Surveillance at the abattoir Flashcards
Define surveillance
epidemiological practice by which the spread of dz is monitored in order to establish patterns of progression
Aims - surveillance
- predict, observe and minimise harm caused by outbreak/epidemic/pandemic as well as increase knowldege about which factors contribute to such circumstances
- monitor freedom of disease status for a particular dz in a given country
Outline FMD outbreak
- confirmed in pigs, England abattoir
- still import a lot of NZ lamb as cheaper and not enough UK produced for UK consumption
- 2026 premises infected
Advantages - abattoir surveillance
- early detection of emerging and transboundary dz
- monitor/control endemic dz
- combined active/passive surveillance
- access to many ‘farms’ at one point
- assess health status of animal populations (but only certain animals or age groups)
- dz eradication programs
- important for detection of foodborne pathogens and AMR
- monitoring of wildlife-associated dz
- assessment of effectiveness of interventions
- ascertainment freedom of dz
IS there testing at retail level?
Yes - resiudes, contaminants, microorganisms, AMR
T/F: for some dz, abattoir is only point of surveillance
True
Outline approach to surveillance
monitoring usually risk-based (mainly d/t finances)
Slaughterhouse - notifiable diseases
- anthrax
- bovine brucellosis
- EBL
- TSEs
- bovine TB
- warble fly
Anthrax - live animal instructions
suspect aniamls and animals in direct contact to be detained, isolated and reported to APHA immediately
Anthrax - sudden death instructions
should not be opened - risk of formation of highly resistant spores
Outline anthrax actions under APHA supervision
- anthrax investigation - local veterinary inspector (LVI)
- cleaning and disinfection of infected site (FBO)
- carcass + organs detained (pending LVI investigation)
- disposal carcass and organs (cat 2 ABP) - FBO
Instructions - bovine brucellosis
- slaughter separately from other naimals
- sample paired LNs (retropharyngeal, supra-mammary - females, superficial inguinal - males, bulls only = deep inguinal LNs, pasted testicles, epididymides and seminal vesicles)
- avoid risk of contamination
- DECISION: typical lesions -_> carcass + organs unfit for human consumption. No lesions observed –> udder + genital tract + blood declared unfit for human consumption.
Which tumours are not notifiable in cattle? What age is most likely to be affected?
- papilloma and haemangioma
- over 24 months (if
Outline inspection decision - EBL
- if animal or = 2 years (i.e. 2nd pair of incisors erupted)
APHA investigation, animal detained in lairage, normal slaughter PM inspection, sample (tumours, enlarged LNs), carcass + offals to be detained pending test results, more likley to suffer from EBL than other ages
Describe TB surveillance
- PASSIVE (compulsory slaughter on TB restricted farms, tuberculin test reactors - inconclusive reactors (IRs) and direct contacts (DCs)
- ACTIVE: (slaughterhouse, TB status unknown), suspicious animals at AM inspection, suspect lesions in carcass or organs at PM inspection
T/F: BSE is still present in UK
Yes
- last abattoir case in 2010
- last UK case a few weeks ago (test all fallen stock at knacker yard for all farm deaths >24 months)
Latin name - warble fly
Hypoderma bovis
When was warbe fly UK eradicated?
1990
Describe warble fly action if you suspect it
- in live animal or carcass –> OV to notify immediately VO
- if slaughter prior to VO arrival: carcass + hide + ear tag to be detained, 7ml clotted blood sample to be collected
When was last case of pseudorabies/ Aujesky’s disease in pigs in UK??
1989
Outline Aujesky’s disease?
++++
Which notifiable diseases would you test for in the presence of an animal DOA or DIL?
- anthrax
- BSE (if > 48 months old)
Define DIL
Dead in Lairage
Uses - CCIR (collection and communication of inspection results)
- for non-notifiable diseases
- information on animal diseases for the farmer and the farm’s vet
- ID trends in infection dz
- ID geographical areas at risk
- health status of national herd
- example: liver fluke, cysticercosis
Describe the trichinella life cycle
+++
Describe Trichinella surveillance. What is the exception to this?
- mandatory testing: sows and boars
- wild boar (any age, wild or farmed)
- soilpeds (any age)
- all pigs that aren’t reared in controlled housing conditions (FCI data check)
- EXCEPTION: meat from domestic swine that have received freezing treatment (not applicable to wild boar or soilpeds)
Is Trichinella present/absent in UK?
absent but has been detected in foxes (
T/F: all meat has to be tested for DNA
True - in force since horse meat scandal
Why was irish pork avoided?
presence of harmful dioxins
What bacteria are tested for AMR?
- salmonella spp
- campylobacter spp
- commensal E. coli (not VTEC)
- extended spectrum beta-lactamase producers (ESBLs) bacteria
Define NARMS
National Antimicrobial Resistance Monitoring Scheme
Define VSS
Veterinary Surveillance Scheme
Role FBO (farm)
report outbreaks, animal health and welfare issues
Vet role (farm)
residues of vet meds + animal health and welfare
OV role (FSA)
animal dz and welfare reporting + decisions on slaughter line
Role - FBO (abattoir)
food chain information + traceability + animal health + welfare
Role - duty VO (APHA)
animal dz investigations and lab testing
Suspicious CS of anthrax
- sudden death
- high temp
- shivering, twicthing, fits
- bright staring eyes
- colicky pains
- blood presence in nostrils and dung
Things to consider when detecting a dz - 3
- is animal/carcass fit for human consumption?
- risks for animal/ PH
- do you need to contact APHA?
Outline TB case slaughter
- to be slaughtered in separate slaughterhall or slaughtered last of the day
- slaughterhouse cases only: carcasses detained + detailed PM inspection + sampling
- cleaning/disinfection mandatory after slaughter of TB cases
- avoid contamination (other carcasses, slaughterhouse staff, equipment and facilities)
Describe compulsory slaughter from TB restricted farms
- FARMER: FCI -farm with restrictions, animals marked with orange strip on back
- APHA: date and # animals delivered, movement licenses, spreadsheet for recording PM findings
- FSA: detailed PM inspection (carcass + offal), samples to APHA TB lab, completion of spreadsheet
Outline role of APHA and FSA for slaughterhouse cases
- APHA: determines if sample required or not, imposes restrictions and TB testing at farm of origin
- FSA: report suspect cases to APHA, detailed AM/PM inspection, collect and dispatch samples to APHA TB lab
Outline surveillance for animal welfare
- FARM: abnormal behaviours, conditions (old fx)
- TRANPSORT: mortality (DOA), trauma, stress
- ABATTOIR: lairage conditions, animal management, ritual slaughter vs conventional, stunning method
- OV reports to trading standards at AM inspection
Differentiate OV and VO
- OV = official veterinarian
- VO = veterinary officer (APHA)
Define FVC
Field Veterinary Coordinator
Define ND
Notifiable disease
Outline inspection and sampling requirements for TB
- LYMPH NODES: retropharyngeal (!), bronchial (!) and mediastinal (*!), parotid, submandibular or submaxillar, hepatic, mesenteric, supramammary
- ORAGNS: lungs (*), pleura, liver, udder
- = TB lesions likely observd
- ! = mandatory testing if no visible lesions observed (Compulsory slaughter - 10 animals/ farm)
- ALL LNs with visible lesions are to be tested (compulsory slaughter = 3 animals/farm)
Outline montioring of campylobacter in poultry
- Campylobacter risk management programme
- APHA
- AIM: reduce levels in raw chicken (broilers - all types of rearing)
- TARGET: reduce the % of most heavily contaminated chickens at need of slaughter process from 27% to 10% by 2015 as this should lead to estimated reduction of number of human cases by up to 30% (90,000 cases/y)
What is the Statutory Surveillance Programme?
- VMD
- monitoring of 3 groups of substances
- GROUP A: substances having anabolic effect and unauthorised substances
- GROUP B: veterinary drugs and contaminants
- GROUP C: other substances and environmental contaminants
- red meat, pouultry, wild/farmed game. Also farmed salmon/trout, eggs, honey, milk
Dx - Trichinella
- direct muscle digest method
- batch sampling
- up to 100g
- different animals, divided by animal category/ species
- RESULTS: negative then fit for human consumption + health mark. Positive –> to be confirmed by retesting. APHA notified. Carcass disposed as Cat 2 by-product
Outline residue/contaminant testing of red meat/poultry
- samples at abattoir (by FSA as requested by VMD)
- 2 tier approach: screening and confirmation
- samples processed by FERA
- positive samples: vet med (on farm investigation, inform vet and farmer). Unauthorised substance: investigation and legal action (if required)
List notifiable diseases in GB in food-producing animals
- Bacillus anthracis
- HPAI
- BSE
- Brucella abortus
- Brucella meletensis
- Brucella suis
- Equine viral encephalitis
- Glanders and Farcy (Burkholdenia mallei)
- Newcastle dz and paramyxovirus
- psittacosis (ornithosis) is only notifiable in NI
- rabies (terrestial and EBLV)
- rift valley fever
- TB
- vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV)
- WNV
- samonella (if considered a risk of human health in NI)
What is the main spp affected by Glanders and Farcy (Burkholdenia mallei)?
Horses
Which diseases are reportable but not notifiable?
- E. granulosus
- E. multilocularis
- salmonella
- trichinella
- otherwise all notifiable diseases are reportable (some only when under SAPO)
Define
Specified Animal Pathogens Order
