Abattoir Surveillance

Question 1

Where does Animal Surveillance take place? (5)

Answer 1

At pre farm level (e.g. animal feed)
At farm level (TB testing, milk sampling)
Wildlife
At food processing (abattoirs)
At wholesale or retail level

Question 2

What do we mean by feed to fork flow?

Answer 2

Spread of biological matter along production stages

Question 3

Why is surveillance at abattoirs the most beneficial than other points in the feed to fork flow?

Answer 3

Abattoirs have access to whole farm animal populations in the most cost effective way (almost all production animals will pass through abattoirs in their life)

Question 4

What is the issue with abattoirs being the ONLY point of surveillance for production animals?

Answer 4

• Fallen stock populations do not go through the abattoir
• Some animal populations are permanently excluded from abattoir surveillance e.g. too young

Question 5

What are the two types of surveillance demonstrated at abattoirs?

Answer 5

Passive surveillance- only suspect are sampled/ inspected
Active surveillance- all animals from a defined risk population are sampled or inspected even if not suspected

Question 6

What Legislation names the Notifiable Diseases?

Answer 6

Animal Health Act 1981- Section 88

Question 7

What may cause an exotic disease to be made Notifiable? (3)

Answer 7

1. If it has real potential to enter the country
2. If the disease spreads quickly and are difficult to detect or control
3. Diseases that lead to international trade restrictions

Question 8

What causes BSE?

Answer 8

Prion disease- caused by a misfolding of an alpha helix into a bleated pleated sheet

Question 9

When do we test cattle for BSE?

Answer 9

Mandatory to test all fallen stock over the age of 48 months by examining the brainstem

Question 10

What are some examples of TSE diseases in animals?
[don’t say BSE- that’s too obvious]

Answer 10

Scrapie (small ruminants)
CWD- Chronic Wasting Disease (Deer)
CJD - Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (Humans)

Question 11

What is Anthrax?

Answer 11

highly pathogenic septicaemia disease that causes sudden death

Question 12

Vets must keep records of their use of drugs on production animals and specify appropriate withdrawal times according to what regulation?

Answer 12

Veterinary Medicines Regulations 2013

Question 13

The prescribing cascade for production animals is controlled under what regulation?

Answer 13

Examination for Residues and Maximum Residue Limits Regulations 1997

Question 14

What is the MRL?

Answer 14

Minimum Residue Level- the max concentration of residue accepted in a food production