Research and Development
A research and development program operates over a number of areas relevant to Australia's risk reduction measures for animal TSEs. Some specific projects include the maintenance of a national capability to undertake rapid BSE tests and the development and evaluation of tests for mammalian protein in livestock feeds. Others are more general such as improvements in overall livestock disease surveillance systems through research undertaken by the Australian Biosecurity Cooperative Research Centre (CRC).
Research and development continues to play a central role in addressing TSE issues. Current research issues being addressed as part of the TSEFAP include:
- Laboratory capability for 'rapid screening tests' in Australian conditions.
- Development of a test to detect mammalian protein in animal feedstuffs.
- Investigating alternate surveillance strategies.
In the context of the TSEFAP, R&D activities will only be undertaken if they are consistent with:
Project Aim
To support market confidence in Australia's animals and animal products by undertaking appropriate R&D projects, as required.
Project Objectives
- To identify TSE R&D priorities of national significance.
- To gain stakeholder consensus on TSE-related R&D priorities.
- To secure appropriate funding to deliver R&D priorities.
- To efficiently implement R&D outcomes.
Oversight of R&D activities will be the responsibility of a subcommittee of the National Advisory and Technical Committees. Membership of this subcommittee will be dynamic, depending on the issue being addressed.
The role of this subcommittee, once a priority is identified, will be to prepare a draft plan for submission to the NAC. Following endorsement by the NAC, the plan will be circulated to the broader stakeholder group and funding sought and/or existing R&D providers leveraged to carry out the work.
Rapid Up-scaling of Surveillance
Evaluation of Australia's ability to rapidly implement surveillance requiring post mortem sampling under a range of conditions, using TSEs as an example.
To develop, evaluate and describe cost-effective methods for the identification of eligible downer animals (both cattle and sheep) presented at different types of aggregation points such as meatworks, saleyards, knackeries and live export facilities as well as the collection, transport and processing of fully traceable tissue samples collected post-mortem. The project aims to evaluate Australia's unique needs and ability to scale up surveillance in specific animal sub-populations through post-mortem sampling at different aggregation points. The project will use rapid ELISA-based BSE tests, initially at AAHL; transfer this technology to a State veterinary laboratory; and develop and test methods to identify and downer animals at a number of aggregation points such as meatworks, saleyards, knackeries and live export facilities. It is anticipated that the project will run for two years, with the possibility of extending the project based on a progress review after year two.
The project has cash funding support from MLA with matching in-kind contributions by government. The project commenced on 1 July 2004.
An initial investigation will be undertaken to identify the individual aggregation points in each State or Territory. Approximate numbers of downer animals presenting at each aggregation point, the manner in which downer animals are usually disposed of at each point, and the ease with which samples can be collected at each type of aggregation point, including carcase disposal issues will be investigated. This investigation will be completed in the first three months of the project and be used as a guide to help decide on the most effective and efficient sampling regimen for each agency. This will also be a very useful tool if there were any future need to rapidly increase surveillance requiring post mortem sampling.
Laboratory Capability
The main objective of this project is to develop, evaluate and describe the processes involved in the transfer of technology from AAHL to a State veterinary laboratory with development of associated quality assurance and quality control procedures.
The capability to test using the BioRad and Enfer ELISA-based rapid tests for BSE have been established at AAHL. This project will ensure that the capability for using the BioRad test is transferred to a Queensland Government veterinary laboratory.
Mammalian Feed Test
A working group of the TSEFAP National technical committee has been formed to investigate test methodologies from Australia and overseas in order to make recommendations on the required sensitivity and specificity of a feed test in terms of meeting legislation for both RAM as it is defined under the TSEFAP and processed protein of ruminant origin. Additionally, the working group is to determine the optimal testing strategy in terms of sensitivity, specificity, convenience and cost to include both compliance and survey sampling.
Page Updated: 1 July 2005