Bovine spongiform encephalopathy, Germany (OIE, February 25 2014): 1 cattle positive for atypical BSE H-type

[Giuseppe]

[Source: OIE, full page: (LINK). Edited.]


Bovine spongiform encephalopathy, Germany


Information received on 25/02/2014 from Dr. Karin Schwabenbauer, Ministerial Dirigentin and Chief Veterinary Officer , Directorate of Animal Health, Animal Welfare, Bundesministerium f?r Ern?hrung, Landwirtschaft und Verbraucherschutz (BMELV) , Bonn, Germany

• Summary
  • Report type Immediate notification (Final report)
  • Date of start of the event 30/01/2014
  • Date of pre-confirmation of the event 04/02/2014
  • Report date 25/02/2014
  • Date submitted to OIE 25/02/2014
  • Date event resolved 25/02/2014
  • Reason for notification Reoccurrence of a listed disease
  • Date of previous occurrence 16/01/2014
  • Manifestation of disease Sub-clinical infection
  • Causal agent Prion (atypical BSE H-type)
  • Nature of diagnosis Laboratory (advanced)
  • This event pertains to the whole country
• New outbreaks
  • Summary of outbreaks
    • Total outbreaks: 1
      • Outbreak Location - BRANDENBURG (Pr?dikow, Pr?tzel, M?rkisch-Oderland)
        • Total animals affected: Species - Susceptible - Cases - Deaths - Destroyed - Slaughtered
          • Cattle - 714 - 1 - 0 - 1 - 0
        • Outbreak statistics: Species - Apparent morbidity rate - Apparent mortality rate - Apparent case fatality rate - Proportion susceptible animals lost*
          • Cattle - 0.14% - 0.00% - 0.00% - 0.14%
          • * Removed from the susceptible population through death, destruction and/or slaughter;
• Epidemiology
  • Source of the outbreak(s) or origin of infection
    • Unknown or inconclusive
• Epidemiological comments
  • As part of the German targeted bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) surveillance system, a BSE-case classified as atypical (H-type) was identified in a cow at slaughter.
  • An epidemiological investigation of the event was conducted.
  • The summary of the event is as follows:
    • The cow was slaughtered on 30.01.2014 at the age of eleven years and four months without clinical signs.
    • Results from the immuno blot tests at the NRL (Friedrich Loeffler-Institute) confirmed the animal positive for atypical BSE of the H-type, a very rare form of the disease not associated with feeding.
    • The animal?s carcass has been destroyed. The identified animal did not enter the food channels; at no time it presented any risk to human health.
    • The epidemiological investigation identified eight offspring cattle, three of which were already slaughtered, one of which has been fallen and four of which have been traded to another Member State. The tracing of the bovines born on the farm from one year before until one year after the birth of the identified cow revealed 371 bovines (177 have been already slaughtered, 63 were fallen stock, 3 have been traded within the territory of Germany, 127 have been traded to other States, one has been culled and destroyed).
  • The OIE does not recognize an atypical form of BSE as a distinct entity for the purpose of its international standards; it is not mentioned in the OIE Terrestrial Animal Health Code, which does not distinguish between different forms of BSE.
• Control measures
  • Measures applied
    • Movement control inside the country
    • Screening
    • Disinfection of infected premises/establishment(s)
    • Modified stamping out
    • No vaccination
    • No treatment of affected animals
  • Measures to be applied
    • No other measures
• Diagnostic test results
  • Laboratory name and type: Friedrich Loeffler-Institute (National laboratory)
    • Tests and results: Species - Test - Test date - Result
      • Cattle - western blot - 04/02/2014 - Positive
• Future Reporting
  • The event is resolved. No more reports will be submitted.

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