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EFSA update on African swine fever in Europe

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has published an update on the epidemiological situation of African swine fever (ASF) in Europe. In the latest report, experts assess the effectiveness of different measures that can be taken when a case of ASF is detected in an area that was previously disease-free and is far from affected […]

E. coli O157: study of super-shedding from cattle

Food Standards Scotland and the Food Standards Agency have published the report of a four year research project investigating Escherichia coli O157 high level excretion (super-shedding) from cattle in Great Britain and the threat this poses to human health. The research, undertaken by a consortium of scientists led by The Roslin Institute, the Moredun Research […]

FAO-OIE plan to keep the world free of rinderpest

To maintain the global freedom from rinderpest and prevent any re-introduction of the disease, FAO and OIE have developed a Global Rinderpest Action Plan. The plan is meant to be a guiding material for countries, outlining the responsibilities of all involved to maintain the freedom. “Eradicating rinderpest has made a major contribution to food security […]

Mutant H9N2 avian influenza viruses show enhanced zoonotic potential

Research led by The Pirbright Institute has shown that mutant influenza A(H9N2) viruses isolated from Pakistan are able to escape immune responses and adapt to infect humans. This could result in reduced vaccine efficiency in poultry and the possibility of human outbreaks. The researchers report in Emerging Infectious Diseases the discovery of small changes to […]

Animal movements have played a critical role in the spread of MRSA in Danish pigs

Pig movements have facilitated the spread of a few MRSA lineages highly adapted to the selection pressures exerted by antimicrobial use in pigs In a study published in mBio, Danish and U.S. researchers have shown that the rapid spread of livestock-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus clonal complex 398 (LA-MRSA CC398) is due to the expansion of […]

International effort needed to combat antimicrobial resistance

Global leaders in animal health discussed new ideas and solutions to the rise of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) at a three-day event hosted by The World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE). The 2nd Global Conference on Antimicrobial Resistance and Prudent Use of Antimicrobial Agents in Animals (Marrakesh, Morocco, 29-31 October 2018) highlighted the need for cross-sector, […]

EFSA assesses strategies for eliminating lumpy skin disease

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has assessed the most effective strategies for eliminating lumpy skin disease (LSD) now that the outbreaks in south-eastern Europe have been contained. A report published in the EFSA Journal gives advice on the ideal duration of vaccination programmes to eliminate the disease, and looks at the probability that the […]

Recombinant Infectious bronchitis viruses: potential for a new generation of vaccines

Researchers at The Pirbright Institute and The Roslin Institute have published work investigate the role of the infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) spike (S) protein in generating protection through vaccination. Current vaccine regimes, based on a single serotype, often do not produce sufficient immunity against other serotypes, so two or more different vaccines have to be […]

Two PPRV vaccines protect against all strains

Scientists at The Pirbright Institute have conducted a study to directly compare the ability of two vaccines to protect susceptible animals against wildtype viruses from any of the four genetic lineages of Peste-des-petits-ruminants virus (PPRV). Through analysing the immune response of goats that were administered the vaccines, they were able to demonstrate that both vaccines […]

PPR virus threatens wild ungulates

A team of conservationists from the Royal Veterinary College (RVC), Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), FAO and the University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, have published a letter in Science on the threat of Peste des petits ruminants (PPR) to conservation. PPR is a highly contagious viral disease of sheep and goats that is spreading into new […]