Bovine Brucellosis
1. OVERVIEW
Bovine Brucellosis
The project assisted the Veterinary Directorate to shift the approach to the control of bovine brucellosis from the previous sporadic testing of cattle initiated at the regional level – without central collation of results – to a planned national programme for bovine brucellosis control. This approach is presented in detail in the Bovine Brucellosis Control Programme (BBCP) wich was approved and adopted by the Albanian State Veterinary Service (ShVSh) and is now under implementation by the ShVSh.
Stepwise introduction of the national bovine brucellosis control programme
For introduction of the programme the focus was put on the four-monthly screening of all herds with more than 20 cattle by means of bulk milk tests. This aspect of the programme is based on a step by step approach, starting with screening, then testing of all cattle in positive herds, identifying and removing for supervised slaughter all reactor animals.
The additional implementation of brucellosis surveillance in the bovine population is foreseen, i.e., following up all cases of abortions in cattle: collection of samples for diagnosis, with the supervised slaughter of all Brucella-positive cattle at approved slaughterhouses.
Assistance in developing standard procedures
In this reporting period, after a considerable delay, the project assisted the removal of cattle from infected premises and supervised their slaughter at an approved abattoir, in accordance with the procedures described in the strategy.
The PAZA Disease Surveillance Expert (DSE) and junior experts made field visits to the brucellosis-infected farms identified during the BBCP implementation in Durres, Lezha and Korca regions. The aim of the field visits was to investigate positive bovine brucellosis results on these farms and to discuss with and demonstrate to the staff of the regional veterinary service standard operating procedures (SOPs), including cleaning and disinfection, which hitherto the veterinary service had not routinely enforced.
NOTE: Importantly, for the sake of efficiency, this approach to screening all larger herds of cattle could, and should, be combined with a tuberculin testing programme for the control of bovine tuberculosis.
Sustained training programme needed
Whilst the theoretical training delivered to OVs has increased their understanding of the BBCP, further practical training is required to transfer knowledge and skills related to each of the activities, and to facilitate reflection on the experiences that were gained in the process, with the aim of improving the efficiency of the activity.
Overall, a sustained theoretical and practical training programme is essential in order to establish an effective bovine brucellosis control programme.
Conclusion for viable control of bovine brucellosis
The findings of the case study of bovine tuberculosis (BTB) in a village in Diber region have indicated that the only economically, and practically viable approach to the control of this disease is through the establishment of an abattoir surveillance programme but this in turn depends on the institutional responsibilities for abattoir-based inspection duties
The demonstration of the right way to clean and disinfect a stable and premises was filmed and finally compiled in a training video, which can be viewed here.
2.TRAINING VIDEO
3.Documents and Reports
Indicative Budget for implementation of the Bovine Brucellosis Control Programme (BBCP)
in 2016
This document describes a detailed approach and methodology on how to calculate, even with limited data, the necessary budget for the BBCP in 2016. It considers systematically all occuring costs, such as collection of blood and milk samples, laboratory analysis, disinfection and compensation payments.
Toni Kirandjiski / 2016 / 6 pages
Implementation of the Bovine Brucellosis Control Programme
Monitoring activities of the PAZA II Field Coordinators
The document demonstrates the approach for systematically monitoring the implementation of the BBCP all over Albania
Toni Kirandjiski / 2016 / 3 pages
Potential use of vaccine for Bovine Brucellosis control in Albania
This document summarizes information from scientific literature for the vaccine available for bovine brucellosis control and present their advantages and disadvantages. Potential use of vaccines for bovine brucellosis control in Albania will depend on different factors including the causing agent of bovine brucellosis in Albania.
Toni Kirandjiski / 2016 / 6 pages
PROGRAMI I KONTROLLIT TE BRUCELOZES NE GJEDHE
ShVSh, 2016, 16 pages