Control strategies for B.melitensis FAO technical meeting in collaboration with WHO and OIE “ Brucella melitensis in Eurasia and Middle East ” FAO-Rome, Italy, 11 – 14 May, 2009 Control strategies for B.melitensis Dr. Lea Knopf Scientific and Technical Department OIE

Control and eradication strategies simplified?

Key points of brucellosis control Control programme must be properly planned, coordinated and ressourced Control and prevention require effective collaboration within and between sectors Eradication can only be achieved by test & slaughter + preventive measures + animal movement control Vaccination as prevention and control Selection of an effective vaccine and vaccination strategy Continued surveillance (presence, efficacy control programme) Herd management and food/occupational hygiene Education and awareness programmes

Key components of disease control or eradication strategy Diagnostic capacities Inter-sectoral collaboration

Other facts of control programmes national/regional level Adapted to the local, specific conditions National/regional priorities and capacities Information and data ressources National legislation and implementation Animals, their products and pathogens ignore borders Huge amounts of small ruminants are traded accross the globe, legally or without precautions Collaboration between neighbours and sectors could be improved

Role of international organsations in B.melitensis control programmes Set standards and promote the capacity to control animal diseases and zoonosis worldwide Codex alimentarius OIE and WHO standards Assist Member Countries to enhance their veterinary governance Disease data collection, dissemination and early warning GLEWS WAHID Technical and/or financial assistance In planning and conducting of programmes Reference laboratories Capacity building programmes OWOH initiative (FAO/WHO/OIE/UNICEF + WB)

Example 1 disease occurrence, off. reporting

Example 2 disease notification, legislation Countries where B.melitensis is a notifiable disease in animals

Example 3 vaccination practised y or n? Which species Which subpopulation

OIE disease control and disease eradication policy Generic aspects Use standardized definitions and concepts – promote harmonization and equivalence Surveillance – to know what is the status quo Transparency in notification (humans, domestic and wild animals) Application of minimum standards for diagnostic techniques and vaccines that meet OIE and/or WHO criteria Scientifically based criteria for disease control programs and (national) legislation Application of ethical principles in trade and animal disease control Zoning / compartmentalization where appropriate Import risk analysis and evaluation of veterinary services Protect human health through control of disease/zoonosis in animals

Terrestrial Code provisions on B. melitensis Chapter 14. 1 Terrestrial Code provisions on B.melitensis Chapter 14.1. (ovine and caprine brucellosis) Considers ovines and caprines as susceptible species for the purpose of trade Separate chapter for B.ovis Not exclusively limited to B.melitensis Provisions for qualification of free status on a country, zone or flock level with vaccination without vaccination Maintenance of free status and recommendations for surveillance Recommendations for safe trade in: live small ruminants for breeding live small ruminants for slaughter Semen Embryos / ova

Zoning & Compartmentalization (Chapter 4.3.) FREE BIOSECURITY BORDER FREE NOT FREE NOT FREE Compartment means one or more establishments under a common biosecurity management system containing an animal subpopulation with a distinct health status with respect to a specific disease or specific diseases for which required surveillance, control and biosecurity measures have been applied for the purpose of international trade Compartiment désigne une ou plusieurs exploitations qui relèvent d'un système commun de gestion de la sécurité biologique et qui détiennent une sous-population caractérisée par un statut sanitaire distinct au regard d’une ou de plusieurs maladies particulières pour lesquelles sont appliquées les mesures de surveillance, de prophylaxie et de sécurité biologique requises aux fins des échanges internationaux. Zone/region means a clearly defined part of a country containing an animal subpopulation with a distinct health status with respect to a specific disease for which required surveillance, control and biosecurity measures have been applied for the purpose of international trade Zone/région désigne une partie clairement délimitée du territoire d’un pays, qui détient une sous-population animale caractérisée par un statut sanitaire distinct au regard d’une maladie particulière pour laquelle sont appliquées les mesures de surveillance, de prophylaxie et de sécurité biologique requises aux fins des échanges internationaux

Surveillance standards (Chapter 1.4.) General conditions and considerations A surveillance system should be in place under the responsibility of the veterinary administration Detecting and investigating an outbreak Procedure for rapid collection and transfer of samples from suspect cases Recording, managing and analyzing the diagnostic and surveillance data (also across sectors) An early warning system throughout the whole production, marketing and processing chain (abattoirs!) Immediate clinical and laboratory investigation of all suspected cases Regular and frequent inspections and testing of risk flocks Consideration of seasonal and husbandry factors

Horizontal provisions: Terrestrial Manual provisions on B.melitensis Disease specific provisions: 2.7.2. Diagnostic tests, vaccines and prescribed tests for int. trade for ov & capr. brucellosis 2.4.3. Bovine brucellosis* Horizontal provisions: 1.1.2. Biosafety and biosecurity in the veterinary microbiology laboratory 1.1.3. Quality management in veterinary testing laboratories; 1.1.8. Principles of veterinary vaccine production

= good veterinary governance A last remark… application of the International Standards, also in the case of B.melitensis, can significantly contribute to An effective animal disease control policy ↕ Ability and capacity of a country to apply the policy = good veterinary governance

Nevertheless they are all sheep!