24 benv april 2016 en

BENVNational Veterinary Epidemiological Bulletin

April 2016Number 24

-CESMENational Reference Centrefor the study and verificationof Foreign Animal Diseases

-COVEPIOperational VeterinaryCentre for EpidemiologyProgrammingand Information

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BENV National Veterinary Epidemiological Bulletin

2 Index

INDEX

-EDITORIAL 3

-IN THESE MONTHSEpidemiological situation of Blue Tongue in Europe 4The computerized document on animal transport (Form 4) 7

-HAND ON DATANumber of outbreaks reported by regions to SIMAN in thefirst quarter 2016 10Number of outbreaks reported by Regions to SIMAN in thefirst quarter 2016 11Animals involved in outbreaks reported to SIMAN in thefirst quarter 2016 14

-A LOOK AT THE MAPS 14

-AROUND USFirst case of Chronic Wasting Disease in Europe 16The European Union Summary Report on Trends and sources of zoonoses, zoonotic agents and food-borne outbreaks in 2014: main outcomes and conclusions 20

-OFFICIALLY FREE TERRITORIES 26 -CONTACTS & EDITORIAL STAFF 30

April 2016 Number 24

EDITORIALThe BENV as a tool for disseminating information

Dear readers,

in this second issue of 2016, the Benv is presenting a lot of interesting articles. In the section In recent months, you can find the usual update on the trend of the diseases occurred in the national territory and in Europe. An article shows the occurrence of Bluetongue in Europe during years: the recent re-occurrence of BTV8 in France after 5 years from the first epidemic, confirms that surveillance is the unique strategy able to early detect the viral circulation and to provide the Competent authority with a rapid and effective response for the disease management across Europe.

Another article, in the same section, is focused on the computerized document on animal transport (form 4) that has been implemented in the Italian national register of livestock and holdings (BDN). The form 4 is the declaration of provenience of the animals which follows them during the transport until their destination. The use of the Form 4 has been made mandatory on the whole national territ ory with the Ordinance of the Ministry of Health of May 28th, 2015 “Extraordinary measures of veterinary police regarding tuberculosis, bovine and buffalo brucellosis , ovine and caprine brucellosis, enzootic bovine leucosis” starting from December 24th 2015, date of entry into force of the Ordinance.

In the section Around us, an article is focused on the first case of Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) in Europe that has been reported in an adult reindeer (Rangifer tarandus tarandus) captured from a free range population in the region of Nordfjella in the south of the Norway. The reindeer has been identified on the first half of March during the operations of capture realized by the Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA) undertaken for the application of GPS radio-collars: the brain of the animal tested positive to the prion research (ELISA-test, Western Blotting and immunohistochemistry). This case has been the first one of natural infectious by CDW virus in Europe and in the reindeer in the world.

In the same section, an article presents the main findings of the EFSA-ECDC joint report on the trend and sources of zoonoses in 2014 (EUSR 2014), focusing on the most relevant information on zoonoses and food-borne outbreaks within the EU in 2014. The report presents the results of the monitoring and surveillance of zoonoses in animals, food, feed and humans in 32 European countries.

Regarding the data on outbreaks, in the Hand on data section, you can consult the tables with the data on outbreaks of animal diseases reported to SIMAN in the first quarter of 2016, the health status of the territories and the animal species involved in the outbreaks. The maps show the distribution of the main animal diseases occurred in Italy the same time period.

In this new issue, you can consult the maps and tables of officially free territories for enzootic-bovine-leukosis, tuberculosis and brucellosis updated to the 5th February 2016, according to the Commission implementing Decision n. 2016/168/EU, amending the Annexes to Decision 2003/467/EC and establishing the official tuberculosis, brucellosis and enzootic-bovine-leukosis-free status of certain Member States and regions of Member States as regards bovine herds. According to that, Piedmont and Liguria regions, Ancona and Pesaro Urbino provinces of Marche region has been declared officially free from bovine tuberculosis.

Finally, we kindly remind you that the Benv offers you the chance to submit your articles. In the section titled “Submit Your Article” you can find the guidelines for article submission and further details on how to send your paper.

The Benv is continuously evolving and updating, so your comments and suggestions are welcomed, you can send them in the section Suggestions.

Waiting for your numerous articles, we wish you all a pleasant reading of this new issue.

Simona Iannetti COVEPI

3 Editorial


4 In these months

IN THESE MONTHSThe main events of epidemiological interest in the lastmonths in Italy and in the European Union

Epidemiological situation of Blue Tongue in Europe

Bluetongue (BT), is a non-contagious infectious disease of domestic and wild ruminants transmitted by biting midges (Culicoides spp. ). The etiological agent it’s a virus (BTV) that belongs to the family of Reoviridae, genus Orbivirus. Up to now 27 serotypes of BTV have been identified.

Until 1998, BT was considered an exotic disease within Europe, with occasional seasonal epidemic waves (Portugal and Spain 1956, Cipro 1975, Greece 1979). Between 1998 and 2001 at least four serotypes were detected in the Mediterranean basin (BTV 1-2-4-9-16).

During August 2000, Italy experienced the largest BT epidemic in Europe, affecting Sardinia, Sicily and Calabria regions. Since those years BT has spread towards the north Europe, with epidemic waves caused by different serotypes coming from the south and east of the Mediterranean basin.

In August 2006, BT reached the north of Europe. The serotype involved, BTV8, of South African origin probably, was never been notified in Europe before. From 2006 to 2009 the BTV8 epidemic spread with unexpected severity and rapidity (high mortality in sheep and cattle as well), causing severe economic consequences for the intra-community trade. North European Countries affected by BTV8 were Holland, Germany, Belgium, France, Denmark, England, Luxemburg and Sweden. The disease was also notified in Switzerland, Austria, Greece, Czech Republic, Hungary, Portugal and Spain. In 2008, BTV8 was notified also in Italy, with the first cases detected in Veneto region, the source of infection was ascribed to the importation of viremic animals from France. During the next years several cases were reported in other regions. The implementation of mandatory vaccination campaigns against BTV8 guaranteed an important reduction of cases of infection. The last case of BTV8 infection was reported in May 2008, in the north of Sardinia. The circulation of BTV8 in the north of Europe revealed the adaptability of the virus to different vector species than Culicoides imicola, historically identified as the main vector of BTV in Africa, such as Culicoides absoletus/Culicoides scoticus and Culicoides dewulfii, abundant in the north and the central Europe. These vectors have different characteristics than C. imicola.

Since 2000, with the Directive 2000/75/CE, different control measures were put in place to avoid the spread of BT within the EU. After the spread of BTV8 in the countries of northern Europe, a new regulation was approved (Regulation 1266/2007/


5 In these months

CE): this Regulation introduced detailed measures for the control and surveillance of BT in animals and insects as well as detailed rules and restrictions for animal movements. The new Regulation highlighted the importance of vaccination against BT as a key tool to control the disease and to guarantee a safe trade of live ruminants.

In 2013, BTV1 spread widely in Italy, associated with the presence of C. obsoletus. At the beginning of 2014 the same serotype was isolated in Corsica (France) and in the western Spain (province Ca’ceres ). In the same year 59 outbreaks caused by BTV4 were notified in the south of Spain (Andalusia) and 10 in the region of Algarive in Portugal. Clear and evident are the genetic and antigenic correlations between the BTV-1 isolated in Italy, France and Spain and the BTV-1 circulating in North Africa, confirming the paramount importance of common surveillance strategies in macro-areas like the Mediterranean basin.

In 2014 Greece and most of the countries of Eastern Europe (Bulgaria, Romania, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Hungary, Montenegro, Serbia) were affected by a large epidemic caused by BTV serotype 4 (BTV4). In the same year, at the end of the epidemic season, BTV4 was detected in southern Italy, in Puglia region, from where it spread during 2015. Although both viruses reported in Spain and Balkans belong to the same serotype, the genomic assemblage characterizing the two viruses appeared different. Both are reasserting virus, that is with genes derived from one or more parental virus and further studies are currently in progress at the Reference Center. Anyhow, the segment coding for the VP2, the most external protein of the virus responsible for the occurrence of serotype-specific antibodies, appears unspoiled between the two viruses and vaccine strains currently in use.

In September 2015, the French authorities have notified an outbreak of BTV8, five years after the last occurrence. After the confirmation of the virus circulation a surveillance campaign was performed with the aim of determining the geographical distribution of BTV and to study the sero-prevalence of BTV in France in order to identify the immunological status of livestock and its level of protection against BTV8. The preliminary results of the epidemiological investigations carried out in France suggested that the source of infection is not attributable to import of infected animals but to a residual circulation in domestic cattle and probably not detected in wildlife so far. In fact, the viruses isolated in 2015 shows a 95% nucleotide identity with the strain circulating in 2007 in Northern Europe.

Global warming, international trade, the vector competence of different species of Culicoides and the ability of the virus to genetically modify itself also via reassortment are factors that continue to threaten southern Europe but also temperate regions of the North in terms of new introductions and spread of BT virus. For these reasons, although each geographical region has unique characteristics, each intervention strategy against BT is unlikely to have a positive effect in the absence of a shared approach in the management of the problem. European legislation, relating to the control strategies to be implemented against the disease, is in fact very flexible: it provides the tools to deal with BT but leaves each country free to use the most suitable ways for their own needs and the local situation.

The recent re-emergence of BTV8 in France confirms that the planned and constant monitoring activity constitutes the only strategy that will highlight the early influenza activity in an area and provide a rapid and effective response in the management of the disease across Europe .


6 In these months

--Edited by:Rossana Bruno & Daria Di Sabatino COVEPI - Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell’Abruzzo e del Molise “G. Caporale”

Figure 1.Geographical distribution of BT in France - 2015-2016 (Source French Ministry of Agriculture)

Figure 2.Geographical distribution of BT in Europe and in the countries of the Mediterranean Basin - 2015-2016


7 In these months

The computerized document on animal transport (Form 4)

Processes of administrative simplification and dematerialization of paper documents, represent one of the most significant action lines, endorsed by the Italian government, in order to reducing public spending as stated in the “Agenda for simplifying acts 2015-2017” (www.italiasemplice.gov.it). The digital administration code, introduced by the Legislative Decree n. 82 of March 7th 2005 (and subsequent amendments) foresee the use of IT and telematics technologies for communication between public administrations and among them the companies: in particular it foresee the use of information and communication technologies to ensure the availability and facilitate the management, access, transmission, storage and accessibility of information on digital mode.

The implementation of the Animal Identification and Registration Database (BDN) is always constant focusing on the new technologies, in order to facilitate the use of information systems, simplifying administrative processes and realizing the dematerialization totally. In this framework, the BDN has developed the computerized document on animal transport (Form 4). The Form 4 is the declaration of provenience of the animals which follows them during the transport and contains the information about identification (part A), the declarations regarding drug treatments or banned substances (hormones) (part B), the destination (part C), the transporter data (part D), the health certification of the vets who has visited the animal before the transport (part E).

It must be always filled in at least 4 copies:

• One for the shipping company• One for the veterinary service of the Local Health Unit of origin• One for the farm of destination • One for the veterinary services of the Local Health Unit of arrival.

With the Ordinance of the Ministry of Health of the 28th May 2015 “Extraordinary measures of veterinary police regarding tuberculosis, bovine and buffalo brucellosis, ovine and caprine brucellosis, enzootic bovine leucosis” the use of the computerized Form 4 on the whole national territory has been made mandatory starting from the 24th December 2015, date of entry into force of the Ordinance. Therefore, on the 21th December, the computerized compilation of the Form 4 has been made possible in the BDN. In order to allow a gradual application of the use of the computerized Form 4, the Ministry of Health, with Note of December 24th 2015, has permitted in temporary way, for the duration of 6 months, the use of the paper Form 4 instead of the computerized one (filled in the manner prescribed by the Ministerial Decree of May 16 th 2007). A Ministerial Decree will be disposed by June 2016 in order to officially establish the format and rules for the compilation of the computerized Form 4 and will therefore definitely surpassed the paper model.

Meanwhile, for some years, the abolition of the paper Form 4 and its use in computerized format has been launched experimentally in Sicily: an amendment of the legislation, agreed with the Ministry of Health, has abolished the need to produce the document in four paper copies, establishing that the same information should have been recorded by the competent authorities, such as the farmer or his representative and the veterinary services, only within the information system of the BDN. Therefore, the functional modules for the management of the computerized Form 4 for cattle, sheep and goats, pigs and equines in BDN have been developed in experimental basis for Sicily: new functions allows the owners (or their representatives), to directly compile and validate in the BDN the Form 4, according to the sanitary data already registered in the BDN; the form can be also automatically validated or authorized by the official veterinary service of the Local Health Unit.

The registration of data in the system through digital certificate (National service card), the possibility to retrieve information from other information systems, such as the sanitary qualification of the holding registered in the BDN, the sanitary controls and the vaccination in the Information system for animal health (SANAN), the


8 In these months

Figure 1.Cooperation between information systems for producing information in the computerized Form 4

The users appointed to the control, connecting to the management application of the BDN, can verify immediately that all data of the Form 4 of their competence are correctly recorded. In this regard, specific applications for mobiles (tablet and smart-phone) have been implemented to ensure directly the control during transport; these applications will be available soon, allowing the immediate check of the data contained in the computerized Form 4.

In order to adapt the model to the structure of the BDN and to get the best from the computer systems, the format of the Form 4 foreseen by the Decree of the Ministry of May 16th 2007 has been opportunely modified. In particular, part B was integrated with the “Food Chain Information (ICA/ FCI)” provided by the Regulation (EC) n. 853/2004, to merge in one model the different obligations of the food business operator (FBO) that is the holder of animals. Moreover, the new format was thought to facilitate as most as possible the retrieval of information, such as the origin and destination farms and the health status of the animals to be moved, already stored in the information systems. The aim is to obtain accurate and reliable information, certificated by their previous registration into these systems, without the need, for each involved subject (holder and official veterinarian), to put signature, as they did on the paper Form 4.

From the operative point of view, in case of movements authorized by the official veterinarian of the Local Health Unit, the farmer, directly or through his delegate, make a reservation of the Form 4 entering in the BDN all data of his own competence. When the data entering is completed, the BND send a message to the official veterinarian of the Local Health Unit who provides validating the request of movement. From this moment the Form 4 has become efficient and available to the stakeholders, and can be printed in the only needed copy for the transport: the paper copy for the transport contains the spaces where it is possible to enter any possible variations on the information reported; the possible variations should be necessary reported in the BDN within seven days from the departure. Afterwards, the farmer or his delegate will download the animals from the farm registering the movement of origin and the farmer or the slaughterer of destination (or their delegates) will provide to entry the animals by registering the entrance in the farm or the slaughtering respectively. Nowadays, the movement to the slaughterhouse generally does not need any authorization by the official veterinarian of the Local Health Unit and so the Form 4 filled in by the farmer, directly or through his delegate, is immediately efficient as soon as the procedure of registration in the BDN is complete.

information of the transporter in the Information system on food safety (SINVSA), guarantees the completeness and accuracy of the data reported on the computerized Form 4. Moreover, thanks to the Internet, real time data and information are available, both in the offices and in the farm of origin and destination of the animals transported, and directly on the road during transport (figure 1).


9 In these months

The rules that determine the need for validation by the Official Veterinarian of the Local Health Unit are currently under revision and they will take into account, not only the kind of movement (towards the slaughterhouse or per vitam) but also of the health status of the farm or of the territory of origin and destination. Moreover, the BDN makes available to the Official Veterinarian of the Local Health Unit a functionality that allows to put under constraint, total or partial, a single farm (or more than one), in order to control the authorization for the animal movement in any case it is needed. In particular, a holding under complete restriction does not have the possibility to reserve the electronic Form 4, while a holding under partial restriction , such as in the restricted zone, may reserve the Form 4, but is allowed to move animals only after authorization of the official veterinarian, even if the destination is the slaughterhouse.

From the analysis of data on movements recorded in the BDN, the percentage of use of the computerized Form 4 in the first months of 2016 is on average between 6% and 8%, with the exception of Sicily Region, where it reaches the 100% thanks to the testing started several years ago; however, it can be noted a weekly growth trend (figure 2). The release of specific applications for mobile devices and the introduction of new features in the BDN, on the basis of the feedback received from the first users, to improve and simplify the use of the computerized Form 4, should allow a significant increase of its use.

--Edited by:Luigi PossentiAnimal Identification and Registration Database - Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell’Abruzzo e del Molise “G. Caporale”

Figure 2.Weekly trend of utilization of

computerized Form 4 starting from its entrance into force


10 Hand on data

HAND ON DATA Processing date: 18th April 2016

Number of outbreaks reported to SIMAN in the first quarter 2016

Disease Januray February March Total outbreaks

African swine fever 32 1 3 36

American foulbrood of honey bees 1 1

Bluetongue 9 10 8 27

Bovine leucosis 1 1 2

Bovine tuberculosis 19 24 17 60

Brucellosis of cattle, buffalo, sheep, goats and pigs 39 50 47 136

Caprine arthritis/encephalitis 1 1

Chlamydophila abortus infection (Enzootic abortion of ewes, ovine chlamydiosis) 1 1

Contagious agalactia 6 5 4 15

Echinococcosis/Idatidosis 1 2 1 4

Equine infectious anaemia 1 3 4

Equine rhinopneumonitis 1 1

Erysipelas 2 1 3

Infection with equine arteritis virus 1 1 2

Leptospirosis 1 1 1 3

Non-typhoidal avian salmonellosis 1 1 2 4

Paratuberculosis 2 1 3

Q fever 1 1

Rabbit haemorrhagic disease 1 1

Salmonellosis (S. abortusovis) 2 4 1 7

Salmonellosis of animals 2 1 3

Scrapie 1 1 2

Trichinellosis 2 1 3


11 Hand on data

Number of outbreaks reported by Regions to SIMAN in the first quarter 2016Region Disease January February March Total

ABRUZZO

Brucellosis of cattle, buffalo, sheep, goats and pigs 1 2 3

Contagious agalactia 1 1

Echinococcosis/Idatidosis 1 2 1 4

Equine infectious anaemia 1 1

Rabbit haemorrhagic disease 1 1

APULIA




Infection with equine arteritis virus 1 1

Non-typhoidal avian salmonellosis 1 1

BASILICATA

Bluetongue 1 2 3



CALABRIA

Bluetongue 3 1 1 5




Salmonellosis of animals 1 1

CAMPANIA

Bluetongue 1 2 3

Bovine leucosis 1 1

Bovine tuberculosis 2 2 4


EMILIA ROMAGNA

Paratuberculosis 1 1

LAZIO

Bluetongue 2 2 4

Bovine leucosis 1 1

Chlamydophila abortus infection (Enzootic abortion of ewes, ovine chlamydiosis) 1 1


Equine rhinopneumonitis 1 1

Infection with equine arteritis virus 1 1

Leptospirosis 1 1

Salmonellosis (S. abortusovis) 1 1 2

Salmonellosis of animals 1 1

Scrapie 1 1

LOMBARDY

American foulbrood of honey bees 1 1

Leptospirosis 1 1


MOLISEBovine tuberculosis 3 3

Brucellosis of cattle, buffalo, sheep, goats and pigs 1 2 3

PIEDMONTNon-typhoidal avian salmonellosis 1 1

Paratuberculosis 2 2

SARDINIA

African swine fever 32 1 3 36

Caprine arthritis/encephalitis 1 1

Contagious agalactia 5 4 4 13

Erysipelas 2 1 3

Leptospirosis 1 1

Salmonellosis (S. abortusovis) 1 2 1 4

Trichinellosis 2 1 3


12 Hand on data

Region Disease January February March Total

SICILIA

Agalassia contagiosa degli ovini e dei caprini 1 1

Brucellosi dei bovini, dei bufalini, degli ovini, dei caprini e dei suini 18 32 23 73

Febbre Catarrale degli ovini (Bluetongue) 5 6 1 12

Tubercolosi Bovina 13 17 15 45

TOSCANA

Febbre Q 1 1

Salmonellosi delle varie specie animali 1 1

Salmonellosi ovina 1 1

Scrapie 1 1


13 Hand on data

Animals involved in outbreaks reported to SIMAN n the first quarter 2016

Disease Animals involved No. Of animal in the holding

No. Of diseased animals

No. Of died

animals

No. Of culled

animals

No. Of destroyed

animas

African swine fever Suidae 57 50 6 51 54

American foulbrood of honey bees Bees 8 1 1 0 0

Bluetongue Ruminants 2175 71 0 0 0

Bovine leucosis Ruminants 33 3 0 1 0

Bovine tuberculosis Ruminants 3712 295 0 33 5

Brucellosis of cattle, buffalo, sheep, goats and pigs

Ruminants 13282 1634 0 224 54

Caprine arthritis/encephalitis Ruminants 143 7 0 0 0

Chlamydophila abortus infection (Enzootic abortion of ewes, ovine chlamydiosis)

Ruminants 230 3 0 0 0

Contagious agalactia Ruminants 3669 594 0 0 0

Echinococcosis/IdatidosisRuminants 187 5 0 0 0

Equines 49 5 0 0 0

Equine rhinopneumonitis Equines 23 2 0 0 0

Erysipelas Suidae 72 14 10 0 10

Infection with equine arteritis virus Equines 40 2 0 0 0

LeptospirosisEquines 180 2 0 0 0

Suidae 7945 7945 0 0 0

Non-typhoidal avian salmonellosis Poultry 89247 81686 0 0 0

Paratuberculosis Ruminants 325 3 1 0 1

Q fever Ruminants 105 2 0 0 0

Rabbit haemorrhagic diseaseLagomorphs 6 6 6 0 6

Ruminants 2214 86 5 0 5

Salmonellosis of animalsPoultry 91070 19850 0 0 0

Ruminants 8 8 0 0 0

Scrapie Ruminants 712 2 1 0 1

Trichinellosis Wild animals 3 3 1 2 3


14 A look at the maps

A LOOK AT THE MAPSThe geographical distribution of the main animal diseasesreported to SIMAN in the 1st quarter 2016

Processing date: 18th April 2016

Equine Infectious Anaemia

Bluetongue

--Geographical distribution of the outbreaks



15 A look at the maps

Scrapie


African Swine Fever



16 Around us

Chronic wasting disease (CWD) is a transmissible spongiform encephalopathy (TSE) of cervids. The TSEs are grouped together because of similarity in neuro-histo-lesive profile characterized by spongiform nature lesions, astroglyosis, and astrocytosis resulting in loss of neurons. This pathological condition appears to be the direct consequence of the deposition of the prion protein (PrPSc) at the cerebrum level, due to a post-translational conversion of the cellular prion protein codified by the host (PrPc) (Figure 1). In the case of the CWD, the disease is constantly fatal and the clinical course can vary from several days to a maximum of a year.

AROUND USThe main events of epidemiological interest in the last months in the European Union and in the neighbour countries

First case of Chronic Wasting Disease in Europe

Figure 1.Prions by light microscopy

In the case of the CWD, the disease is constantly fatal and the clinical course can vary from several days to a maximum of a year.

Only four species of the family of cervids are naturally susceptible to the CWD: the mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) , the white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus), the elk (Alces alces shirasi) and the Rocky Mountain deer (Cervus elaphus nelsoni), even if other subspecies of C. elaphus can be probably susceptible to CWD. Susceptibility of other cervids is unknown. The susceptibility to the disease of other solipeds such as Artiodactyla has never been demonstrated. The experimental oral transmission by


17 Around us

way to other species of cervids could be improbable, while most successfully was the agent transmission by intracerebral inoculation. According to scientists, nowadays the natural overcoming of the species barrier cannot be possible (Sigurdson et al., 2008).

Chronic wasting disease (CWD) has been known as a clinical syndrome of mule deer for more than 30 years. It was described for the first time in the United States in the late 1960. Since the ‘60 the disease spread in 22 American States, 2 Canadian provinces and in the Korean Republic and it has been detected in other members of the family of Cervidae. The prevalence rates of CWD in some areas of the US and Canada reached the 50% in wildlife and the 90% in captive populations, demonstrating good spreading capacity of the disease (Gilch et al., 2011). Nowadays the CWD represents a growing concern for wildlife managers across North America: till today the disease is endemic in Wyoming, Colorado and Nebraska and epidemics occur in several American states (Figure 2).

Figure 2.Distribution of CWS

in North America (source: http://cwd-info.org/)

TThe transmission of the CWD may occur by direct contact between infected animals and healthy animals and indirectly through contact with contaminated soil or water. The efficiency of intraspecific transmission seems to be very high. These characteristics and the fragmented distribution of the disease in wild populations make the eradication measures difficult to be put in place effectively (Sigurdson et al., 2008). The transmission to humans has been not demonstrated until today. The clinical signs of CWD include weight loss and behavioral changes such as increased aggression, excessive salivation, and hyper excitability. The symptoms can last for weeks or months, until the animal’s death.

Between 2006 and 2010 the European Commission carried out a survey to detect the presence of CWD and other TSEs in wild and farmed cervids in the European Union. A total of 13,000 samples were collected from deer of different species in 21 Member States and Norway. No sample tested positive. EFSA’s Opinion1 clarified that

1 EFSA Panel on Biological Hazards (BIOHAZ); Scientific Opinion on the results of the EU survey for Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) in cervids. EFSA Journal 2010;8(10):1861. [29 pp.] doi:10.2903/j.efsa.2010.1861. Available online: www.efsa.europa.eu/efsajournal.htm


18 Around us

the survey did not allow excluding the presence of TSE in European cervids, especially in remote geographical areas not sampled during the survey. On the other hand, the results demonstrated the absence of CWD epidemics.

On the 4th April 2016, the Norwegian Veterinary Institute confirmed the first case of Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) in Europe on an adult reindeer (Rangifer tarandus tarandus) captured from a free range population in the region of Nordfjella in the south of the Norway. A national surveillance plan is in place in Norway with the aim to collect samples of the brain in cervids older than 18th month to be tested for histopathological, immunohistopathological and immunobiochymical investigation for the research of the CWD. The infected animal has been identified on the first half of March during the operations of capture realized by the Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA) undertaken for the application of GPS radio-collars (Figure 3). The animal died during the capture operations and has been taken to the Norwegian Veterinary Institute for collateral investigations: that the brain of the reindeer tested positive to the prion research for both the first screening test (ELISA-test) and the two additional trials (Western Blotting, immunohistochemistry).

Figure 3.Approximate location of CWD infected animal

References

1. EFSA Panel on Biological Hazards (BIOHAZ); Scientific Opinion on the results of the EU survey for Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) in cervids. EFSA Journal 2010;8(10):1861. [29 pp.] doi:10.2903/j.efsa.2010.1861.

2. Gilch S, Chitoor N, Taguchi Y, Stuart M, Jewell JE, Schätzl HM (2011). Chronic wasting disease Top Curr Chem. 2011;305:51-77.

3. Olszowy KM, Lavelle J, Rachfal K, Hempstead S, Drouin K, Darcy JM, Reiber C, Garruto RM (2014). Six-year follow-up of a point-source exposure to CWD contaminated venison in an Upstate New York community: risk behaviours and health outcomes 2005-2011. Public Health. Sep;128(9):860-8.

4. Sigurdson CJ (2008). A prion disease of cervids: chronic wasting disease. Vet Res. 2008 Jul-Aug;39(4):41.

5. Walsh DP, Miller MW (2010). A weighted surveillance approach for detecting Chronic Wasting Disease foci. J of Wildlife Diseases 46: 118–135).


19 Around us

Website

1. CWD-Info.Org. Chronic Wasting Disease Alliance. http://cwd-info.org/2. Norwegian Veterinary Institute. http://www.vetinst.no/eng/Highlights/The-first-

detection-of-Chronic-Wasting-Disease-CWD-in-Europe

--Edited by:Daria Di Sabatino1, Guido Di Donato2

1COVEPI 2Accettazione e ControlloIstituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell’Abruzzo e del Molise “G. Caporale”


20 Around us

The European Union Summary Report on Trends and sources of zoonoses, zoonotic agents and food-borne outbreaks in 2014: main outcomes and conclusions

The European Union Summary Report on Trends and sources of zoonoses, zoonotic agents and food-borne outbreaks in 2014: main outcomes and conclusions.

Within the scientific coordination of the Risk assessment and scientific assistance Department of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), the unit of Biological monitoring has the task of collecting and analysing data on zoonoses, zoonotic agents, antimicrobial resistance, and food-borne outbreaks. The unit is supported by the Network for zoonoses data collection, a working group composed of representatives of the Member States (MSs) and of non-MSs ( Iceland, Norway, Switzerland) and the European Commission (EC). The data on zoonoses, antimicrobial resistance and food-borne outbreaks are sent to EFSA annually by MSs and non-MSs in compliance with the Zoonoses Directive (EC) 2003/99. In accordance with Article 9, EFSA examines the national reports that MSs submit by the end of May to the EC and publishes the report on the trend and sources of zoonoses, in collaboration with the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control – ECDC.

On 17th of December 2015 EFSA and ECDC have published the joint report on the trend and sources of zoonoses in 2014 (EFSA and ECDC, 2015. The European Union summary report on trends and sources of zoonoses, zoonotic agents and food-borne outbreaks in 2014. EFSA Journal 2015; 13 (12): 4329, 191 pp. doi:10.2903/j.efsa.2015.4329). The report presents the results of the monitoring and surveillance of zoonoses in animals, food, feed and human in 32 European countries (28 MSs and 4 non-MSs). The updated version of the report has been published on the 4th of February 2016 on the EFSA’s website.

Data collected in 2014

The human data reported in the EUSR 2014 were collected within the Food- and Waterborne Diseases and Zoonoses programme of the ECDC and based on data submitted via the European Surveillance System (TESSy), hosted at ECDC. TESSy is a software platform that is operational since April 2008 and where data on 52 diseases and special health issues are registered.

Data on food, feed and animals were collected on a mandatory basis for the following eight zoonotic agents in animals, food and feed: Salmonella, Campylobacter, Listeria monocytogenes, verocytotoxigenic Escherichia coli (VTEC), Mycobacterium bovis, Brucella, Trichinella and Echinococcus. In addition, based on the epidemiological situations in MSs, data were reported on the following agents and zoonoses: Yersinia, Toxoplasma, Lyssavirus (rabies), Coxiella burnetii (Q fever), West Nile virus (WNV), Cysticerci, Francisella, Chlamydia and Sarcocystis, and Bacillus. In the EUSR 2014, data are presented on the eight mandatory zoonotic agents and also on rabies, Toxoplasma, Q fever, West Nile disease, Yersinia, Francisella, Cysticercus and Sarcocystis. Moreover, data on Staphilococcus aureus MRSA and on antimicrobial resistance in isolates of E.coli indicator and Enterococcus were transmitted by Member states, as well as data on contaminants in food, such as staphylococcal enterotoxins, histamine and Cronobacter spp., for which microbiological criteria has been set up in the EU.

As regards data on Food-borne outbreaks, twenty four MSs and three non-MSs reported data on food-borne outbreaks during 2014.

The EUSR 2014 presents the most relevant information on zoonoses and food-borne outbreaks within the EU in 2014. It is important to notice that all findings presented in the report must be carefully considered, because monitoring and surveillance schemes for most zoonotic agents are not harmonized among MSs. In fact, the data presented may not have been derived from sampling plans statistically designed, and, thus, findings may not accurately represent the national zoonoses situation. Therefore, results are generally not directly comparable among MSs and sometimes not even between different years in the same country.


21 Around us

Human data

The notification rates of zoonoses in confirmed cases are reported in figure 1. Campylobacter continued to be the most commonly reported gastrointestinal bacterial pathogen in humans in the EU and has been so since 2005. The number of reported confirmed cases of human campylobacteriosis was 236,851 with an EU notification rate of 71.0 per 100,000 population, a 9.6% increase compared with the rate in 2013. A total of 88,715 confirmed salmonellosis cases were reported by 28 EU MSs, resulting in an EU notification rate of 23.4 cases per 100,000 population: this represented a 15.3% increase in the EU notification rate compared with 2013. As in previous years, the two most commonly reported Salmonella serovars in 2014 were S. Enteritidis and S. Typhimurium, representing 44.4% and 17.4%, of all reported serovars in confirmed human cases. As regards listeriosis, 2,161 confirmed human cases were reported in 2014, with a 30% increase of EU notification rate compared with 2013. Seventeen MSs reported 210 deaths due to listeriosis in 2014 , which was the highest annual number of deaths reported since 2009. In 2014, 5,955 confirmed cases of verocytotoxigenic Escherichia coli (VTEC) infections were reported in the EU: as in previous years, the most commonly reported VTEC serogroup in 2014 was O157 (46.3% of cases with known serogroup). MSs reported also 6,625 confirmed cases of yersiniosis , making it the third most commonly reported zoonosis in the EU in 2014. As regards brucellosis and tuberculosis due to M. bovis, although the human infection is sporadic in the EU, 357 and 145 cases were reported respectively.

(a): For West Nile fever, the total number of cases was used.(b): The ordering of the diseases is according to the notification rate.(c): Total number of confirmed cases is indicated in parenthesis at the end of each bar.

Food-borne outbreaks data

A total of 5,251 food-borne outbreaks, including water-borne outbreaks, were reported in the EU in 2014. Overall, 45,665 human cases, 6,438 hospitalisations and 27 deaths were reported. The evidence supporting the link between human cases and food vehicles was strong in 592 outbreaks (Figure 2). The largest number of reported food-borne outbreaks was caused by viruses (20.4% of all outbreaks), which overtook Salmonella (20.0% of all outbreaks) as the most common cause of outbreaks in the EU.

Figure 1.Reported notification rates of

zoonoses in confirmed(b,c) human cases in the EU, 2013. Source: EUSR 2014 (EFSA Journal 2015;13(1):3991)


As in previous years, the most important food vehicles in the strong-evidence outbreaks were ‘eggs and egg products’ , followed by ‘mixed food’, ‘crustaceans, shellfish, molluscs and products thereof’ and ‘vegetables and juices’.

Food, animals and feeding stuffs

The microbiological criteria for Salmonella laid down by Regulation (EC) 2073/2005 have been in force since 1 January 2006 (revised by Regulations (EC) 1441/2007 and 1086/2011). The Regulation prescribes sampling and testing requirements, and sets limits for the presence of Salmonella in specific food categories. An evaluation of compliance with the Salmonella criteria at the EU level for 2011–2014 is summarised in Figure 3.

22 Around us

Figure 2.Distribution of food-borne outbreaks per causative agent in the EU, 2014

Figure 3.Proportion of units (single samples ) not complying with the EU Salmonella criteria, 2011–2014


23 Around us

As in previous years, the highest levels of non-compliance with Salmonella criteria generally occurred in foods of meat origin, which are intended to be cooked before consumption. For these foods, minced meat and meat preparations from poultry had the highest level of non-compliance (8.1% of single samples). In meat products intended to be eaten raw there were only a few non-compliant findings.

The occurrence of Salmonella in foods of meat origin intended to be eaten raw is of particular relevance because of the risk such foods pose to human health.

As regards Salmonella in poultry, EU Regulation (EC) 2160/2003 forces MSs to set up national control programmes for Salmonella serovars in poultry and pigs, which are deemed to be of particular importance for public health. The animal populations which are currently targeted include breeding flocks, laying hens, broilers of Gallus gallus and breeding and fattening turkeys. The EU flock prevalence trend is shown in figure 4: it is constantly decreasing during years, as a result of the successful application of the legislation.

Data on Salmonella in feeding stuffs collected by MSs are generated from various targeted surveillance programmes as well as from unbiased reporting of random sampling of domestic and imported feedingstuffs. The overall level of Salmonella contamination in animal-and vegetable-derived feed material in 2014, was low, with 3.8% of positive units out of 4,041 units reported by 19 MSs, compared to 1.4% in 2013. The highest proportion of positive samples in individual investigations was reported for the feed category ‘Feed material of oil seed or fruit origin’, mainly soya (bean) - derived and sunflower seed - derived feed.

The overall occurrence of Campylobacter in fresh broiler meat, reported by 18 MSs in 2014, sampled at slaughter, processing and retail was 38.4% of the 6,703 tested units. As regards animal’s data, in 2014 Campylobacter was found in 30.7% of the 13,603 units tested in MSs; 31.8% of the tested broiler slaughter batches, 30.3% of the tested flocks. A wide range of investigations of Campylobacter in other animals was reported by Italy: Italian surveys of 23 different animal groups accounted for 50.0% of 3,614 samples. No positive samples were reported from solipeds (domestic horses) and the prevalence was low in sheep and goats.

Listeria monocytogenes is widespread in the environment and therefore a wide range of different foodstuffs can be contaminated. Regulation (EC) 2073/2005 lays down food safety criteria for L. monocytogenes in RTE foods. The data reported reflects the obligations of MSs under this Regulation and the investigations have, therefore, focused on testing RTE foods for compliance with the legal microbiological criteria for food safety. For a healthy human population, foods not exceeding the level of 100 CFU/g are considered to pose a negligible risk. Therefore, the EU microbiological criterion for L. monocytogenes in RTE food is set at ≤ 100 CFU/g for RTE products on the market. For RTE products on the market, very low percentages (<1%) were generally found to not comply with the criterion of ≤100 CFU/g. However, higher levels of non-compliance (primarily presence in 25g) were reported in samples of RTE products at the processing stage, ranging from 0% to 4.7% of single samples. As observed in previous years, the food category with the

Figure 4.Prevalence of S. Enteritidis, S. Typhimurium, S. Infantis,

S. Virchow and/or S. Hadar-positive breeding flocks of Gallus gallus during production in the EU, 2008–2014; and prevalence of

S. Enteritidis and/or S. Typhimurium-positive laying hen

flocks, broiler flocks, flocks of breeding and fattening turkeys,

during the production period in the EU, 2008–2014


24 Around us

highest level of non-compliance at processing was RTE fishery products (4.7% of single samples and 10.8% of batches), mainly in smoked fish, followed by soft and semi-soft cheeses, RTE meat products and hard cheeses.

As regards animal’s data, overall, 71.3% of the positive findings (799 units) were reported as L. monocytogenes, followed by Listeria spp. (16.0%), L. ivanovii (1.6%) and L. innocua (0.3%). The remaining isolates were reported without reference to the species. Findings of Listeria were most often reported in cattle, sheep, goats, pigs and solipeds, but Listeria was also detected in broilers, cats, dogs, hunted wild boar, foxes, and other wild and zoo animals.

In order to improve the quality of the data from VTEC monitoring in the EU, EFSA issued technical specifications in 2009 for the monitoring and reporting of VTEC in animals and food. The specifications encourage MSs to monitor and report data on serogroups that were considered by the BIOHAZ Panel as an important indicator of human pathogenicity (EFSA BIOHAZPanel, 2013). As monitoring criteria and analytical methods are not yet fully harmonised across the different countries, the unequal distribution of sampled units per country may have introduced a selection bias in the calculation of VTEC prevalence or VTEC serogroup distribution when data were analysed at the EU level. As a whole, 15 MSs reported 355 positive samples, corresponding to 1.7 % of the 21,420 food samples tested in the EU.

Contaminated bovine meat is considered to be a major source of food-borne VTEC infections in humans. In 2014, 9 MSs reported provided data from 2,549 units of fresh bovine meat (945 batches and 1,604 single samples) tested for VTEC, and 2.6% was positive for VTEC (0.9% for VTEC O157). The serogroups most frequently reported in bovine meat (including all types of bovine meat) were O157 (25 Isolates), O113 (8), O103 (6), O174 (6) and O26 (5). VTEC was also reported in the 4.9% of samples of ovine and goat meat.

Moreover, the year 2014 was the first full year of application of Regulation (EU) 209/2013 which establishes microbiological criteria for VTEC in sprouted seeds, 761 samples of sprouted seeds were reported by MSs. No positive findings were reported in 2014, as in 2013.

In 2014, 26 MSs and three non-MSs provided information on Trichinella in farmed animals (pigs, farmed wild boar and horses) and 10 MSs reported positive findings. Nine MSs reported data on breeding and fattening pigs raised under controlled housing conditions and only Romania reported positive findings in breeding animals (0.02% in more than 10,000 tested pigs). In total, data on 31,588,613 fattening pigs and 466,926 breeding animals kept under controlled housing conditions were reported; Italy reported one positive finding. Twelve MSs reported data on breeding and fattening pigs that were not raised under controlled housing conditions and five MSs reported positive findings. No positive findings were reported from 198,665 domestic solipeds (mainly horses, but also donkeys and mules) tested in the EU. Nineteen MSs and one non-MS provided data on hunted wild boar. Twelve MSs reported 1,049 positive findings out of 884,369 animals tested, with an overall EU proportion of positive samples of 0.12%. Most of the positive animals were reported by eastern EU MSs with Poland reporting 58.3% of the positive samples followed by Spain (19.8%), Estonia (7.2%) and Latvia (7.0%). Most of the findings were reported as Trichinella spp. (64.5%) followed by T. spiralis (25.6%) and T. britovi (8.8%). In the EU Member States, Trichinellosis in wildlife is widespread and Trichinella is commonly reported in wildlife, especially by some eastern and north eastern European MSs. Eighteen MSs reported data on Trichinella in 27 different wildlife species other than hunted wild boar, and reported a total of 421 positive findings (14 different species) from 13,374 animals tested (3.1%). The proportion of positive samples from wildlife, other than wild boar, was highest in raccoon dogs, followed by bears. Trichinella was also reported from rats, wolves, wolverines, badgers, jackals, mink, beavers, martens, otters and owls.

Toxoplasma poses an important risk to human health, and has to be considered as a relevant hazard to be addressed in revised meat inspection systems for pigs, sheep, goats, farmed wild boar and farmed deer. The information reported by MSs shows that Toxoplasma is present in most livestock species across the EU. Positive samples were also reported in cats (the natural hosts), dogs, as well as in several other domesticated animal species,


25 Around us

indicating the wide distribution of the parasite among different farm, domestic and wildlife animal species.

Rabies has been completely eradicated from Western and Central Europe. However, endemic rabies still occurs in foxes and other wildlife species in certain eastern parts of the EU, in particular Romania, with sporadic spill-over to domestic animals, mainly dogs and cats (pet and stray) and ruminants. Overall, 319 rabies cases were reported in foxes by six MSs: Romania (215 cases), Poland (73 cases), Hungary (20 cases), Greece (8 cases), Bulgaria (2 cases) and Croatia (1 case).

References

1. EFSA BIOHAZ Panel (EFSA Panel on Biological Hazards), 2013. Scientific Opinion on VTEC-seropathotype and scientific criteria regarding pathogenicity assessment. EFSA Journal 2013;11(4):3138, 106 pp. doi:10.2903/j.efsa.2013.3138

2. EFSA and ECDC (European Food Safety Authority and European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control), 2015. The European Union Summary Report on Trends and Sources of Zoonoses, Zoonotic Agents and Food-borne Outbreaks in 2013. EFSA Journal 2015;13(1):3991, 162 pp. doi:10.2903/j.efsa.2015.3991.


26 In these months

OFFICIALLY FREE TERRITORIES

Bovine tuberculosis

Bovine tuberculosis: provinces and regions officially free according to the community legislation updated to 02/05/2016

Decision Region Province

Abruzzi PescaraEmilia Romagna The whole regionFriuli Venezia Giulia The whole region

RietiViterbo

Liguria Tutta la regioneLombardy Tutta la regione

AnconaAscoli PicenoFermoPesaro-Urbino

Piedmont The whole regionCagliariMedio-CampidanoOgliastraOlbia-TempioOristano

Tuscany Tutta la regioneBolzanoTrento

Veneto The whole region

Sardinia

2016/168/CE

Bovine tuberculosis: Provinces and Regions Officially Free according to the EU legislation up to 05/02/2016

Trentino-Alto Adige

Lazio

Marche


27 In these months

Decision Region ProvinceAbruzzi Pescara

AvellinoBeneventoNapoli

Emilia Romagna The whole regionFriuli Venezia Giulia The whole region

FrosinoneLatinaRietiViterbo

Liguria The whole regionLombardy The whole regionMarche The whole regionMolise The whole regionPiedmont The whole regionPuglia BrindisiSardinia The whole region

AgrigentoCaltanissettaCataniaEnnaPalermoRagusaSiracusaTrapani

Tuscany The whole regionBolzanoTrento

Umbria The whole regionValle D'Aosta The whole regionVeneto The whole region

Trentino Alto Adige

Bovine leukosis: Provinces and Regions Officially Free according to the EU legislation up to 05/02/2016

2014/91/EU amending annex III cap.2 of Decision 2003/467/EC

Campania

Lazio

Sicilia

Bovine leukosis: Provinces and Regions Officially Free according to the EU legislation updated to 02/05/2016

Bovine leukosis


28 Officially free territories


Bovine brucellosis: Provinces and Regions Officially Free according to the EU legislation updated to 02/05/2016

Bovine brucellosis

Decision Region ProvinceAbruzzi PescaraEmilia Romagna The whole regionFriuli Venezia Giulia The whole region

FrosinoneLatinaRietiViterbo

Liguria The whole regionLombardy The whole regionMarche The whole regionMolise CampobassoPiedmont The whole regionPuglia BrindisiSardinia The whole regionTuscany The whole region

BolzanoTrento

Umbria The whole regionValle d’Aosta The whole regionVeneto The whole region

2014/91/EU amending annex II cap.2 of Decision 2003/467/EC

Lazio

Trentino Alto Adige

Bovine brucellosis: Provinces and Regions Officially Free according to the EU legislation up to 05/02/2016


29 Officially free territories

Ovine and caprine brucellosis

Ovine and caprine brucellosis: Officially Free according to the EU legislation updated to 02/05/2016

Decision Region ProvinceAbruzzi PescaraEmilia Romagna The whole regionFriuli Venezia Giulia The whole regionLazio The whole regionLiguria The whole regionLombardy The whole regionMarche The whole regionMolise The whole regionPiedmont The whole regionSardinia The whole regionTuscany The whole region

BolzanoTrento

Umbria The whole regionValle d’Aosta The whole regionVeneto The whole region

2014/91/EU amending annex II of Decision 93/52/EEC

Sheep and goats brucellosis: Provinces and Regions Officially Free according to the EU legislation up to 05/02/2016

Trentino Alto Adige


30 Contacts & Editorial staff

-NATIONAL REFERENCE CENTRE FOR VETERINARY EPIDEMIOLOGY, PLANNING, INFORMATION AND RISK ANALYSIS (COVEPI)Rossella Lelli

EpidemiologyPaolo Calistri

Statistics and GISAnnamaria Conte

National Reference Centre for Hurban health and non Epidemic Emergencies (IUVENE)Fabrizio De Massis

-CoordinatorSimona Iannetti(COVEPI)

Editorial boardBarbara AlessandriniPaolo CalistriFabrizio De MassisGianfranco DilettiNicola FerriArmando GiovanniniFederica MonacoDaniela MorelliFrancesco PomilioGiovanni Savini

Istructional designerAlessandro De Luca

Web masterand desktop publishingSandro Santarelli

mail [email protected] +39 0861 332251www.izs.it

-NATIONAL REFERENCE CENTRE FOR THE STUDY AND VERIFICATION OF FOREIGN ANIMAL DISEASES (CESME)Rossella Lelli

Diagnostics and surveillance of exotic viral diseasesFederica Monaco

Diagnosis and surveillance of exotic bacterial and parasitic diseases, Virology Laboratory of Windhoek, Namibia Massimo Scacchia

CONTACTS& EDITORIAL STAFF


24 benv april 2016 en

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