EUFMD 

33rd Session

Report

Appendix 01

Appendix 02

Appendix 03

Appendix 04

Appendix 05

Appendix 06

Appendix 07

Appendix 09

Appendix 10

Appendix 11

Appendix 12

Appendix 13

Appendix 14

Appendix 15

Appendix 16

Appendix 17

Appendix 18

Appendix 19

Appendix 20

Appendix 21

Appendix 12 - FOOT AND MOUTH DISEASE SITUATION IN TURKEY

1. Introduction

Foot and mouth disease (FMD) remains an important disease worldwide. This disease is endemic in Anatolia (types O and A). So that FMD is one of the most important diseases causing significant economical losses in Turkey. Vaccination, quarantine, control of animal movements, surveillance and monitoring are being applied as control measures. The legal regulations have been prepared for the application of the stamping out policy in the planned regions.

According to the Turkish Law 3285 Article 108, the scheduled disease has to be immediately notified to the veterinary authorities which undertake respectively supervise the necessary measures, such as outbreak investigation, taking of specimen for typing at the FMD Institute (Şap Enstitüsü in Ankara), ordering movement restrictions to prevent further spread, quarantine, taken cordon, disinfection, compensation (destruction and stamping out), ring vaccination, immediately informing neighbouring districts and provinces etc.

According to General Directorate of Protection and Control (GDPC) statistic Turkey has about 11.153.148 large ruminants and about 39.378.906 small ruminants. Based on certain regions statistics is as follows:

Table 1: Ruminant population in Turkey in 1998 (*)

(*) GDPC Statistic in 1998

2. Disease Status

Turkey is divided into 3 main regions for the control of FMD; Thrace, Western Buffer Zone of Anatolia (WBZ) and the other provinces of Anatolia.

In Turkey, 75 outbreaks of FMD (virus types O and A) were reported in 1998. Monthly distribution of FMD outbreaks between 1996-1998 is shown in Table 2.

Table 2: Monthly Distribution of FMD Outbreaks in Turkey (1996-1998).

A new variant of type A FMD virus emerged in Turkey late in 1997. Vesicular epithelia collected from infected area were sent to WRL Pirbright for molecular characterisation. The results confirmed the suspicious situation that the entire type A outbreak was due to the new variant, which has been circulating in Iran since 1996.

In total, 13 outbreaks due to new type A strain (A/İran 96) have been occurred in 1998. They occurred in 5 provinces of Eastern and Central Anatolia and 4 provinces of Western Anatolia. The last FMD type A outbreak was in July 1998. The FMD type O outbreaks are still dominant to type A and all of the infected animals were the cattle.

Autumn vaccination campaign has been started in September and completed at the end of the year. Totally 8.305.000 large ruminants and 6.160.000 small ruminants were vaccinated in Turkey.

The animal markets and stock exchange places that belong to the MARA and municipalities are under the control of State Veterinary Offices. There is legislation about the certification of the livestock markets and inspection and control of those plants.

The transportation of the animals within the country requires a health certificate issued by the State Veterinary Officers after the inspection of the animals. If the province of the origin is under quarantine, no animals are allowed to leave the province.

According to the Article 108, when FMD outbreaks occur, the Animal Health Control Commission should meet as soon as possible and measures should be taken based on the fourth part of chapter 1 of the Law 3285 and Guide.

Apart from recording the outbreak situation and procedure on district and province level, the Animal Diseases Combating Department at the GDPC is receiving these information and compliance with an annual report.

There is a strong movement of beef cattle from Eastern Turkey to the consumer centres in Western and Central Anatolia. A number of control stations (Giresun-Center, Tokat-Reşadiye, Sivas-Center, Malatya-Karakavak, Kahramanmaraş-Pazarcık and Gaziantep-Nizip) have been set up at a north-west line stretching from Giresun to Gaziantep in order to check livestock movements from Eastern Anatolia towards Western Buffer Zone.

Animals to be transported have to be vaccinated two weeks prior to their dispatch, and health and vaccination certificate has to accompany the animals.

2.1 The Thrace Region

This region is composed of the provinces in the European part of Turkey (Edirne, Kırklareli, Tekirdağ, European parts of Çanakkale and İstanbul). There are about 468.160 large ruminants and about 953.179 small ruminants in this region.

Strict measures have been taken and disease surveillance has been carried out within the Thrace region continuously. No FMD outbreak occurred in 1997 and in 1998. Totally, 465.283 large ruminants and 300.655 small ruminants were vaccinated with a bivalent vaccine in 1998.

After the occurrence of new type A variant in Turkey, Pirbright FMD World Reference Laboratory indicated that type A₂₂ vaccine offered no cross protection against this new variant. The commission decided to finance vaccination of large and small ruminants with the new vaccine in Thrace. Vaccination campaign of all ruminants in Thrace region using a monovalent vaccine against the new type A İran/96 has been implemented in August 1998. Totally 311.042 large ruminants and 637.131 small ruminants were vaccinated.

2.2 The Western Buffer Zone of Anatolia (WBZ)

This area includes 15 provinces. Asiatic part of Istanbul, Asiatic part of Çanakkale, Kocaeli, Sakarya, Balıkesir, Bilecik, Bolu, Bursa, Eskişehir, İzmir, Kütahya, Manisa, Aydın, Uşak and Yalova. There are about 2.062.754 large ruminants and 5.608.381 small ruminants.

According to the programme all large ruminants should be vaccinated twice annually and all small ruminants once annually in this region. Totally, 1.868.405 large ruminants and 1.354.579 small ruminants were vaccinated in 1998.

Livestock transportation from eastern part of Anatolia to WBZ is free only if they have the required certificates. The animals should be kept in this region at least 3 months before being transported to Thrace.

Outbreaks in this area are also dealt with, in accordance to the law no.3285, including temporary quarantine, animal movement restrictions, ring vaccination and disinfection, etc.

In total, 18 outbreaks of FMD were reported in 1998. Number of outbreaks in the Western Buffer Zone between 1996-1998 is shown in Table 3.

Table 3. Number of outbreaks in the Western Buffer Zone, 1996-1998

2.3 The other provinces of Anatolia

There are 62 provinces and about 8.622.234 large ruminants and about 32.817.346 small ruminants in the remaining part of Anatolia. In 1998, 57 outbreaks were occurred in this region. Totally 5.660.270 large ruminants and 3.867.090 small ruminants were vaccinated in 1998. Priority was given for the vaccination of animals along the main east-west livestock transportation routs and animals in certain project areas.

Ring vaccination, strategic vaccination and quarantine measures are being applied for the control of FMD in that area. Due to illegal movements from neighbouring countries there is always a risk of introduction of new FMD strains in this region.

Number of FMD outbreaks in the Residual Anatolia in 1998 is shown in Table 4.

Table 4: Number of Outbreaks in the Residual Anatolia in 1998.

3. Vaccine Production and Control in Turkey

Sap Enstitüsü (FMD Institute) located in Ankara is the only Government laboratory for vaccine production and diagnosis of FMD in Turkey. It also carries out epidemiological studies on FMD in the country. The annual production capacity is about 30 million bivalent cattle doses.

The authorities have given permission for the production of FMD vaccines in a private company, VETAL, in Adiyaman. The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs (MARA) will continue to support the production of vaccine by private companies. There are legal regulations for the importation of FMD vaccines.

The Ministry has already started to establish an independent vaccine control laboratory at Bornova, Izmir.

Vaccine production in SAP for 1998 was 11 million doses of type A₂₂/Mahmatlı and 10 million doses of type O₁/Manisa. The institute has adapted two field strains of the new type A/Iran, namely A/Ankara and A/Aydin, for vaccine production. A/Ankara strain will be used for vaccine production in 1999.

The reconstruction of the air filtration system of the production unit is nearly completed and will be ready by the end of June.

Study on the oil adjuvanted vaccine preparation is going on with the consultancy of a Brazilin expert. Some of the equipment was purchased and the rest will be bought in advance.

A new laboratory "molecular epidemiology" has already been established in the Research and Control Unit of the Institute. First trials are started with PCR assay applications, which will be followed by nucleotide sequencing after purchasing the necessary equipment and reagents.

MARA will support the production of FMD vaccine with the new variant by the private company, VETAL, as the capacity of SAP Institute is not sufficient. Private Company received the virus strain from Pirbright and started to work on it in 1998.

4. Vaccination Campaign in Thrace against the New Type A Variant in 1998

4.1 Vaccination Campaign

After the occurrence of new type A variant in Turkey, Pirbright FMD World Reference Laboratory indicated that type A₂₂ vaccine offered no cross protection against this new variant. The commission decided to finance vaccination of large and small ruminants with the new vaccine in Thrace.

Large and small ruminants were vaccinated during this campaign.

4.2 FMD sero survey in Thrace

The proposals of sampling plan prepared by Turkey were sent to EUFMD for their comments. As we did not receive any comments, we have started to apply our original plan. After that we have received the proposals for modification of the sero-survey. But, since the first collection of samples had already been completed, it was too late to modify the sero survey.

In the survey each village is accepted as a herd. We have randomly selected 35 herds (villages). It is planned to randomly collect 5 samples from small ruminants and 5 samples from large ruminants in each selected herd (village). The question we wish to answer is the prevalence of antibodies before, 28 days and 2-3 months after vaccination in selected ruminants.

Summary of the sero survey result is tabulated below.

Table 5:Summary of the sero survey result

Test : ELISA

Used kits and antigens : FMD A22 (Mahmatlı)

Over 1/100 titre have been accepted as a antibody positive.

5. Control Program and strategy in 1999

During the first two months 9 outbreaks of FMD were occurred in 1999. All outbreaks were due to type O.

According to FMD Control Programme in 1999, all ruminants will be vaccinated twice a year with bivalent vaccine (0₁/Manisa and A₂₂/Mahmatlı or A/Ankara) in Thrace region.

In Anatolia, all large ruminants will be vaccinated twice a year with a monovalent vaccine (O₁/Manisa) and small ruminants will be vaccinated according to the farmer demands.

In a study conducted at Pirbright for a PhD project, using FMD viruses isolated from Turkey between 1964 and 1998, the presence of only one genetic sublineage was identified at any one time for FMD type A viruses. Since the first introduction of FMD type A viruses into Turkey, 6 genetic groups have been detected and each of these groups replaced the previous one. The previous genetic groups, which were replaced, by a new genetic group have never been detected again in the samples sequenced. This replacement cannot be explained by rapid spread of the new strain to replace the existing strain, because FMD type A has generally showed a modest spread in Turkey except in its first introduction in 1964. No type A outbreaks were detected between August 1990–April 1991 and December 1993–February 1995. FMD type A was about to disappear from Turkey before the introduction of the new Iranian variant towards the end of 1997. This new variant has not been detected since July 1998. The re-emerging FMD type A viruses were shown to belong to a new genetic group and introductions from neighbouring countries. These results showed that FMD type A viruses disappear from Turkey without the introduction of new strains. The same happened in the cases of the SAT 1 outbreak in 1962-65 and the Asia 1 outbreak in 1973-76.

The vaccination results obtained in the WBZ have been well below the required levels. Small ruminants in WBZ have been vaccinated only once a year, given the fact that FMD vaccines can protect animals for 4-6 months after vaccination, these animals have been susceptible to the disease for most of the year. In this situation, it might be better not to vaccinate the small ruminants at all and concentrate on vaccination of only cattle. The vaccine production, including the production of VETAL, is not enough to vaccinate all cattle twice annually with a bivalent vaccine. Most of the economical loss due to FMD has been caused by type O. This and the epidemiological facts about type A, which are mentioned above, are the main reasons for our decision to vaccinate cattle with a monovalent type O vaccine.

At the same time vaccine will be produced and stored at the FMD Institute against both the new Iranian variant and A₂₂/Mahmatlı. This vaccine will be ready to use in type A outbreaks.

© European Commission for the Control of Foot-and-Mouth Disease

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