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Criteria change for BSE tests in Qld
18 Sep 2003
The Queensland Department of Primary Industries will update its surveillance program for transmissible spongiform encephalopathies, bringing it into line with the OIE, or World Organisation for Animal Health, guidelines.
TSEs include bovine spongiform encephalopathy ("mad cow disease") and a related sheep disease, scrapie.
The international code for BSE and scrapie surveillance has changed the eligible age for testing cattle from 24 months to 30 months and older. The age for sheep to be eligible remains at 18 months or older.
Animals eligible for testing include those with obvious nervous signs including staggers and downers. Eligibility extends to behavioural changes, including changes in temperament, unusual response to noise and excessive balking. Sheep showing severe persistent itchiness are also eligible. Animals showing chronic wasting without nervous signs are no longer eligible.
Targeted annual surveillance numbers have also changed. The cattle sampling target has been increased from 156 to 171 head but the sheep target has been cut from 40 to 35 head, in line with changes in relative cattle and sheep numbers in Queensland.
Queensland Country Life, 18/9/03.
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