atypical form of the disease. Referring to the negative results for scrapie, the relative resistance of sheep to classical scrapie has to be considered, since 73% of Polish breeds belongs to very resistant and resistant genotypes (type 1 and type 2 according to British standards).
AD M.P. Polak, M. Larska, J. Rola, J.F. Zmudzinski, National Veterinary Research Institute, Poland
SP englisch
PO Schottland