Rapports, Archives: 64th Session - Appendix 8

 

Report of the Tripartite OIE/FAO/EC Meeting on FMD Control in the CIS, 14 February 2000, FAO HQ, Rome, Italy

 

 

Item 1: Review the FMD situation in the Caucasian countries and in other CIS countries

 

The delegation of Russia, presented a report on the situation of FMD in the region. Since 1996 FMD has been confirmed in Azerbaijan ( type O), Armenia ( type O and A ), Georgia ( type O and A ), Kazakhstan ( type O), Kirghystan ( type O) and Turkmenistan ( type O) and suspected in Uzbekistan and Tajikistan.

In 1999 FMD was reported from:

  • Turkmenistan: FMD (type O) was diagnosed in four north-eastern regions (on the Uzbekistan border) and in the south of the country (on the Iran and Afghanistan borders ),

  • Kazakhstan: the FMDV type O was isolated in Kzyl-Orda in July 1999,

  • Kirghystan: FMD outbreak was reported in Tallas region at the border with Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan in July - August 1999.

The delegates from Russia considered that this epizootic situation in territories adjacent to Russia was caused by the lack of proper immunisation of susceptible animals in these regions for many years. In Russia, no FMD has been reported since 1995. At present preventive vaccination against FMD is carried out on 6% of the Russia territory corresponding to 17.7% of the cattle population and 19.5% of sheep. This territory includes Northern Caucasia, Southern part of the Volga river region, some regions of Siberia and Far East which border China, some districts of Moscow and Vladimir region around the FMD institute.

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Item 2: Progress made in the implementation of the Letter of Agreement signed between FAO and ARRIAH, Vladimir

 

The Secretary of the EuFMD drew the meeting’s attention to the content of the Letter of Agreement signed between FAO and ARRIAH, Vladimir, on 29 May 1999.

The representatives of ARRIAH stated that the vaccine had been delivered to Caucasia in July 1999.

  • 350 000 doses to Azerbaijan

  • 300 000 doses to Georgia + 15 000 doses to Abhazia

  • 250 000 doses to Armenia

  • 150 000 doses to Russia and 15 000 doses are kept for emergency in the ARRIAH.

The vaccine has been used in 1999, except in Armenia where it has been kept for early vaccination in 2000. A serosurveillance has been organised in the region by ARRIAH. A total of 1186 blood samples including 217 from small ruminants were collected from 8 districts in Georgia, 2 districts of Armenia and 6 districts in Azerbaijan. Examination of sera has been completed by ARRIAH and some sera have also been sent to IZS Brescia Italy for further investigations. Results indicate that 22%, 24 % and 55 % had antibody titres respectively in Azerbaijan, Georgia and Armenia. Out of these positive sera, 3 ABC antibodies were detected in 0 - 0,3 % in Georgia, 8 - 21 % in Armenia and 8 - 13 % of animals respectively in large and small ruminants.

These figures clearly indicated that there is - or there was - a circulation of FMD virus in the three countries both in small and in large ruminants. This circulation is particularly important in Armenia with respectively 8 and 21 % positive animals to 3 ABC ELISA in large and small ruminants.

ARRIAH also prepared protocol forms, diagnostic reagents and expendable stuff to be provided to Central Laboratories of Trans-caucasian countries. The delivery of this equipment and joint training of Lab specialist were organised in October-December 1999.

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Item 3: Reviews of the answers of CVOs, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia to the letter of Dr Marabelli

 

A letter (in English) from Dr Marabelli was addressed on 8 November 1999 by fax and by post to the Ministers of Agriculture of Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia with copies to the CVOs of the three countries.

A translation of this letter in Russian - kindly carried out by Dr Belev, OIE - was addressed to the three Ministers.

 

The three countries were asked to answer the following four questions:

 

Quote

 

  1. What will be the utilisation of the vaccine that you have received from ARRIAH through the OIE/FAO/EC project. Can you please let us know when and where you intend to use this vaccine. If the vaccine or part of it has already been used, a report on the locations, species vaccinated and the date of its utilisation will be appreciated. Maps and other technical documentation are very welcome.
  2. Can you describe the activities related to the control of FMD that were carried out in 1999 with funding from national resources: zones and livestock population vaccinated, surveillance activities, diagnosis activities etc...
  3. How do you see the complementarity between the national activities and the OIE/FAO/EC project co-ordinated by ARRIAH?
  4. What are your views and your expectations about the future control of FMD in the region under a regional program and under the national program.

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Unquote

 

The Secretary of EuFMD provided a summary of these answers to the participants. In general the CVOs answered only partly to the questions especially regarding their national FMD control program:

Answer from Dr A. Agadjanian, Head State Veterinary Service Armenia ( received on 9 November 1999)

250,000 doses of vaccine are still under the authority of Veterinary Service. They will be used in first quarter of 2000 in administrative districts which have borders with Turkey and with Iran.

Vaccination is implemented in late winter, spring and autumn before pasturing of animals. Serosurveillance to monitor vaccination levels was carried our in Amasia, Ani, Aparan, Ararat, Artashat, Ashotck and Talin districts. Samples were examined at the Armenian Scientific Research Institute of Veterinary Medicine. 526 sera from Amasia and Artashat districts were examined in ARRIAH Vladimir for level of antibodies to FMDV. Armenia has a 230 km border with Turkey and a 45 km border with Iran. They wish that the whole Republic of Armenia be considered as buffer zone.

Answer from Dr G, Jikia, Head State Veterinary Service Georgia (letter received on 29 December by Dr Marabelli)

The 300 000 doses of vaccine provided were supplied to the regions bordering Turkey and to the regions which have herds nomadised to summer pastures neighbouring the Turkish borders.

160 000 cattle and 60 000 small ruminants have been vaccinated as on 1 December 1999. The objective is vaccination on the whole territory of the country.

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FMD situation:

  • FMD type A was reported in August 1999 in Regions of Adigeni and Akhaltsikhe, bordering Turkey. It was diagnosed by ARRIAH ( see the ARRIAH report)

  • it included 6 outbreaks, 652 cattle and 12 pigs were infected, no mortality was observed, it was control by quarantine measures.

National FMD strategy

Georgia have spent $ 340 000 in 1999 from the state budget for FMD measures

A total of 750 000 cattle and 280 000 small ruminants were vaccinated in 1999.

Close contact are maintained with ARRIAH which provides vaccines and reagent for the Institute.

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Proposals

  • Essential that the OIE/FAO/EC Buffer Zone project should be continued

  • Cost for National FMD programme ( 1999-2001?) is $ 5 446 000

National budget can cover $ 500 000

  • Situation complicated by occurrence of Asia 1 in Turkey and Iran : necessary to carry out vaccination against Asia 1 in border region and in nomadic herds. (using trivalent O, A, Asia 1)

  • 500 000 cattle and 600 000 small ruminants must be vaccinated and national budget cannot cover it.

Answer from Dr Mirsalekh Guseynov, CVO, Azerbaijan (transmitted through ARRIAH -received on 30 November 1999)

Vaccine was provided to the regions with a border with countries where FMD virus was registered.

 

Provinces

Doses

Serosurveillance

Remark / location

Autonomous republic of Nakhichevan

250,000

first collection in October*

Common border with Iran and Turkey

Astarinsk Region

27,000

first collection in October*

Border with Iran

Kazakh region

73,000

 

Border with Georgia and Armenia

Total

350,000

   

* Next collection of samples foreseen in February 2000, 2000 sera to be collected.

 

Global FMD vaccination figures for 1999 in Azerbaijan:

 

Livestock Population / vaccinated in 1999

Total

Vaccinated in first half
1999

Vaccinated in
second half of 1999(estimate)

Large animals

1, 964,000

1,308,000 (66.6 %)

43 %

Small ruminants

5,814,000

3,956,000
(68 %)

44 %

 

Constraints and Proposals

  • Difficulty in getting vaccine and lack of financial resources.

  • Request to continue the OIE/FAO/EC project with participation of ARRIAH for next years.

  • Request to extend the project to the regions bordering Iran and Turkey, need 1.5 million doses of vaccine.

The representative of EC informed the meeting that according to the information he got in Brussels TACIS program will not fund for long term activities for FMD control in CIS.

For the representatives of Russia, the program for 1999 as specified under the LOA has been completed and they suggested that the program for 2000 should start immediately so that vaccination could be carried out before that animal are moved to mountain pastures in April.

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Conclusions and Recommendations of the meeting:

  1. ARRIAH should strictly follow the LOA procedure for reporting. The final technical and financial reports should content detailed description of the field activities in Caucasia
  2. As the activities foreseen under the LOA signed between ARRIAH and FAO for 1999 have been completed by ARRIAH, this LOA should be closed by anticipation and a new LOA for 2000 should be prepared as soon as possible. This should allow vaccine delivery to Caucase on due time for vaccination of animals before they are moved to summer pastures.
  3. The collaborative study initiated between ARRIAH and the IZSLE, Brescia, Italy in detection of 3 ABC ELISA is encouraged and the meeting recommended that $ 30 000 be allocated for this research and purchase of reagents by ARRIAH.
  4. Caucasian countries should be encouraged to provide more information on the FMD situation and control measures and to better integrate the activities carried out through the project within their national FMD programs.
  5. On the base of the achievements obtained so far, the 64 th Session of the Executive Committee of EuFMD to be held in Bouillon, Belgium on 30-31 March will discuss how to pursue further activities in the region. A Representative of Russia / ARRIAH should be invited to attend as an observer.

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