Sheep and cattle brains needed for disease surveillance
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Australia is recognised as free from TSEs (transmissible spongiform encephalopathies), BSE (bovine spongiform encephalopathy), which is also known as mad cow disease in cattle and scrapie in sheep.
Dr Dermot McNerney, I&I's NSW TSE Surveillance Program coordinator, said it‟s important brains are tested each year to maintain this freedom status.
"These diseases overseas have caused extensive damage to European and US domestic and export markets and resulted in the massive slaughter of stock," he said.
"If these diseases ever came into Australia it would have a devastating effect on our sheep flocks and cattle herds and we would lose major trading markets.
"BSE is a risk to public health as the infectious agent in cattle is implicated as the cause of a human TSE known as new variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease."
NSW‟s target is to examine 149 sheep and 87 cattle brains each year.
These sample numbers have been statistically calculated to ensure that if TSE were present in the Australian sheep and cattle population, we will identify it.
Dr McNerney said generous incentives are available for both graziers and veterinarians to submit samples from suitable sick or dead animals.
"The grazier can receive some compensation for an older animal that would otherwise be of no value," he said.
"The grazier receives $300 for each cattle and $50 for each sheep brain.
"The veterinarian is paid separately for collecting the brain, documenting the case and sending it to the laboratory.
Eligibility criteria for sheep and cattle:
- Cattle must be between 30 months and less than nine years old;
- Sheep must be more than 18 months of age;
- Animals that are sick and look like they are suffering from nervous signs or showed similar symptoms before dying are eligible.
- Nervous signs are common in conditions such as pregnancy toxaemia, metabolic disorders, plant poisonings, pulpy kidney;
- Animals which are recumbent or "down‟ due to leg weakness are eligible.
"Vets are familiar with the details of the programme and requirements," Dr McNerney said.
"Graziers just need to remember that if they have an animal which is terminally sick, with weakness or nervous signs, call your veterinarian.
"Similarly, if an animal died and it showed such signs before death, call your veterinarian and mention the TSE programme."
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