NR ATKS
AU Seuberlich,T.; Botteron,C.; Brünisholz,H.; Heim,D.; Kihm,U.; Zurbriggen,A.
TI Active surveillance detected several TSE cases in small ruminants in Switzerland
QU International Conference - Prion 2005: Between fundamentals and society's needs - 19.10.-21.10.2005, Congress Center Düsseldorf - Poster Session: Diagnosis DIA-30
PT Konferenz-Poster
AB
In June 2004 Switzerland launched a one year active surveillance program for transmissible spongiform encephalopathies in small ruminants (SR TSE). The aim is to determine the prevalence of BSE and scrapie in the Swiss sheep and goat population. This program is based on the examination of both all perished or euthanised animals ("fallen stock") and normal slaughtered animals older than 12 month during one year using different diagnostic techniques. Heads of fallen sheep and goats are sent to the National Reference Laboratory for TSE in Animals, NeuroCenter, University of Berne. These animals are examined in different anatomical regions of the brain and in lymphoid tissues (retropharyngeal lymph nodes and/or tonsils) by histopathology and immunohistochemistry for the presence of TSE-specific lesions and PrPsc deposition respectively. In addition, two SR TSE rapid tests for the detection of PrPsc, the Biorad TeSeE sheep and goat ELISA and the Prionics Check Western SR are used to test samples of the caudal brainstem. Normal slaughtered small ruminants are screened in private and state-run laboratories with either one of the two rapid tests on brainstem (obex region) samples. Positive or initial reactive samples are sent to the reference laboratory for confirmatory testing and further analyses.
Up to the end of May 2005, a total of about 3'000 fallen stock and 25'000 normal slaughtered animals were examined. PrPsc deposition, confirmed by immunohistochemistry, was found in eight sheep and goats. Three of them were from the fallen stock category while five were normal slaughtered animals. One sheep only showed classical features of scrapie in terms of lesions, PrPsc deposition and PrPsc glycotype. The seven remaining cases revealed atypical features of SR TSE to a different extend. We summarize here the findings of these Swiss SR TSE cases from a diagnostic point of view.
IN Im Rahmen einer einjährigen nationalen Überwachungsstudie wurden bis Mai 2005 in der Schweiz etwa 3000 gefallene und 25.000 normal geschlachtete Schafe und Ziegen TSE-Tests unterzogen. Bei 3 gefallenen und 5 geschlachteten Tieren wurde Scrapie festgestellt, aber nur einer war ein sogenannter typischer Scrapie-Fall.
AD T.Seuberlich, C.Botteron, U.Kihm, A.Zurbriggen, University of Berne, Switzerland; H.Brünisholz, D.Heim, Federal Veterinary Office, Switzerland
SP englisch
PO Deutschland