Vulnerability of the British swine industry to classical swine fever

Classical swine fever (CSF) is a notifiable, highly contagious viral disease of swine which results in severe welfare and economic consequences in affected countries. To improve preparedness, it is critical to have some understanding of how CSF would spread should it be introduced. Based on the data recorded during the 2000 epidemic of CSF in Great Britain (GB), a spatially explicit, premises-based model was developed to explore the risk of CSF spread in GB. We found that large outbreaks of CSF would be rare and generated from a limited number of areas in GB. Despite the consistently low vulnerability of the British swine industry to large CSF outbreaks, we identified concerns with respect to the role played by the non-commercial sector of the industry. The model further revealed how various epidemiological features may influence the spread of CSF in GB, highlighting the importance of between-farm biosecurity in preventing widespread dissemination of the virus. Knowledge of factors affecting the risk of spread are key components for surveillance planning and resource allocation, and this work provides a valuable stepping stone in guiding policy on CSF surveillance and control in GB

A review of African horse sickness and its implications for Ireland

African horse sickness is an economically highly important non-contagious but infectious Orbivirus disease that is transmitted by various species of Culicoides midges. The equids most severely affected by the virus are horses, ponies, and European donkeys; mules are somewhat less susceptible, and African donkeys and zebra are refractory to the devastating consequences of infection. In recent years, Bluetongue virus, an Orbivirus similar to African horse sickness, which also utilises Culicoides spp. as its vector, has drastically increased its range into previously unaffected regions in northern Europe, utilising indigenous vector species, and causing widespread economic damage to the agricultural sector. Considering these events, the current review outlines the history of African horse sickness, including information concerning virus structure, transmission, viraemia, overwintering ability, and the potential implications that an outbreak would have for Ireland. While the current risk for the introduction of African horse sickness to Ireland is considered at worst ‘very low’, it is important to note that prior to the 2006 outbreak of Bluetongue in northern Europe, both diseases were considered to be of equal risk to the United Kingdom (‘medium-risk’). It is therefore likely that any outbreak of this disease would have serious socio-economic consequences for Ireland due to the high density of vulnerable equids and the prevalence of Culicoides species, potentially capable of vectoring the virus

Quantitative risk assessment of human salmonellosis through consumption of pork in Belgium: a modular risk model

As Salmonella Typhimurium (STM) is the major source of human salmonellosis in Belgium, a quantitative microbial risk assessment (QMRA) to evaluate the health risks associated with the consumption of minced pork meat contaminated with STM in Belgium was initiated. The QMRA model describes the chain from farm-to-fork, dividing the exposure pathway into several modules (1) primary production, (2) transport & holding, (3) slaughter & processing, (4) distribution & storage and (5) consumer. Both fresh and frozen minced meat products prepared at home are considered and human illness is estimated for both inadequately cooking and cross-contamination during preparation. Data relevant to the Belgian situation was incorporated into the model where available, international and literature data was used otherwise. First baseline results of the model are presented and the impact of some scenarios was investigated. These first results show that there seems to be more potential in reducing the STM load on the carcasses, rather then reducing the prevalence.</p

Quantitative risk assessment of human Salmonellosis throough consumption of pork in Belgium: a modular risk model

As Salmonella Typhimurium (STM) is the major source of human salmonellosis in Belgium, a quantitative microbial risk assessment (QMRA) to evaluate the health risks associated with the consumption of minced pork meat contaminated with STM in Belgium was initiated. The QMRA model describes the chain from farm-to-fork, dividing the exposure pathway into several modules (1) primary production, (2) transport & holding, (3) slaughter & processing, (4) distribution & storage and (5) consumer. Both fresh and frozen minced meat products prepared at home are considered and human illness is estimated for both inadequately cooking and cross-contamination during preparation. Data relevant to the Belgian situation was incorporated into the model where available, international and literature data was used otherwise. First baseline results of the model are presented and the impact of some scenarios was investigated. These first results show that there seems to be more potential in reducing the STM load on the carcasses, rather then reducing the prevalence