Notifiable disease

Question 1

Define ‘Notifiable Disease’ in the context of the UK.

Answer 1

A notifiable disease is an animal disease that must be reported to the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) by law, even if it is only suspected. Failure to report can lead to legal consequences.

Question 2

Define ‘Reportable Disease’ in the UK.

Answer 2

A reportable disease is usually recorded by a laboratory upon diagnosis and is used for surveillance purposes rather than initiating immediate action.

Question 3

What are ‘Transboundary Diseases’?

Answer 3

Internationally important diseases that can cross borders and impact global animal health. In the UK, many of these diseases are classified as notifiable.

Question 4

Why are some animal diseases designated as notifiable in the UK and internationally?

Answer 4

To ensure quick action to prevent widespread outbreaks, protect public health, and safeguard the economy and food supply. This requires consistent and transparent reporting to international organizations like the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH).

Question 5

What are the main principles for preventing imported and exotic infections in animals?

Answer 5

Principles include strict quarantine measures, controlling animal movements, and applying rigorous biosecurity protocols to minimize the risk of introducing diseases from other regions.

Question 6

Describe the quarantine procedures for preventing exotic infections.

Answer 6

Quarantine involves isolating animals for a specified period to ensure they do not show signs of infectious diseases before allowing them into a general population. It includes monitoring and, if necessary, testing for specific pathogens.

Question 7

What should be done if a notifiable disease is suspected?

Answer 7

Report immediately to APHA. A duty vet will discuss the case and may visit the site. If suspicion remains, samples are taken, and the location becomes a ‘Suspect Premises’ with restricted movements and biosecurity measures.

Question 8

What steps are taken if Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) is suspected?

Answer 8

Notify APHA, restrict movements, set up biosecurity measures, and prevent potential disease spread. If confirmed, establish Protection (3km radius) and Surveillance (10km radius) zones and carry out humane culling if necessary.

Question 9

What happens when FMD is confirmed?

Answer 9

The Chief Veterinary Officer (CVO) informs WOAH, and the UK loses its FMD-free status. Protection and Surveillance Zones are enforced, affected animals are culled, and epidemiological investigations continue to trace the source and spread of the disease.

Question 10

Describe some control strategies for Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD).

Answer 10

Control strategies include strict biosecurity, immediate culling of affected animals, and establishing zones to contain the outbreak. Export restrictions and continuous monitoring are also enforced.

Question 11

What are some examples of notifiable diseases in the uk

Answer 11

FMD
Bovine TB
Rabies
Avian ‘flu
Anthrax

Question 12

Describe FMD (notifiable disease)

Answer 12

Aphthavirus - picornavirus

Survives well in environment (~ 1 month)

Readily transmitted on equipment, clothes, vehicles, wildlife (as fomites) and wind.

Infects ruminants and pigs (plus some other spp) causing subclinical-to-severe disease

+/- zoonotic?

Last major outbreak in the UK in 2001, further (lab escape) breakdown in 2007

Vesicles/ulcers in mouth, on tongue and feet, lameness, fever, markedly reduced production

Question 13

What is Bovine Tuberculosis (bTB)

Answer 13

bTB is a chronic infectious disease in cattle caused by Mycobacterium bovis, leading to reduced production and is zoonotic via milk, but pasteurization prevents human transmission.

Question 14

How is Bovine TB transmitted among cattle?

Answer 14

Long-distance transmission occurs primarily through cattle movement, while most local transmission happens between cattle in large, housed herds.

Question 15

What is the role of badgers in the transmission of bTB?

Answer 15

Badgers can maintain bTB and transmit it to cattle and vice versa. However, cross-species transmission is less common compared to transmission within the same species.

Question 16

Why is controlling bTB in badgers controversial?

Answer 16

Control is controversial because badger testing is difficult. Approaches include culling or vaccination, with debates on effectiveness and ethical concerns, especially due to the perturbation effect.

Question 17

What are the main diagnostic tests used for bTB in cattle?

Answer 17

Tests include single and comparative skin tests, gamma-interferon tests, post-mortem examination, and antibody-based tests like the Enferplex and phage tests.

Question 18

What is the comparative sensitivity and specificity of the skin test for bTB in cattle?

Answer 18

The single intradermal comparative cervical test (SICCT) has a sensitivity of around 70-80% for individuals and a specificity of about 99.5%.

Question 19

What is the purpose of culling and vaccination in bTB control?

Answer 19

Culling is used to remove infected cattle, while vaccination (e.g., with BCG) is used to prevent future infections. However, no vaccine is 100% effective, and DIVA tests are needed to distinguish vaccinated from infected animals.

Question 20

What are the benefits and drawbacks of culling badgers as a bTB control strategy?

Answer 20

Culling may reduce bTB in cattle by 15-20% in endemic areas but can lead to the perturbation effect, causing increased transmission among badgers. Vaccination is a potential alternative but requires further research.

Question 21

Describe how bTB is detected and confirmed in cattle at abattoirs.

Answer 21

Skin test-positive cattle are sent to designated abattoirs. If bTB lesions are found, affected tissues are condemned. Routine abattoir testing is crucial for bTB surveillance in countries with eradication programs.

Question 22

What is the ‘perturbation effect’ in relation to badger culling?

Answer 22

The perturbation effect occurs when culling disrupts badger social structures, leading to increased movement and potentially higher transmission rates of bTB.

Question 23

How does the prevalence of bTB in a population affect the predictive values of diagnostic tests?

Answer 23

Lower prevalence decreases the Positive Predictive Value (PPV) of a test, meaning a positive result is less likely to indicate true infection, even with high test specificity.

Question 24

What is the significance of strain typing in bTB control?

Answer 24

Strain typing, such as whole genome sequencing, is used to trace the epidemiology of bTB and understand the sources and routes of transmission, aiding in targeted control measures.

Question 25

How is the bTB skin test performed

Answer 25

Question 26

Describe the Post-mortem examination and culture (‘confirmation’) for bTB testing

Answer 26

Question 27

Where are bTB skin test positive cattle culled

Answer 27

Skin test-positive cattle are culled by being sent to specially designated abattoirs (Defra pays the farmer compensation and receives the price for the carcass – which goes into the compensation fund)

If no or only one lesion is found in a lymph node, then lymph nodes and viscera are condemned but the rest of the carcass is passed as fit for human consumption

Skin test positive animals often detected early so have few or no lesions.

Question 28

What is rabies and what viruses cause it?

Answer 28

Rabies is a zoonotic disease caused by lyssaviruses, affecting carnivores and bats, with specific types like EBLV 1 and 2 found in some bat populations in the UK.

Question 29

What are key control strategies for rabies?

Answer 29

Rabies control includes surveillance, biosecurity, quarantine, vaccination (injectables for humans and domestic animals, oral for wildlife), and culling in epidemic situations.

Question 30

What actions should be taken if you suspect rabies?

Answer 30

Recognize different forms (dumb vs. aggressive), perform a risk assessment for post-exposure prophylaxis (vaccine and antiserum), and ensure timely reporting and contact tracing if confirmed.

Question 31

Describe Avian Influenza (AI) and why it is a concern.

Answer 31

AI, or bird flu, originates from avian species but can affect mammals, including humans. High Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) is notifiable in any mammalian species due to its severe implications.

Question 32

What are the control measures for Avian Influenza outbreaks?

Answer 32

Measures include monitoring wild bird populations, establishing disease control zones, vaccination, culling affected flocks, and mapping updates through official websites.

Question 33

What is Bacillus anthracis and how does anthrax spread?

Answer 33

Bacillus anthracis is a Gram-positive rod bacterium whose spores survive long-term in the environment. Transmission occurs through these durable spores, which activate upon exposure to oxygen.

Question 34

What should you do if anthrax is suspected in livestock?

Answer 34

Do not open the carcass to prevent spore formation. Report immediately to APHA, isolate the area, and cover the carcass until officials manage it.

Question 35

What are the symptoms and control methods for African Swine Fever (ASF)?

Answer 35

ASF is a systemic disease causing high mortality in pigs, with symptoms like fever, skin reddening, and abortions. Control includes preventing spread via direct/indirect contact and ticks.

Question 36

What is Bluetongue, and how is it transmitted?

Answer 36

Bluetongue is a viral disease in ruminants transmitted by Culicoides midges. Symptoms include mouth lesions, swelling, abortion, and respiratory distress. Vaccines are serotype-specific.

Question 37

Describe the nature and risks of prion diseases like Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE).

Answer 37

BSE is caused by prions, not viruses, and is zoonotic, linked to variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (vCJD) in humans. Risks persist in the blood supply, with ongoing concerns about genotype effects.

Question 38

What precautions should be taken concerning prion diseases?

Answer 38

Ongoing surveillance and precautions are essential, especially concerning blood supplies and potential zoonotic transmission. Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) remains a concern for deer populations.

Question 39

What are some symptoms of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI)

Answer 39

Question 40

What are the symptoms of anthrax in cattle/sheep, horses & pigs

Answer 40