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Title: REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON BLUETONGUE AND BOVINE RETROVIRUSES

Author
item Mecham, James
item PEARSON, JAMES - INTNTL DES EPIZOOTIES, PA
item OSTLUND, EILEEN - USDA, APHIS, NVSL
item MEAD, DANIEL - UNIV OF FLORIDA
item JAMIESON, BRIAN - CANADIAN FOOD INSPECTION
item DEHAVEN, RON - USDA, APHIS, VS
item FAIZI, NAJAM - USDA, APHIS, VS, RETIRED
item Mayer, Richard

Submitted to: United States Animal Health Association Proceedings
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/13/2003
Publication Date: 10/9/2003
Citation: Mecham, J.O., Pearson, J.E., Ostlund, E., Mead, D., Jamieson, B., Dehaven, R., Faizi, N., Mayer, R.T. 2003. Report of the committee on bluetongue and bovine retroviruses. United States Animal Health Association Proceedings, Oct 9-16, 2003, San Diego, CA, 107:204-213.

Interpretive Summary: This paper reports the meeting of the 'Bluetongue and Bovine Retrovirus Committee' held October 13, 2003 during the annual meeting of the United States Animal Health Association in San Diego, California. Updates were given on diagnostic observations and disease surveillance for bluetongue, epizootic hemorrhagic disease and bovine leucosis virus in the United States during the past year. A presentation was given on challenges for Canada related to bluetongue. The processes involved in developing and revising Canada's ruminant import regulations and policies were outlined. These policies are based on surveillance, risk assessment, scientific information, and in accordance with international standards and regulations. Several presentations given at the 'Third International Symposium on Bluetongue' in Taormina, Sicily (October 26-29, 2003) were presented to the committee. The purpose of the international symposium is to share the latest scientific information on bluetongue and develop recommendations that will assist in the development of control measures and import standards to prevent the spread of bluetongue into disease-free countries, but still allow international trade of animals and animal products. During the 2002 meeting of the 'Bluetongue and Bovine Retrovirus Committee', a resolution was forwarded to the Executive Committee of the USAHA requesting that USDA, APHIS, VS actively continue negotiations with the European Union (EU) to open the market for importation of cattle from the U.S. These negotiations took place this past summer and an agreement on bluetongue and enzootic bovine leucosis import requirements was reached. An update on the facilities at the Arthropod-Borne Animals Diseases Research Laboratory (ABADRL) in Laramie, Wyoming was given. The BSL-3 facilities at Laramie are currently decommissioned as a result of security requirements and a flood that occurred last winter. The laboratory is undergoing both security upgrades and repairs to return it to operational status. A resolution was presented to the committee in support of the ABADRL, which was passed and forwarded onto the USAHA Executive Committee.

Technical Abstract: This paper reports the meeting of the 'Bluetongue and Bovine Retrovirus Committee' held October 13, 2003 during the annual meeting of the United States Animal Health Association in San Diego, California. Updates were given on diagnostic observations and disease surveillance for bluetongue, epizootic hemorrhagic disease and bovine leucosis virus in the United States during the past year. A presentation was given on challenges for Canada related to bluetongue. The processes involved in developing and revising Canada's ruminant import regulations and policies were outlined. These policies are based on surveillance, risk assessment, scientific information, and in accordance with international standards and regulations. Several presentations given at the 'Third International Symposium on Bluetongue' in Taormina, Sicily (October 26-29, 2003) were presented to the committee. The purpose of the international symposium is to share the latest scientific information on bluetongue and develop recommendations that will assist in the development of control measures and import standards to prevent the spread of bluetongue into disease-free countries, but still allow international trade of animals and animal products. During the 2002 meeting of the 'Bluetongue and Bovine Retrovirus Committee', a resolution was forwarded to the Executive Committee of the USAHA requesting that USDA, APHIS, VS actively continue negotiations with the European Union (EU) to open the market for importation of cattle from the U.S. These negotiations took place this past summer and an agreement on bluetongue and enzootic bovine leucosis import requirements was reached. An update on the facilities at the Arthropod-Borne Animals Diseases Research Laboratory (ABADRL) in Laramie, Wyoming was given. The BSL-3 facilities at Laramie are currently decommissioned as a result of security requirements and a flood that occurred last winter. The laboratory is undergoing both security upgrades and repairs to return it to operational status. A resolution was presented to the committee in support of the ABADRL, which was passed and forwarded onto the USAHA Executive Committee.