EFSA publishes two opinions on testing levels for BSE in cattle 17/07/2008

EFSA publishes two opinions on testing levels for BSE in cattle 17/07/2008

The Biological Hazards Panel (BIOHAZ) of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has published two opinions on the monitoring of Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) in cattle in the first 15 countries to join the European Union (EU 15)[1] . Annually around 10 million cattle are tested for BSE in the EU 15. The number of BSE cases detected in cattle in the EU 15 fell from 2,164 in 2001 to 149 in 2007. According to the Panel, if the age for testing for BSE increases from the present 30 months to 36 or 48 months of age for slaughtered cattle[2], less than one BSE case in cattle could be expected to be missed annually in the whole EU 15. If the age for testing increases to 60, 72 and 84 months of age, then fewer than 2, 4 and 6 BSE cases respectively could be expected to be missed in these 15 EU Member States. The Panel also assessed the “at risk” [3] group of cattle and said, that if the age for testing for BSE in cattle “at risk” increases from the current 24 months to 30, 36 or 48 months, then less than one case could be expected to be missed annually in the EU 15. If the testing age was extended to 60 months of age, fewer than 3 cases could be expected to be missed. In addition, the Panel gave advice on age limits for detecting Atypical BSE [4] and any possible re-emergence of BSE in the future. In its assessment, the Panel also noted that the BSE epidemic has been constantly and significantly declining in the EU 15 since 2001.

Since 1994, measures have been in place in the EU to protect human and animal health from BSE These have mainly consisted of the removal of certain organs and parts of cattle (Specified Risk Materials [5]) before human consumption and of a ban on giving feed contaminated with animal proteins to animals (“total feed ban” [6]). BSE monitoring which is the subject of this assessment was set up to assist risk managers mainly in monitoring the evolution of BSE in cattle and thus in assessing the effectiveness of the risk management measures in place.

EFSA was asked by the European Commission to prepare an opinion in order to inform EU risk managers (European Commission, European Parliament and EU Member States) on possible changes to the monitoring regime in the EU 15. An additional question was received from Belgium which extended the scope of this work and which was the subject of a separate opinion. The Panel evaluated BSE monitoring data which had been collected between 2001 and 2007.

The Panel also said that an age limit of 48 months in cattle “at risk” would allow for the detection of a majority of cases, if BSE were to re-emerge. The Panel added however that testing at 24 months for cattle “at risk” would provide an increased sensitivity in detecting a possible re-emergence of BSE and should also allow for an optimised system for early and efficient detection in case a new type of TSE should emerge in cattle.

The Belgian question to EFSA also asked what number of cases would be missed if the EU 15 stopped testing cattle born after 31/12/2003, which is approximately 3 years after the “total feed ban” was introduced. EFSA’s BIOHAZ Panel replied that amongst those animals born in a given year in the EU 15, fewer than 6 cases would be expected to be missed.

The Panel said that it is uncertain whether the current BSE surveillance system provides reliable data on the prevalence of Atypical BSE, as there are uncertainties surrounding the sensitivity and specificity of current tests in relation to this form of BSE. As no Atypical BSE cases have been detected to date in animals younger than 96 months, raising the age for testing from the present 24 or 30 months up to 60 or 84 months would not have a major impact on the detection of Atypical BSE.

Risk for Human and Animal Health related to the revision of the BSE Monitoring regime in some Member States

Further consideration of age-related parameters on the Risk for Human and Animal Health related to the revision of the BSE Monitoring regime in some Member States

For media enquiries, please contact: Alun Jones, Press Officer or Steve Pagani, Head of Press Office Tel: + 39 0521 036 149 E-mail: mhtml:%7B33B38F65-8D2E-434D-8F9B-8BDCD77D3066%7Dmid://00000144/!x-usc:mailto:Press@efsa.europa.eu ______________________________

[1] Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom. [2] At present, in the EU, clinically healthy slaughtered cattle over 30 months of age are tested for BSE. [3] Cattle “at risk” are animals found dead on the farm from all causes, animals slaughtered owing to an accident or other serious or fatal injury and also animals presenting clinical signs of any type of disease before slaughter. Cattle over 24 months of age who are considered to be potentially “at risk” are tested for BSE. [4] Atypical BSE is a type of TSE which has been identified recently in cattle. It has a different prion protein make-up, making it distinct from the so-called “classical” BSE. [5] Specified Risk Materials (SRM) are the tissues containing the highest risk of BSE infectivity. These are removed as a key element of the EU BSE controls. Various tissues are classified and then consequently removed as SRM either at all ages (e.g. tonsils), over 12 months (e.g. the skull and spinal cord) or at 30 months (e.g. vertebral column) in cattle in the EU -

http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=CONSLEG:2001R0999:20080426:EN:PDF



[6] The ban on animal proteins in animal feed in the European Union was introduced in a series of measures from 1994 onwards. The “total feed ban” introduced in 2001 saw the prohibition of all types of animal protein, with some exceptions, from the animal feed chain -

http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=CONSLEG:2001R0999:20080426:EN:PDF




http://www.efsa.europa.eu/EFSA/efsa_locale-1178620753812_1178720721578.htm





Risk for Human and Animal Health related to the revision of the BSE Monitoring regime in some Member States - Scientific Opinion of the Panel on Biological Hazards
Question number: EFSA-Q-2008-007



http://www.efsa.europa.eu/EFSA/Scientific_Opinion/Annex_efsa-q-2008-007.xls



http://www.efsa.europa.eu/EFSA/efsa_locale-1178620753812_1178720721803.htm





Opinions
Further consideration of age-related parameters on the Risk for Human and Animal Health related to the revision of the BSE Monitoring regime in some Member States - Scientific Opinion of the Panel on Biological Hazards Question number: EFSA-Q-2008-266


http://www.efsa.europa.eu/EFSA/efsa_locale-1178620753812_1178720722535.htm





Wednesday, July 16, 2008 Prevalence of the prion protein gene E211K variant in U.S. cattle Research Project:

Haplotype Structure of the Bovine Prion Gene Complex and Association with Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (Bse) Location: Animal Health Systems Research

Title: Prevalence of the prion gene E211K variant in U.S. cattle



http://bse-atypical.blogspot.com/2008/07/prevalence-of-prion-protein-gene-e211k.html




Monday, June 16, 2008 Mad Cows and Computer Models: The U.S. Response to BSE NEW SOLUTIONS: A Journal of Environmental and Occupational Health Policy

Issue: Volume 18, Number 2 / 2008 Pages: 145 - 156 URL: Linking Options

Mad Cows and Computer Models: The U.S. Response to BSE

Frank Ackerman and Wendy A. Johnecheck

Abstract:

The proportion of slaughtered cattle tested for BSE is much smaller in the U.S. than in Europe and Japan, leaving the U.S. heavily dependent on statistical models to estimate both the current prevalence and the spread of BSE. We examine the models relied on by USDA, finding that the prevalence model provides only a rough estimate, due to limited data availability. Reassuring forecasts from the model of the spread of BSE depend on the arbitrary constraint that worst-case values are assumed by only one of 17 key parameters at a time. In three of the six published scenarios with multiple worst-case parameter values, there is at least a 25% probability that BSE will spread rapidly. In public policy terms, reliance on potentially flawed models can be seen as a gamble that no serious BSE outbreak will occur. Statistical modeling at this level of abstraction, with its myriad, compound uncertainties, is no substitute for precautionary policies to protect public health against the threat of epidemics such as BSE.



http://baywood.metapress.com/app/home/contribution.asp?referrer=parent&backto=issue,5,18;journal,1,41;linkingpublicationresults,1:300327,1




MAD COW DISEASE terminology UK c-BSE (typical), atypical BSE H or L, and or Italian L-BASE


http://bse-atypical.blogspot.com/2008/03/mad-cow-disease-terminology-uk-c-bse.html



Owner and Corporation Plead Guilty to Defrauding Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) Surveillance Program

snip... full text ;



http://bse-atypical.blogspot.com/2008/06/mad-cows-and-computer-models-us.html




MAD COW TESTING TEXAS, USA, AND CANADA



http://madcowtesting.blogspot.com/




Wednesday, July 16, 2008



Implementation of 2008 Feed Ban Enhancements Questions and Answers July 15, 2008




http://madcowfeed.blogspot.com/2008/07/implementation-of-2008-feed-ban.html




Terry S. Singeltary Sr.
P.O. Box 42
Bacliff, Texas USA 77518