The role of FAO in supporting laboratory diagnosis of influenza in the Americas Cedric Lazarus Livestock Development Officer FAO Sub-regional Offices for Central America and the Caribbean

Food and Agriculture Organization Technical Cooperation Programme in the Americas Country Priority Regional Priority Global Priority

Strengthening of the Official Veterinary Services Partners include PAHO, WHO OIE USDA IICA CIRAD National Universities Others

Veterinary Laboratory Diagnostic Training and Capacity Building

Training and capacity building in Avian Influenza diagnostics Promote best practices for diagnosis in the field and in the laboratory Laboratory diagnostic training conducted across the regions under regional projects implemented by the FAO

Strengthening capacity for the diagnosis of influenza viruses in veterinary labs Training in ELISA as a screening test for avian influenza Most veterinary labs in the Americas have access to ELISA machines and reagents Validated ELISA AI kits for poultry are usually available commercially.

Training in Avian Influenza diagnosis for veterinary lab technicians

Diagnosis in the field Training in the epidemiology and recognition of clinical signs of influenza in poultry and swine Training in sample collection. Which sample, how much, how to transport it to the lab

Avian influenza outbreak on a layer farm in Central America

Avian Influenza Diagnosis in the field Use and application of avian influenza rapid tests kits in the field. Those validated and recommended by the OIE Collection of the appropriate samples for the laboratory

Strengthening capacity for the diagnosis of influenza viruses in veterinary Labs Training in the Agar Gel immune Diffusion test or AGID Influenza A in chickens, low cost and most labs can run these tests. Reagents available from Reference Labs These training have been conducted in all regions of the Americas under FAO programme to build capacity of the official veterinary services

Strengthening capacity for the diagnosis of influenza viruses in veterinary Labs Training in RT PCR for confirmation of Avian Influenza infection in poultry Provision of reagents and supplies for RT PCR Building capacity in Lab Quality Assurance and management

Interlaboratory Proficiency Testing Best practice for laboratories To show diagnostic competence of laboratory technicians FAO has organized proficiency testing, for example, in the Caribbean in conjunction with the University of the West Indies, School of Veterinary Medicine.

Training in procedures for the packaging and shipping of samples to OIE Reference Labs according to IATA protocol

Provision of reagents and laboratory equipment Provision of limited amounts of diagnostic equipment, reagents and consumables

Objective The veterinary services and the veterinary laboratories in each country have the necessary skills and capacities to be able to rapidly diagnose Influenza outbreaks in animals, mainly in poultry and pigs. To ensure rapid control and or eradication in the animal population Limit spread among animals and between farms Prevent zoonotic transmission to humans

CONCLUSION Most countries in the Americas have benefitted from the technical support of the FAO in the diagnosis of influenza in animals Training and capacity building of the veterinary services in strengthening veterinary lab capacity continues to be a focus of the FAO and its partners.

GRACIAS