1. Control strategies for B.melitensis
FAO technical meeting in collaboration with WHO and OIE
“ Brucella melitensis in Eurasia and Middle East ”
FAO-Rome, Italy, 11 – 14 May, 2009
Control strategies for B.melitensis
Dr. Lea Knopf
Scientific and Technical Department OIE

2. Control and eradication strategies simplified?

3. Key points of brucellosis control
Control programme must be properly planned, coordinated and ressourced
Control and prevention require effective collaboration within and between sectors
Eradication can only be achieved by test & slaughter + preventive measures + animal movement control
Vaccination as prevention and control
Selection of an effective vaccine and vaccination strategy
Continued surveillance (presence, efficacy control programme)
Herd management and food/occupational hygiene
Education and awareness programmes

4. Key components of disease control or eradication strategy
Diagnostic capacities
Inter-sectoral collaboration

5. Other facts of control programmes national/regional level
Adapted to the local, specific conditions
National/regional priorities and capacities
Information and data ressources
National legislation and implementation
Animals, their products and pathogens ignore borders
Huge amounts of small ruminants are traded accross the globe, legally or without precautions
Collaboration between neighbours and sectors could be improved

6. Role of international organsations in B.melitensis control programmes
Set standards and promote the capacity to control animal diseases and zoonosis worldwide
Codex alimentarius
OIE and WHO standards
Assist Member Countries to enhance their veterinary governance
Disease data collection, dissemination and early warning
GLEWS
WAHID
Technical and/or financial assistance
In planning and conducting of programmes
Reference laboratories
Capacity building programmes
OWOH initiative (FAO/WHO/OIE/UNICEF + WB)

7. Example 1 disease occurrence, off. reporting

8. Example 2 disease notification, legislation
Countries where B.melitensis is a notifiable disease in animals

9. Example 3 vaccination practised y or n?
Which species
Which subpopulation

10. OIE disease control and disease eradication policy
Generic aspects
Use standardized definitions and concepts – promote harmonization and equivalence
Surveillance – to know what is the status quo
Transparency in notification (humans, domestic and wild animals)
Application of minimum standards for diagnostic techniques and vaccines that meet OIE and/or WHO criteria
Scientifically based criteria for disease control programs and (national) legislation
Application of ethical principles in trade and animal disease control
Zoning / compartmentalization where appropriate
Import risk analysis and evaluation of veterinary services
Protect human health through control of disease/zoonosis in animals

11. Terrestrial Code provisions on B. melitensis Chapter 14. 1
Terrestrial Code provisions on B.melitensis Chapter (ovine and caprine brucellosis)
Considers ovines and caprines as susceptible species for the purpose of trade
Separate chapter for B.ovis
Not exclusively limited to B.melitensis
Provisions for qualification of free status on a country, zone or flock level
with vaccination
without vaccination
Maintenance of free status and recommendations for surveillance
Recommendations for safe trade in:
live small ruminants for breeding
live small ruminants for slaughter
Semen
Embryos / ova

12. Zoning & Compartmentalization (Chapter 4.3.)
FREE
BIOSECURITY BORDER
FREE
NOT FREE
NOT FREE
Compartment
means one or more establishments under a common biosecurity management system containing an animal subpopulation with a distinct health status with respect to a specific disease or specific diseases for which required surveillance, control and biosecurity measures have been applied for the purpose of international trade
Compartiment
désigne une ou plusieurs exploitations qui relèvent d'un système commun de gestion de la sécurité biologique et qui détiennent une sous-population caractérisée par un statut sanitaire distinct au regard d’une ou de plusieurs maladies particulières pour lesquelles sont appliquées les mesures de surveillance, de prophylaxie et de sécurité biologique requises aux fins des échanges internationaux.
Zone/region
means a clearly defined part of a country containing an animal subpopulation with a distinct health status with respect to a specific disease for which required surveillance, control and biosecurity measures have been applied for the purpose of international trade
Zone/région
désigne une partie clairement délimitée du territoire d’un pays, qui détient une sous-population animale caractérisée par un statut sanitaire distinct au regard d’une maladie particulière pour laquelle sont appliquées les mesures de surveillance, de prophylaxie et de sécurité biologique requises aux fins des échanges internationaux

13. Surveillance standards (Chapter 1.4.)
General conditions and considerations A surveillance system should be in place under the responsibility of the veterinary administration
Detecting and investigating an outbreak
Procedure for rapid collection and transfer of samples from suspect cases
Recording, managing and analyzing the diagnostic and surveillance data (also across sectors)
An early warning system throughout the whole production, marketing and processing chain (abattoirs!)
Immediate clinical and laboratory investigation of all suspected cases
Regular and frequent inspections and testing of risk flocks
Consideration of seasonal and husbandry factors

14. Horizontal provisions:
Terrestrial Manual provisions on B.melitensis Disease specific provisions:
Diagnostic tests, vaccines and
prescribed tests for int. trade for ov & capr. brucellosis
Bovine brucellosis*
Horizontal provisions:
Biosafety and biosecurity in the veterinary microbiology laboratory
Quality management in veterinary testing laboratories;
Principles of veterinary vaccine production

15. = good veterinary governance
A last remark…
application of the International Standards, also in the case of B.melitensis, can significantly contribute to
An effective animal disease control policy ↕
Ability and capacity of a country to apply the policy
= good veterinary governance

16. Nevertheless they are all sheep!