Joint FAO/IAEA Division of Nuclear Techniques in Food and ...Manase P. Salema Director Deputy...

Joint FAO/IAEA Division of NuclearTechniques in Food and Agriculture

and FAO/IAEA Agriculture andBiotechnology Laboratory, Seibersdorf

International Atomic Energy AgencyVienna

ISSN 1011-2529

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TO THE READER

Dear Colleague,

As we enter the final six months of thiscentury, it is perhaps appropriate to lookforward and try to envisage what we should betrying to achieve in the medium term. Withinthe FAO and the IAEA, a great deal ofstrategic thinking is taking place with everyeffort being made to maximize availableresources to provide the most appropriatesupport to FAO and IAEA Member States. Asyou will recall, the Animal Production andHealth Sub-programme underwent an externalreview two years ago and at that time aMedium Term Strategy was conceived. It isnot unreasonable to look at this documenttoday and see if the approach is still along theright lines.

The current programme strategy of the JointFAO/IAEA Division is to promote sustainablefood security by assisting Member States toapply nuclear and related biotechnologies tointensify and diversify agricultural productionsystems and to improve food quality andsafety, while ensuring efficient andenvironmentally sound management of naturalresources and external inputs. This is achievedin three ways. Firstly, through provision andfacilitation of research to generate strategictechnologies and knowledge, secondly,through the provision of scientific andtechnical services to Member States forplanning and delivery of effective technicalco-operation and thirdly, through thepromotion and dissemination of technical andscientific information to assist decisionmakers and to provide public understanding ofnuclear applications in this area.

The role of the Animal Production and HealthSub-programme is to provide FAO and IAEAMember States with advice and support forimproving livestock productivity, throughassisting in the identification of constraintsand the development of strategies to overcomethese using nuclear and related technologies.These strategies must be sustainable, cost–effective and environmentally acceptable. Inproviding this support, there must be a balancebetween the normative role of providingguidance and advice to governments (a ‘top-

down’ approach) and the operative role ofassisting with technology development anduptake at the field level (a ‘bottom-up’approach). Furthermore, it is inherent in themission statement of the Joint FAO/IAEADivision that any support must have a nucleartechnology component. Are we achieving thiswith our present operational programme?

During the past ten years, the Sub-programmehas focused on constraint identification inlivestock production, and improving nationalcapabilities for disease diagnosis andsurveillance. The emphasis has been on thetransfer and reliable utilization ofimmunoassay technologies (RIA and ELISA)as a ‘means to an end’. This has necessitatedthe development and transfer of standardizedreagents and protocols in kit form suitable foruse under the often difficult conditions foundin developing countries.

Through this support, immunoassaytechnologies (RIA, ELISA) have beentransferred to many research and diagnosticlaboratories in developing countries. We arenow supporting the use of such technologiesto develop intervention procedures that can,in a practical and sustainable way, improveproductivity. These technologies are beingused to measure the success and quantify theimpact of changes on productivity. The futureapproach is clearly problem-oriented withcontinual monitoring and evaluation of impactand success with sustainability andenvironmental protection as key elements.Given the limited resources and a desire toachieve the most impact, future focus is onperi-urban and mixed crop-livestock farmingsystems although some advice and supportwill be applicable to the extensive pastoralistsystems.

The focus has changed to one of documentingstrategies for overcoming constraints andproviding advice on appropriate technologies,how they can be standardized and, whereappropriate, nationally validated and on howto quality control the use of such technologies.Through the establishment of data bases on

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key components of livestock production andhealth (e.g. alternative feed resources and theirnutritional components, AI management,EMPRES disease surveillance results),Member States have access to a range ofcritical information essential for policydecision making. Documentation is also beingdeveloped on approaches to sustainingintervention strategies and limiting anydetrimental environmental impact.

Support is provided for the uptake and use ofnuclear technologies (operative activities) toassist Member States resolve problems locallyand to monitor and improve interventionstrategies. Initially as part of this technologytransfer, it had been necessary to develop andprovide a RIA kit for progesteronemeasurement and a variety of ELISA kits foranimal disease diagnosis. The supply of suchkits through the Sub-programme will bephased out. Support is now focused onassisting the development of regional ornational kit or reagent production capabilitiesbased on cost-recovery to ensuresustainability. The emphasis is progressivelyfocusing on utilizing external qualityassurance programmes to ensure the quality ofthese regionally or nationally produced kitsand reagents, and the reliability of datagenerated through their use.

Where appropriate, the concept of introducingnewer biotechnologies into the Sub-programme is continuing, (e.g. use ofpolymerase chain reaction (PCR) forimproving identification of disease causingorganisms and conducting molecularepidemiological studies). Equally, in newareas where existing technologies can beusefully employed, support is being provided(e.g. use of RIA and ELISA for detectingveterinary drug residues in livestock andlivestock products).

I think this brief review of our currentactivities and direction indicates, that, as weend this century, our direction and focus is on

the move and is closely aligned with theoverall strategy of the Joint FAO/IAEADivision as it strives to provide the bestpossible support to Member States and you. Indescribing the above, I hope I have providedyou with an insight into the concepts behindour programme and I would greatly welcomefrom you any comments, critical or otherwise.

What follows in this Newsletter of courseexpands and details the outline of theprogramme I have just given but, beforefinishing, I would remind you that one of ourmost important mechanisms of support isthrough the Technical Co-operationProgramme of the IAEA. Requests for supportunder this programme for the years 2001 and2002 must be received from yourGovernments by the end of this year. Whilstmany countries have now defined CountryProgramme Frameworks (CPFs) which aremeant to provide a planning process for futuresupport under the Technical Co-operationProgramme, these are not exclusive norcomplete and I strongly urge you to prepareand submit proposals for support under theTechnical Co-operation Programme of theAgency if you are in need of such support!And if you want to see your proposal receivethis support, please ensure that appropriateprioritization is given by your Government.

Finally, we all need to give an enormous vote ofthanks to Bill Goodger who completed hisSabbatical year with us at the end of December1998. Bill contributed in so many invaluableways to the activities of the Sub-programmeand he will be sorely missed. Many thanks Billfor all you did.

With best wishes,

Martyn JeggoHead, Animal Production andHealth Section

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A. STAFF

IAEA Headquarters, Joint FAO/IAEA Division of Nuclear Techniques in Food andAgriculture, Vienna International Centre, Wagramer Strasse 5, P.O. Box 100, A–1400 Vienna,Austria, Telephone: +43 1 2600, Facsimile: +43 1 26007

Joint FAO/IAEA Division

James D. DargieManase P. Salema

DirectorDeputy Director

Animal Production and Health Section

Martyn H. JeggoAxel CollingJohn CrowtherRon DwingerHarinder MakkarOswin PereraAnita ErkelensAndrea GervelmeyerRoland Geiger

Head of SectionTechnical OfficerTechnical OfficerTechnical OfficerTechnical OfficerTechnical OfficerAssociate Professional OfficerAssociate Professional OfficerTechnical Officer (Outposted to Kenya)

SecretariesRoswitha SchellanderRosario Léon de Müllner

FAO/IAEA Agriculture and Biotechnology Laboratory, Animal Production Unit of theIAEA Seibersdorf Laboratory, A–2444 Seibersdorf, Austria

Christopher J. RigneyMark RobinsonDierk RebeskiAxel Colling

Head, Agriculture and Biotechnology LaboratoryHead of UnitTechnical OfficerTechnical Officer

Helder LouvandiniMutasem KhadraHerbert HaasMamadou LelentaBeata RogovicEva-Maria Winger

Junior Professional OfficerLaboratory TechnicianLaboratory TechnicianLaboratory TechnicianLaboratory TechnicianLaboratory Technician

SecretaryAnna Schirnhofer

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B. FORTHCOMING EVENTS

Regional Workshop on “Self-Coating RIA” (RAS/5/035)

Technical Officer: Oswin Perera

The Workshop will be held from 23 to 27August 1999 in Mattaram, Indonesia.

The training course is open to 15 qualifiedparticipants from national institutes in theAsia/Pacific Region engaged in research anddevelopment activities in animal production.Priority will be given to those directlyassociated with the IAEA/RCA programme on“Better management of feeding andreproduction of cattle” (RAS/5/035). Theobjective of the course is to develop regionalexpertise in the routine performance of the new

FAO/IAEA Self-Coating RIA (Sc-RIA) formeasuring progesterone in milk, and tointroduce its field applications under small-holder dairy production systems for themonitoring and improvement of reproductivemanagement and artificial inseminationservices.

Full information on the course together withrequests to submit nominations were sent to theNational Co-ordinators of the Regional Co-operative Agreement for East Asia and thePacific (RCA) in February 1999.

Final RCM on “Use of Immunoassay Methods for Improved Diagnosis of Trypanosomosis andMonitoring of Tsetse and Trypanosomosis Control Programmes in Africa” (D3.20.13)

Technical Officer: Ron Dwinger The final RCM of the CRP will be organizedin Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, from 6 to 10September 1999.

Second RCM on “The Monitoring of Contagious Bovine Pleuropneumonia in Africa UsingEnzyme Immunoassays” (D3.20.18)

Technical Officer: Andrea Gervelmeyer

The second RCM of the CRP will beorganized in Lusaka, Zambia, from 27September to 1 October 1999. The 11Research Contract holders will be invited topresent the results of their field validation of acompetitive ELISA to detect antibodies

directed against Mycoplasma mycoidesmycoides sc. Reports should be prepared inelectronic form. ELISA results should bebrought to the meeting on floppy disk storedas EDI–files together with hard copies of thequestionnaires.

Regional Training Course on “The Diagnosis and Control of Foot-and-Mouth Disease”(RAS/5/033)

Technical Officer: John Crowther

The training course will take place from 1 to26 November 1999 at the Foot-and-MouthDisease Centre, Pakchong, Nakhonratchasima,Thailand.

The course will be held in English only and isorganized by IAEA and FAO in co-operationwith the Government of Thailand.

The training course is open to 16 participantsfrom developing Member States of FAO andIAEA in South East Asia.

Deadline for Nominations is 1 August 1999.

Background of the course:Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) is a majorconstraint on livestock in South East Asiancountries. The rapid identification of thedisease, estimation of immunity levels in herds,vaccination and movement restriction of

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livestock are vital to effective control. Themajor laboratory methods involve bothserological and increasingly molecularbiological techniques. The serological tests incommon practice now focus mainly onenzyme–linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA)and kits for antigen detection and antibodyestimation have been supported throughAgency activities over a number of years.External quality assurance and internal qualitycontrol have also been developed for these kitsto allow greater confidence in results fromindividual laboratories. Recent advances inpolymerase chain reaction (PCR) have beenexploited in FMD to allow expression of genesas proteins for diagnostic uses and for rapidsequencing and unequivocal identification ofFMD virus isolates.

This course comprises lectures, practicals anddemonstrations to cover all aspects ofdiagnostic methods involved in the detectionand differentiation of FMD virus and

measurement of antibodies against the virus.These will focus on the use of ELISAemphasizing the benefits of the test butcomparing results to other ‘conventional’methods. Use of the PCR technologies andsequencing will also be demonstrated. Thefundamentals of vaccination and control ofFMD will be examined as well asepidemiological aspects of the disease from aSouth East Asian and world-wide perspective.Good laboratory practice (GLP), externalquality assurance (EQA) and internal qualitycontrol (IQC) will also be examined. Thecourse is intended to provide an overall view ofFMD both from the applied and on-goingresearch areas.

Participants’ qualifications:Experienced scientists and veterinariansdirectly involved in control of FMD.Participants must have basic training andexperience in the laboratory.

General Information for Training Courses/Workshops

Application procedure:Nominations may be submitted on thestandard IAEA application form for trainingcourses. Completed forms should be endorsedby and returned through the official channelsestablished (the Ministry of Foreign Affairs,the National Atomic Energy Authority or theOffice of the United Nations DevelopmentProgramme). They must be received by theInternational Atomic Energy Agency, P.O.Box 100, A–1400 Vienna, Austria, not laterthan the deadline given for each trainingcourse. Nominations received after this date orapplications which have not been routedthrough one of the aforementioned channelscannot be considered.

Advanced nominations by facsimile (+43-1-26007), or e-mail ([email protected]) arewelcomed. The facsimile/e-mail shouldcontain the following basic information aboutthe candidate: name, age, academicqualifications, present position including exactnature of duties carried out, proficiency in thelanguage of the course and full workingaddress including telephone/facsimilenumbers.

Language certificate:In the case of countries in which the languageof the course is not an official or customarylanguage, nominations must be accompaniedby a separate certificate of the candidate'sproficiency in the language of the course. Thiscertificate must be issued by a languageschool or cultural institution, or an embassy ofa country in which the language of the courseis spoken.

Administrative and financial arrangements:Nominating Governments will be informed indue course of the names of the candidates whohave been selected and will at that time begiven full details on the procedures to befollowed with regard to administrative andfinancial matters.

During their attendance at the course,participants from countries, eligible to receivetechnical assistance, will be provided with astipend sufficient to cover accommodation,food and minor incidental expenses. TheIAEA will also bear the full cost of theirround-trip air ticket, economy class, from theirhome countries to the place of the trainingcourse and return. Shipment of accumulated

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course materials to the participants' homecountries is not the responsibility of the IAEA.

The organizers of the course do not acceptliability for the payment of any cost orcompensation that may arise from damage toor loss of personal property, or from illness,injury, disability or death of a participant

while he/she is travelling to and from orattending the course, and it is clearlyunderstood that each Government, innominating participants, undertakesresponsibility for such coverage. Governmentswould be well advised to take out insuranceagainst these risks.

C. PAST EVENTS

FAO/IAEA/OAU Workshop on “Emergency Preparedness Against Rinderpest and OtherTransboundary Animal Diseases in Southern Africa” (RAF/5/043)

The Workshop took place from 23 to 26November 1998 in Harare, Zimbabwe.

This Workshop jointly organized betweenFAO, IAEA, OAU and SADC focused onconcepts for emergency preparedness fortransboundary animal diseases. The Workshopwas attended by 30 participants from 11countries from southern Africa. The majorityof countries were represented by the Directorof Veterinary Services and by the Director ofLaboratory Services. The recommendations ofthe Workshop are listed below.

Considering that livestock production is amajor contributor to rural livelihoods, foodsecurity and economic viability in SADCcountries; recognizing that livestockproduction in SADC countries will need toincrease progressively to match the additionalanimal protein needs of the forecastpopulation growth; recognizing thattransboundary animal diseases are a majorconstraint to trade in livestock and livestockproducts within and from the SADC region;understanding that regional co-ordination is anessential pre-requisite for the management oftransboundary animal diseases and theirprogressive control; the Workshoprecommends:

1. With regard to animal disease emergencypreparedness:

• The control of outbreaks of transboundaryanimal diseases should be regarded asprimarily a public good and Governmentsshould be committed to use state funds tobring them under control.

• SADC Member Countries should increasestakeholder participation in emergencypreparedness and disease controlinitiatives and develop broadly-basedfunding methods involving them.

• The SADC animal health programmeshould establish regional emergencypreparedness planning for transboundaryanimal diseases with contingency fundingfor responding to disease emergencies andfacilitate strengthening of nationalemergency planning through assistance tonational authorities in establishingnational animal disease emergency plans,where necessary with external assistance.Country needs should be documented andsubmitted to the Livestock Sector Co-ordinator by 28 February 1999.

• In preparing national animal diseaseemergency plans, countries should includean analysis of the likely economic impactof the diseases and their impact on thepotential for growth of the livestock sub-sector.

• In organizational management ofveterinary services, SADC MemberCountries should pay due attention to theneed for a short and direct chain ofcommand in managing transboundaryanimal disease emergencies.

2. A sub-regional commission for the controlof FMD should be established for SADCcountries with the long-term objective oferadication of FMD viruses to promote animalproduction and trade:

• Dr. Gavin Thomson is mandated toprepare a proposal for presentation to the

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next meeting of the SADC LivestockSector Technical Committee.

3. With respect to standardization,harmonization and co-ordination ofinformation management surveillance anddiagnostic systems, and disease control:

• SADC countries adopt and implementsurveillance and diagnostic systems fortransboundary animal diseases (CBPP,rinderpest, Newcastle disease, FMD andtrypanosomosis) in accordance with OIEguidelines and using performanceindicators to assess their efficiency.

• Standardization and independent externalquality assurance of diagnostic testsshould be undertaken by the DiagnosticSub-committee of the SADC LivestockSector Technical Committee which shoulddesignate regional centres of excellence(reference centres).

• The SADC Livestock Sector TechnicalCo-ordinator should facilitate theimplementation of donor-funded regionalprogrammes for strategic control oftransboundary animal diseases as aregional priority.

• The SADC Livestock Sector Co-ordinator,in consultation with the Livestock SectorTechnical Committee and SACCAR,should plan, prioritize and monitorregional research on transboundary animal

diseases and ensure communication ofresults to Member Countries.

• SADC Livestock Sector co-ordinationshould be strengthened by provision of anepidemiologist to assist with risk analysisand control of priority diseases.

• SADC Member Countries should establishor strengthen national epidemiology andeconomics units as an aid to developingsocio-economic justifications forexpenditure by national authorities anddonors on the progressive control oftransboundary animal diseases.

• SADC Member Countries shouldstrengthen cross–border harmonization todeal with specific transboundaryproblems, for example, theAngola/Namibia/Zambia CBPP focus.

• SADC Member Countries should improvetheir ability to trace animals.

• Collaboration, co-ordination andcommunication between SADC LivestockSector and OAU/IBAR should bestrengthened.

• The SADC Livestock Sector TechnicalCommittee should make representation toOAU/IBAR of the needs of SADCMember Countries with respect to the newPACE programme.

Task Force Meeting on “Strategies for Future Sustainability of the Applications ofProgesterone RIA for Improving Livestock Production in Developing Member States”(RAF/5/041)


This meeting was organized under theframework of the Regional Technical Co-operation Project RAF/5/041 (AFRA II-17) inorder to discuss possibilities and modalitiesfor future sustainability in the use ofradioimmunoassay (RIA) technology forprogesterone measurement in support ofimprovements in livestock production, and tomake appropriate recommendations forconsideration and implementation by IAEAand Member States (MSs) under the RegionalCo-operative Agreement for Africa (AFRA) aswell as in other regions.

The meeting was held from 7 to 10 December1998 at the Vienna International Centre,Austria, and was attended by five consultants(Prof. Ibrahim Issa Ibrahim, Egypt; Dr. Al-Monim M. Hassan, Sudan; Dr. Mario Garcia,Peru; Dr. Rienzil Piyasena, Sri Lanka;Dr. Mats Forsberg, Sweden) and staff of theJoint FAO/IAEA Division from the AnimalProduction and Health Section, the AnimalProduction Unit of the Agency’s Laboratoriesat Seibersdorf and the AFRA Projects Co-ordinator from the Department of TechnicalCo-operation.

The full report is available from the AnimalProduction and Health Section and the Officeof the AFRA Projects Co-ordinator,

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Department of Technical Co-operation. Asummary of the main conclusions andrecommendations is given below:

Conclusions:

• The solid-phase based RIA method using125I tracer is preferred to alternativemodalities using 3H tracer from the pointof view of convenience, robustness andcost.

• Counterpart laboratories in some 60Member States now have theinfrastructure (trained personnel andequipment) for performing progesteroneRIA using the DPC kits based on 125I.With regard to the more recentlydeveloped FAO/IAEA Self-Coating RIA(Sc-RIA), approximately 10 laboratoriesin Latin America, 8 laboratories in Africaand 2 laboratories in Asia now have thecapability to use the technique effectively.

• There is a clear need to develop a regionalcapability for the production of theprimary reagents for progesterone RIAand the experience gained in a similarproject in the field of medicalapplications, based on the production andsupply of bulk-reagents for a range ofassays, provides good justification for theuse of this approach in the field oflivestock production as well.

• The most appropriate strategy will dependon the region concerned, and will involvethe selection and upgrading of several

regional centres to serve as sources ofprimary reagents, training locations andfocal points for external quality assuranceprogrammes (EQAPs).

• These regional centres will need to beclosely linked to national laboratories,which will in turn service decentralized orperipheral laboratories within eachcountry.

The meeting recommended that the technicalaspects of the project should involve thefollowing inter-related activities, some ofwhich have already been achieved, or arebeing implemented, in some MSs:

• Introduction of the bulk reagent based Sc-RIA methodology;

• Establishment of good RIA practices;• Establishment of EQAP;• Production of primary reagents in selected

regional laboratories;• Distribution of such reagents to national

laboratories; and• Transfer of technology by means of

training activities.

The meeting formulated detailedrecommendations on the modalities to beadopted and developed work plans for theactivities to be undertaken for achieving theseobjectives.

Review and Planning Workshop for the Asia/Pacific Region on “Feed SupplementationStrategies and Reproductive Management of Cattle” (RAS/5/030 and RAS/5/035)


This Workshop was held from 11 to 15January 1999 in Yangon, Myanmar, in orderto review the progress made in a previousRegional Technical Co-operation Project(RAS/5/030) and to plan future activitiesunder a follow-up project (RAS/5/035) whichis being implemented under the framework ofthe Regional Co-operative Agreement for theAsia and Pacific Region (RCA). The newproject has the dual objectives of (a) furtherextending the field applications of feedsupplementation strategies; and (b) monitoring

and improving reproductive management andartificial insemination (AI) services inMember States.

The Workshop was attended by 16 of the 17nominated participants from 10 RCA MemberStates (P.R. China, Indonesia, R.O. Korea,Malaysia, Myanmar, Pakistan, Philippines, SriLanka, Thailand and Vietnam). It wassupported by two IAEA experts (Dr. M.Garcia, Peru, and Dr. A. S. Nanda, India) andthe Technical Officer from the JointFAO/IAEA Division.

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Following the presentation of country reports,the participants convened in two separategroups. Group 1 discussed and summarizedthe achievements made so far in feedsupplementation strategies and formulatedwork plans for further extension of theseactivities to wider groups of farmercommunities. Group 2 discussed the currentstatus of AI programmes and reproductiveperformance of dairy cattle in the region anddeveloped methodologies to be used formonitoring and improvement. The participantsthen re-convened in plenary sessions todiscuss and finalize the conclusions andrecommendations.

All participants were provided withinstructions on the use of the computerdatabase AIDA (Artificial InseminationDatabase Application) which has beendeveloped by the Animal Production andHealth Sub-programme. The counterparts forthe reproduction component were alsoprovided hands-on training in the use of thedatabase.

The full report is available from the AnimalProduction and Health Section and the Officeof the RCA Projects Co-ordinator, Departmentof Technical Co-operation. A summary of themain conclusions and recommendationsrelating to scientific aspects is given below:

1. The previous IAEA Regional TC ProjectRAS/5/030 has resulted in significantachievements in the utilization of locallyavailable feedstuffs for formulating, testingand using feed supplementation strategies fordairy and beef cattle, buffaloes and goats. Themain formulation currently being used is theUrea-Molasses-Multinutrient-Block (UMMB),which has been shown to result in increasedlactation yield, reduction of feeding costs,increased growth rate and reduced calfmortality. These responses have resulted inproven technical and economic benefits tofarmers.

2. Modalities have been developed forextension of this technology to larger groupsof farming communities. These need to befurther enhanced, consolidated and extended.

3. In several countries good contacts havebeen established between the ministriesconcerned, co-operative organizations andother livestock agencies. Further developmentof these linkages through collaborativeactivities such as training, field trials andproduction of farmer information materialsshould be fostered.

4. The information presented confirmed theneed for improved reproductive managementthrough more efficient AI and other breedingservices in the participating countries.

5. The RIA technique has been successfullyused to monitor reproductive performance insupplemented and control animals and has,therefore, been a valuable tool to quantify thebenefits of supplementary feeding. The solid-phase DPC RIA kit has been successfully usedin all laboratories previously associated withIAEA programmes. In order to ensuresustainability and to reduce operating costs,the recently developed FAO/IAEA Self-Coating RIA (Sc-RIA) method should beintroduced in all participating laboratories.Subsequently, the possibility of producingcertain primary reagents required for thisassay such as radiolabelled tracer, standardsand quality assurance (QA) samples inselected laboratories in the region should bepursued.

The inputs to be provided from IAEA weredetermined, including expert services, trainingworkshops, supply of small items ofequipment and progesterone RIA kits. It wasrecommended that a Review and Co-ordination Workshop be held inJanuary/February 2000. Submission ofcomplete technical information on projectactivities and achievements (including AIDAdatabase for AI counterparts) would be a pre-requisite for participation at this Workshop.

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First Research Co-ordination Meeting (RCM) on “Assessment of the Effectiveness ofVaccination Strategies against Newcastle Disease and Gumboro Disease Using Immunoassay-based Technologies for Increasing Farmyard Poultry Production in Africa” (D3.20.19)

Technical Officer: Ron Dwinger

The RCM took place from 8 to 12 February1999 in Rabat, Morocco.

Nine Research Contract holders (RCHs), fiveResearch Agreement holders (RAHs) and threeobservers were able to attend the RCM inRabat. Each RCH presented the situation offamily poultry production in his/her country.The RAH and observers gave lectures onvarious aspects of family poultry production,serological and vaccination techniques.

The advantages and disadvantages ofinactivated, live thermo-stable and recombinantvaccines against Newcastle disease werediscussed. Similarly, the various diagnostic andserological techniques to monitor Newcastlecontrol campaigns were assessed. The mostsuitable vaccine for protecting birds againstNewcastle disease was discussed at length. Itwas decided that the RCHs should come to thenext meeting with a recommendation as towhich vaccine should be used or tested inhis/her country to protect the birds againstNewcastle disease. If production is feasiblelocally, the use of a thermo-stable vaccine, 2Ias an eye-drop application, should certainly beconsidered. In addition, the most appropriateway for serological and diagnostic monitoringof immunity was discussed.

A practical session of one day duration wasorganized to demonstrate post mortemtechniques and practice blood sampling inadult chickens. A field trip was arranged tovisit a semi-intensive poultry farm and afamily poultry farm near Rabat.

An existing detailed questionnaire forcollecting base-line data on family poultryproduction was discussed. The questionnairewas considerably revised during the meetingwith the assistance of comments from fieldworkers in Zimbabwe who had tested the formextensively.

Guidelines for the field work were designed toassist the RCH in the research activities duringthe first year.

It was decided that during the first year base-line data will be collected from 24 differentfamily poultry farms by each RCH (2 differentecological zones; 3 villages in each zone; 4farmers in each village). The farms will besampled twice (once during the rainy seasonand once during the dry season). It wasadvised to translate the survey in the locallanguage and test the survey in the field beforeuse. In addition, the RCHs were stronglyadvised to explain the various steps of theresearch project (survey, sampling,interventions, training) to the villageelders/chief before entering individual farms.Two different surveys will be conducted bythe RCH: a base-line survey in 24 farms(twice) and a disease survey (continuous).Completed questionnaires will be entered in astandardized EXCEL data input sheet and willbe analysed for factors constraining familypoultry productivity in each ecological zone.The spreadsheet will assist uniformity in datacollection and facilitate data analysis.

Furthermore, serum samples should becollected as part of the continuous survey fromat least 6 adult animals on each farm. Filterpaper disks can be used under thosecircumstances where farmers object to bloodsampling. Sick or dead chicken should bepurchased/collected for post mortemexaminations. Collection will be facilitated byemploying a veterinary assistant stationed in thevillage.

During the second year of the CRP,interventions will be initiated on the selectedfarms in order to improve productivity asmeasured by number of eggs produced,number of chicks reaching adulthood andnumber of animals sold. Interventions willconsist of providing one or more of thefollowing measures depending on localconditions and the factors limiting production:vaccination, disease prevention,supplementary feeding and simple housingstructures.

The first data set should be sent to Vienna bythe end of June 1999. The second data set (ofthe alternate season) should be sent to Vienna

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by the end of November 1999. The next RCMis likely to be organized in Port Louis,

Mauritius, in May 2000.

Project Co-ordination Meeting and Mid-Term Review of AFRA Project II–17 – “Developmentand Field Evaluation of Animal Feed Supplementation Packages” (RAF/5/041)


This meeting was held from 8 to 12 February1999 in Antananarivo, Madagascar, under theframework of the Regional Technical Co-operation Project RAF/5/041 (AFRA II-17).The objectives were to: (a) review theachievements in formulating and field testingfeed supplementation strategies in AFRAMember States (MSs); (b) assess the currentstatus of establishment of the Self-CoatingRIA (Sc-RIA); (c) consider the report of theTask Force meeting on “Strategies for FutureSustainability of the Applications ofProgesterone RIA for Improving LivestockProduction in Developing Member States”;and (d) develop future work plans for bothcomponents of the project.

The meeting was attended by 13 of the 16nominated Project Co-ordinators (PCs) from13 AFRA MSs (Cameroon, D.R. Congo, Côted’Ivoire, Egypt, Ghana, Kenya, Madagascar,Mauritius, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, U.R.Tanzania and Zambia). Three nominated PCsdid not attend (Algeria, Morocco and Libya),while in the case of two MSs either nosuitable nomination (Tunisia), or nonomination (Sudan), was received. Themeeting was supported by an IAEA expert(Dr. N. Jayasuriya, Sri Lanka), the ProjectScientific Consultant (PSC), who is also PCfor Egypt and the IAEA Technical Officer.

The opening of the meeting was heldconcurrently with that of a National Meetingand Symposium organized jointly by theMinistry of Research and Scientific Affairsand the Ministry of Higher Education ofMadagascar to mark the tenth anniversary ofAFRA. This was addressed by H.E. thePresident of the National Assembly of theRepublic of Madagascar; H.E. the Vice PrimeMinister (as representative of the President ofthe Republic of Madagascar); the Hon.Ministers for Higher Education, ForeignAffairs, Livestock, Scientific Research, andIndustries; the Malagasy National Co-ordinator for IAEA and AFRA; and the

Technical Officer from the Joint FAO/IAEADivision.

Following the presentation of country reports,a critical analysis of achievements in each MSwas done and a SWOT analysis of the overallproject was conducted.

The major achievements were summarized as:(a) development of feed supplementationpackages and their testing on-station by over90% of participating MSs, completion of on-farm testing by over 75% and large-scaletesting and extension among farmers by threeMSs; (b) the holding of four regional trainingworkshops as programmed and the conduct ofnational workshops by 80% of MSs; (c) thecompilation of a training manual on“Guidelines for Development of FeedSupplementation Packages” and individualcountry databases on “Feed Resources andReproductive Parameters of Livestock”; and(d) the upgrading of RIA facilities in all MSs,establishment of the Sc-RIA technique in tenMSs and successful participation in the EQAprogramme by most MSs.

The major weaknesses were considered to be:(a) inadequate financial and logistical supportfrom some National Governments for projectactivities; (b) lack of recognition and supportfor the role of the PSC; (c) problemsassociated with shipment and customsclearance for project materials; and (d)problems in nominations by MSs as well aslate notice to selected participants of trainingcourses and workshops.

The meeting made detailed recommendationsspecific to Project Co-ordinators, AFRANational Co-ordinators, AFRA FieldManagement, AFRA Governments and IAEAfor more effective implementation of thescientific, technical and administrative aspectsof the project.

The meeting also accepted in principle thereport and recommendations of the Task ForceMeeting on “Strategies for FutureSustainability of the Applications of

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Progesterone RIA for Improving LivestockProduction in Developing Member States” andmade further specific recommendations on thetechnical and logistic aspects of this initiative.Potential locations were identified for theregional laboratories which will beresponsible for the production and distributionof bulk reagents, for the EQA programme andfor hosting the planned training workshops.

It was recommended that a final reviewmeeting for both components (feedsupplementation and Sc-RIA) be held in

December 2000. All PCs were requested toprepare a scientific paper which contains alldata obtained under the project, with statisticaland cost–benefit analyses, and forward this tothe PSC and IAEA by 30 October 2000. Thepublication of these papers in the form of aTECDOC was recommended.

The full report is available from the AnimalProduction and Health Section and the Officeof the AFRA Projects Co-ordinator,Department of Technical Co-operation.

Final RCM on “Use of Immunoassay Technologies for the Diagnosis and Control of Foot-and-Mouth Disease in South East Asia” (D3.20.14)

Technical Officer: Martyn Jeggo

Final Research Co-ordination Meeting (RCM)of the FAO/IAEA Co-ordinated ResearchProject entitled “Improved Diagnosis andControl of Foot-and-Mouth Disease in SouthEast Asia using ELISA-based Technologies”,Phnom Penh, Cambodia, from 22 to 26February 1999.

This final RCM was held in conjunction withthe fifth meeting of the OIE Sub-commissiondealing with the control and eradication offoot-and-mouth disease (FMD) from 7countries (Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand,Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia and Myanmar) inthis region. This programme aims ateradicating FMD from these countries wherethis disease causes enormous losses throughreduced livestock production, through loss ofdraught power and through loss of exportopportunities. Throughout the implementationof this CRP (from 1993 to 1999), there hasalways been a strong link with this OIEinitiative to ensure that the support providedthrough the CRP is targeted towards theeradication process through building an FMDdiagnostic capability and conductingappropriate research. It should be noted thatthe eradication programme is divided intothree Phases. Phase 1 is concerned withplanning and capacity building linked tosocio-economic studies and enabling research.Phase 2 is the implementation control phase.Phase 3 is concerned with eradication andverification. Phase 1 is due to run from 1993to 1999 and the operation of an FAO/IAEA

CRP in conjunction with this Phase is highlyappropriate.

The objectives of this CRP were:

1. To establish ELISA-based diagnosis andsurveillance capabilities for FMD in S.E. Asia.

2. To conduct specific research studies onFMD to meet national needs (e.g.effectiveness of FMD vaccinationprogramme).

3. To introduce elements of internal andexternal laboratory quality assurance.

At this final RCM, papers were given by the10 Research Contract holders (from Malaysia,Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, Laos,Cambodia, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Bangladeshand Hong Kong China) on the work conductedunder their Contracts during the past fiveyears. These papers will be published as anIAEA-TECDOC. During the meeting,presentations were closely linked withnational and technical reports on the OIEeradication programme. The achievements ofthis CRP were universally acclaimed by therepresentatives of countries attending thismeeting and experts/representatives from thevarious international (FAO, ILRI, APHCA)and donor (ACIAR, JICA, EU) organizationssupporting the OIE programme and attendingthis meeting.

Conclusions and Recommendations

3.1. National laboratories supported under thisCRP can now diagnose FMD virus (to the type

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level), detect antibodies to the virus andconduct sero-epidemiological surveys.

3.2. A quality assurance system is operationaland has confirmed the validity of results so farpublished.

3.3. Further training is required in laboratoryEQA and IQC procedures.

3.4. All seven national veterinary diagnosticlaboratories in the OIE Programme can nowprovide the necessary diagnostic support tonational FMD control and eradicationprogrammes.

3.5. A number of enabling research studieshave been undertaken to assist national FMDcontrol and eradication programmes, e.g.evaluation of the vaccination effortsprogramme in the Philippines and moleculartracing of causative viruses in Thailand.

3.6. To maintain this present situation it willbe necessary to continue to provide externalsupport for further training, for the supply ofELISA kits and reagents and for the continuedoperation of the FMD EQAP. Eventually,most of the above activities will becomefunctions of the newly-established OIE FMDRegional Reference Laboratory in Thailand.

3.7. A strong FMD diagnostic and researchcapability has been established in the regionand a significant amount of enabling researchundertaken through this CRP. During Phase 2of the OIE FMD eradication programme,maintenance of a diagnostic and surveillancecapability utilising ELISA-based technologieswill be critical to the success. There aresignificant opportunities for the technical co-operation programme of the Agency to assistin this area, to capitalize on what has alreadybeen achieved and to contribute towards theoverall aim of improving livestockproductivity as part of creating food securityand poverty alleviation in the region.

A full account of the overall conclusions andrecommendations will be published in the nextNewsletter after completion of the TECDOC.We would like to take this opportunity tothank all those involved in this CRP for theirinputs and enthusiasm that has resulted in thesuccess that the CRP has certainly been. Wewould particularly like to thank the threeAgreement holders (Dr. Alex Donaldson, UK,Dr. Laurie Gleeson, Australia, and Dr. RogerMorris, New Zealand), for all their help andguidance during the implementation of theCRP.

Regional Workshop on African Swine Fever (RAF/0/011))


The workshop was organized jointly withFAO from 22 to 26 February 1999 in Dakar,Senegal, to bring together scientists involvedin African Swine Fever (ASF) diagnosis andcontrol from Senegal, Benin, Burkina Faso,Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Madagascar,Nigeria and South Africa.

ASF is now regarded as a Pan Africandisease. Confirmation of its recent effects canbe seen in Madagascar where 500,000 pigs(60% of total population) have died sinceOctober 1998. It is clear that rapid diagnosis,linked with movement control, is a majorfactor in limiting the disease and theconsequences of failure (as in Madagascar)are devastating. Continued surveillance is alsoimperative to monitor any outbreaks and toassess the virus in the environment. The FAOhas spent the last two years in raising the

profile of the disease, particularly in WestAfrica. The methods used for diagnosis weredemonstrated and participants had limitedtime to perform the techniques. Advantagesand relevance of the methods were stressed. Agreat deal of discussion focused on theemerging disease and the control strategiesexamined for individual countries. Reportsfrom countries were given. Diagnosticreagents were distributed to selectedlaboratories. The workshop was extremelytimely on focusing on the acute needs for ASFdiagnosis and control and to highlight the poorunderstanding of the disease situation inAfrica.

General recommendations

1. Urgent support is still needed for theestablishment of standardized kits forantibody and antigen detection.

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2. Provision for differential diagnosis shouldbe made in laboratories world wide toidentify ASF, in particular in the face ofcomplications caused by classical swinefever.

3. There is a need for countries to assesstheir capacity to perform the indirect anddirect fluorescent techniques (IIF andDIF), as well as ELISA, as the first line ofdiagnostic surveillance as stronglyrecommended by the experts.

4. There is an urgent need to alert allnational authorities in Africa of theepidemiological implications of ASF,particularly the likely chronic form of thedisease. The experts concluded that therewas a tremendous threat from ASF tocountries both inside Africa and worldwide (particularly in S.E. Asia).

5. An intensive training course should beorganized dealing with standardizedELISA and IF methods for diagnosingASF, epidemiological considerationsincluding estimation of disease status ofcountries, analysis of vectors (arthropod)and wild animal reservoirs; controlmethods; and cost benefit scenarios forcontrol. Such a course should include allAfrican countries and deal not only withdiagnosticians but people involved withepidemiology and those responsible fornational disease control. Such a courseshould be run as soon as the standardizedmethods and kits are available.

6. Specific work to identify possible vectorsof ASF, and examine these for themaintenance of ASF, should be made inall countries which have suffered ASF andalso those under threat.

First RCM on “Use of Nuclear and Related Techniques to Develop Simple Tannin Assays forPredicting and Improving the Safety and Efficiency of Feeding Ruminants on TanniniferousTree Foliage” (D3.10.22)

Technical Officer: Harinder Makkar

This meeting was held from 8 to 12 March1999 in Vienna. It was attended by sixResearch Contract holders, three ResearchAgreement holders, one Consultant, oneobserver, and staff of the Animal Productionand Health Sub-programme of the JointFAO/IAEA Division.

Background

Tanniniferous trees and shrubs are ofimportance in animal production because theycan provide significant protein supplementsbut, unfortunately, the amounts of tannins thatthey contain vary widely and unpredictably.Their effects on animals range from beneficialto toxic including death. The toxic orantinutritional effects may be exacerbated intimes of stress when a very large proportion ofthe diet is tanniniferous. With a betterunderstanding of tannin properties,mechanism of tannin action and propermanagement of the forages, browses couldbecome an invaluable source of protein forstrategic supplementation. As the demand forfood rises, tanniniferous plants must play anincreasingly important part in the diet of

animals, in particular for ruminants in small-holder subsistence farming in developingcountries. It is therefore critical thattechniques be developed to measure andmanage the anti-nutritional components thatthey contain.

Keeping the above in mind, a JointFAO/IAEA Co-ordinated Research Project(CRP) on “Use of Nuclear and RelatedTechniques to Develop Simple Tannin Assaysfor Predicting and Improving the Safety andEfficiency of Feeding Ruminants onTanniniferous Tree Foliage” has beeninitiated. In order to provide a sound basis forthis CRP, an FAO/IAEA Consultants Meetingwas held in August 1997 in Vienna, whichdefined the tanniniferous plants to be studied,analytical methods, test animals and theanimal response evaluation techniques.

Objectives of the Meeting

To discuss the rationale behind the tanninassays and evaluate protocols recommended atthe consultants meeting in August 1997, andto define:

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• protocols for collection, storage, dryingand grinding of plant material; extractionof tannins; and quantification of tannins;

• standards for use in the tannin assays;• animal experimental protocols, work plans,

logical framework and milestones;• strategies for networking the CRP-related

activities of Contract and Agreementholders and the IAEA.

Conclusions and Recommendations

1. The Research Co-ordination Meeting(RCM) re-affirmed the conclusions of theFAO/IAEA Consultants Meeting held inVienna in August 1997, that the project shouldbe carried out in 2 phases. During Phase I, fora duration of 2 to 3 years, existing laboratorytechniques should be refined, standardized andvalidated to seek correlation with animalperformance indicators. During Phase 2,validated techniques and indicators should beused to exploit the potential benefits oftanniniferous plants as animal feedsupplements and as strategic feed in situationsof fluctuating nutrient supply.

2. In view of the scarcity of existingbackground information and uniqueness ofthis CRP (the complexity and difficulty ofobtaining and correlating information from theanalytical, in vitro and in vivo experiments), afurther two renewals of the first phase of thisCRP (July 1999, July 2000) are needed.

3. In order to ensure smooth and timelyprogress of the CRP, it was stressed thatAgreement holders and the Project Officershould visit CRP sites to assess progress andprovide continuous advice on analyticaltechniques and execution of the experimentalwork plans and protocols.

4. A training course in analytical techniquesfor a duration of at least five weeks must beorganized as early as possible in the CRP andall Contract holders must attend in order toensure that reproducible, standardized andmeaningful data are obtained during the CRP.Contract holders will set up the analyticalprocedures in advance of attending thetraining course to ensure maximum benefitfrom the course. The tentative dates for thecourse are the last week of August, andSeptember 1999.

5. Participants will use representativetanniniferous fodder samples in order to learnthe analytical techniques. The same samplesor mixtures will then be exchanged amongstContract holders to be used as qualityassurance standards.

6. In order to ensure reproducible results,IAEA should provide the Dacron bags for therumen studies, 125I-labelled BSA, andstandards for the rumen bag and in vitro gastechniques.

7. The following techniques should be furtherdeveloped to allow their use on a routine basisin counterpart laboratories. These are theradioisotope assay (based on 125I-labelledprotein) and a screening assay forhydrolyzable tannins (ellagi- and gallo-tannins). In addition, inexpensive and stablereference materials need to be developed forcondensed tannins as none are available atpresent. It is suggested that immobilizedtannins and a colouring agent (in relation tocyanidin chloride) should be developed foruse as standards.

8. These methods and a protocol for screeningof tannins by TLC methods should be added tothe FAO/IAEA working manual on tanninassays and should be published by the Agencyas a TECDOC.

9. Details of all methods to be used (e.g.proximate analyses, tannin analyses, purineanalyses) and protocols for animal trials (e.g.feeding trials, collection of samples) must befollowed closely and details recorded by allContract holders.

10. Contract holders need to keep samples ofall basal, concentrate and tanniniferousmaterials, faecal and urine samples for futureanalysis if required. (A protocol will beprovided for collection, fixing and storage oforgan and tissue samples. It was considereddesirable but optional.)

11. Statistical advice must be obtainedimmediately from a biometrician/statisticianfor the short-term in vivo studies (adaptationperiods and strategies between treatments andnumber of animals per treatment) before thestart of the feeding trials.

12. Frequent e-mail contact between Contract,Agreement holders and the Joint Division

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within this CRP is necessary. It was agreedthat all participants will provide regularreports in the first week of February, June andOctober every year by e-mail which will bedistributed to all participants in the CRP forcomments and suggestions. A future tanninnetwork on the internet, organized andmoderated by the Joint Division through itshome page should be developed for theinterchange of information within and outsidethe group.

13. The final RCM for Phase 1 will be held inBrazil or Turkey in April/May 2001, and

Phase 2 of the CRP should follow immediatelywith another training workshop in adeveloping country for the new Contractholders.

14. The analysis and discussion of all results(across countries and species) will be done atthe RCM in April/May 2001. Abiometrician/statistician should attend the nextRCM. All Contract holders will submit thefinal report, including spreadsheets containingall the data by Feb 2001. The results of thework are intended to be published as aTECDOC.

Second RCM on “Rinderpest Sero-monitoring and Surveillance in Africa Using ImunoassayTechnologies” (D3.20.16)


Second RCM of the FAO/IAEA/PARC CRPon “The surveillance of rinderpest in Africausing enzyme immunoassays”, Machakos,Kenya, 26-30 April 1999.

The second RCM marked the end of the EU-funded PARC-project, which will becontinued under the new EU Pan AfricanProject for Control of Epizootics PACE.Research Contract holders from 20 Africancountries reviewed the progress made inrinderpest surveillance in their respectivecountries during the last year and discussedlaboratory diagnosis issues pertinent to thecomplete eradication of rinderpest fromAfrica. The meeting made the followingconclusions and recommendations:

The laboratory results are an essentialcomponent in the surveillance of rinderpestand it must be ensured that the results areconsidered adequately in the planning ofveterinary activities. Where necessary, theserological results must be followed uprapidly through epidemiological fieldinvestigation. The surveillance networkrecognizes the need to adhere to performanceindicators with particular emphasis on therapid follow-up responses and resolution ofsero-positive results in herds expected to benegative.

The meeting recognized that National,Regional and World Reference Laboratoriesare essential to the success of PACE. The

National and Regional Laboratories being thefirst “line of defence” require regular fundingfor consumables, diagnostics, equipment,training and to facilitate linkages with othercountries, laboratories and PACE projects.Funding for the World Reference Laboratorymust be increased to maintain the freediagnostic service and increasing molecularepidemiological studies.

Recognizing the contribution of the laboratorynetwork to the eradication of rinderpest, whichis based on the proficiency of the ResearchContract holders and the support of SIDA,FAO/IAEA and PARC, the meetingrecommends that the sero-monitoring networkis expanded into a network of laboratories incharge of diagnosis and surveillance ofrinderpest and other priority diseases.

Recognizing the experience of the JointFAO/IAEA Division in the transfer of thetechnology which is the basis of the sero-monitoring network the meeting recommendsthat the Joint FAO/IAEA Division continuesto co-ordinate the activities of the network oflaboratories in charge of diagnosis ofrinderpest and other priority diseases. Theactivities should be funded by PACE.

Considering the importance for the exchangeof the experiences in the surveillance, themeeting recommends to continue the annualmeetings of the Research Contract holdersfrom the laboratory network and that thesemeetings are held jointly with those

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responsible for the surveillance networks. Theparticipation of those responsible forsurveillance networks should be funded by thenational PACE project.

Considering the need to harmonize allactivities of PACE, it is recommended thattwo delegates of the laboratory network attendregional PACE co-ordinators meetings.Participation should be funded by theRegional PACE Units.

Considering that information exchange isessential for the operation of an efficientsurveillance network the meeting recommendsthat support is provided for the installationand recurrent costs of e-mail to facilitate thecommunication within the network andbetween neighbouring countries.

Although the practical bench work related tothe diagnosis and surveillance of rinderpest isnow delegated to technicians the projectholders must still ensure that a high standardis maintained. To assist with this process it isrecommended that a multinational techniciantraining course should be organized.

Recognizing that all countries supportedthrough FAO/IAEA can purchase therinderpest ELISA kits at a reduced price it isrecommended that the national PARC andPACE projects ensure that the supplier isinformed accordingly when the kits areordered. At the national level it is essentialthat efficient systems for the clearance ofreagents and equipment are put in place.

Recognizing the importance of reliablelaboratory results in the diagnosis of the mainepizootics and considering the increasingimportance that these results are verified aspart of trade regulations it is recommended:

• That the established system of externalquality assurance (EQA) for the diagnosisof rinderpest consisting of a panel ofquality control sera, a laboratoryquestionnaire and the control of theinternal quality controls continues underPACE and that adequate funds areidentified under PACE.

• That the EQA is expanded to otherpriority diseases in particular FMD, PPRand CBPP.

• That in the operation of the EQA,FAO/IAEA should collaborate withPANVAC and that PANVAC’s capacityfor the operation of EQA should bestrengthened.

Recommendations regarding the diagnosis ofrinderpest and research/development:

The meeting was concerned by the failure todetect antibody in some lineage 2 virusinfected cattle. As a matter of urgency, studiesmust be carried out to establish if this is due topoor test sensitivity for this lineage or due to alow humoral antibody response. The followingmust be carried out as soon as possible:

1. Determination of VNT titres of post-infected sera;

2. Determination of optimal time taking postinfection for detection of antigen and eyeswabs;

3. Determination of the duration for antigendetection in tissues of infected animals;

4. Evaluation of further Mabs in the cELISAto increase sensitivity for lineage 2;

5. Evaluate changes in test protocol toincrease test sensitivity;

6. Evaluate any other technology currentlyavailable which may assist in detection oflineage 2 virus.

As soon as progress has been made inimproving the detection of lineage 2, theresults should be transmitted to the wholenetwork.

The meeting realizes that the current cut-offvalue for the cELISA was designed for sero-monitoring and correlates with protection. Alower cut-off value will increase testsensitivity, assist in detection of antibody tolineage 2 virus and speed up detection of fociof infection. The meeting feels that rather thanchange the cut-off value (which is stated in theO.I.E. manual of standards) values between 40to 50% must be considered as suspect andfield staff must be alerted to undertake aninvestigation and, where appropriate, to re-sample. Thus any values greater than 40%must initiate a field investigation.

The meeting felt it is imperative that constantmonitoring of the geographical delineation of

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lineage 1 and 2 viruses is maintained so thatnational veterinary field services can bewarned of possible changes in clinicalsyndromes due to the emerging of newlineages in different geographical areas.

Funding should be set aside for PACE-relatedresearch as and when required.

Considering that the serological results of therinderpest ELISA need correct interpretation,it is recommended that the sero-surveillanceand sero-monitoring results are analyzed atregular intervals through frequencydistribution analysis and software toaccomplish this should be included in anyELISA reading software supplied by IAEA.

Considering the importance of peste-des-petitsruminants in the eradication of rinderpest fromAfrica and considering the constraints of thecurrently established serological tests, it isrecommended that further research to improvethe current diagnostic tests continues and isfunded through PACE.

The meeting felt that once validated, pen-sidediagnostic devices for the detection ofrinderpest antigens should be made availableto all laboratories carrying out activesurveillance.

Recognizing the need for the establishment ofefficient surveillance systems for CBPP, it isrecommended that adequate guidelines bedeveloped and distributed.

While offering our condolences to the familyof the Terra Nova employee recently killed inSomalia, the meeting wishes to offer everysupport and encouragement to the NGO fieldstaff currently working in Southern Sudan,Southern Somalia and North-east Uganda.Organizations such as Terra Nova andUNICEF OLS, Sudan, should continue toreceive financial support through PACE. Themeeting appreciates that without thecourageous activities there is no hope for thedisease eradication.

Final RCM on “Use of RIA and Related Techniques to Identify Ways of Improving ArtificialInsemination Programmes for Cattle Reared Under Tropical and Sub-tropical Conditions”(D3.10.20)


The final RCM of this CRP took place from10 to 14 May 1999 at the Swedish Universityof Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden. Itwas attended by 13 Research Contract holders,4 Agreement holders, one Technical Contractholder and the FAO/IAEA Technical Officer.

The objectives of this RCM were to presentthe results obtained by all participants over thefive year period of the CRP, to discuss therelevance and potential applications of thefindings for future improvements to dairyproduction in developing countries, and to editand prepare the scientific papers forpublication by IAEA. The main conclusionsand recommendations were as follows:

1. Conclusions

1.1. The standardized methodology anduniform approach to data recording andanalysis has resulted in the generation of aunique international data set on the currentstatus of artificial insemination (AI) in cattle

in 14 developing countries of Asia and LatinAmerica.

1.2. Measurement of progesterone byradioimmunoassay (RIA) in milk samplescollected at specific times in relation to AI,combined with the use of the computerdatabase AIDA (Artificial InseminationDatabase Application), has proved to be apowerful tool for calculating reproductiveindices and identifying factors which affectthem. The Guide to AI Data Analysis(GAIDA) system was a useful adjunct tofacilitate data analysis.

1.3. The methodology and approach haveprovided a better understanding of thecomplex factors influencing AI programmesand, in many countries, have resulted in thefirst reliable assessment of the success rate ofAI and the efficiency of reproductivemanagement by small-scale dairy farmers.

1.4. The CRP has been a good learningexperience for the participants. It has providedan opportunity to work directly with AI

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personnel and farmers, strengthened capabilityfor project planning, organization andmanagement, lead to interchange ofexperiences at international level andexposure to the range of problems existing indifferent countries, and shifted the researchemphasis of participants to a more problemsolving approach.

1.5. The results, based on over 11,000services in 7,990 cows on 1,735 farms, havepermitted a clear understanding of the majorconstraints and factors contributing toinefficiency of AI services. They havehighlighted the need for closer monitoring offield results by AI service providers and forbetter education of AI technicians andfarmers.

1.6. The conception rate to first serviceranged from 15% to 62% in the study areas ofthe 14 countries, with an overall mean of 41%.The overall mean intervals from calving tofirst service and to conception were 122 and138 days, respectively.

1.7. The main causes of low fertility wereheat detection failure, inseminations atinappropriate time, poor semen quality,embryo mortality, seasonal influences andfactors related to management on individualfarms.

1.8. Overall, 17.3% of cows wereinseminated at an inappropriate time (range 2-55% among countries). Of this, 7% (1.5-18%)were during the luteal phase or pregnancy and10% (1-48%) were during anoestrus.

1.9. Of the services performed at anappropriate time, 24.7% did not result in apregnancy as diagnosed by progesteronemeasurement at 22-24 days (due to non-fertilization or early embryonic death). A highproportion of these cows were not submittedfor further services until rectal palpation 2-3months later, highlighting the failure offarmers to detect subsequent returns tooestrus.

1.10. Of the animals diagnosed as possiblypregnant by progesterone assay, 12% werefound to be non-pregnant at rectal palpation(due to late embryo mortality or persistence ofluteal function).

1.11. The efficiency of non-pregnancydiagnosis based on progesterone assay at 22-24 days after AI was greater than 95%.

1.12. Interventions aimed at improvingfertility were undertaken by several contractholders. These included improved nutrition,management of suckling by calves, restrictingbreeding to favourable seasons, education ofAI technicians, synchronization and/orinduction of oestrus using hormonal treatmentand conduct of field fertility clinics. Adoptionof some of these practices by AI services andfarmers resulted in beneficial impact onreproductive performance.

1.13. The CRP has clearly demonstrated thevalue of accurately identifying themanagement problems as a basis forimplementing interventions. It has alreadyassisted in improving the performance of AItechnicians and has been instrumental ininitiating programmes aimed at improving thedairy industry in some countries.

1.14. The results clearly demonstrate thepotential value of the progesterone RIA inproviding diagnostic and related services tofarmers in developing countries. Of theparticipants, 92% confirmed the feasibility ofestablishing a non-pregnancy diagnosisservice, provided that some financial supportand assay reagents were available during theinitial phase to demonstrate cost-effectiveness.

2. Recommendations

2.1. The future sustainability of themethodology used in this CRP will relyheavily on the continuous availability of cost-effective reagents required for progesteroneassay in developing countries. This should beensured through appropriate regionalstrategies for the production and distributionof essential reagents.

2.2. The AIDA database has great potentialfor application in national AI programmes andfarmer-oriented services. Its furtherdevelopment and customization for specificneeds should be supported.

2.3. The survey methodology developedunder this CRP should be used for monitoringand improving AI services in other areas ofparticipating countries and also extended toother countries.

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2.4. There is a need to focus on aspectsrelated to male reproduction in AI servicesand to adopt standard procedures foridentifying inefficiencies in the production,handling, transport, evaluation and utilizationof semen.

2.5. Based on the findings of the currentCRP, participants should continue to test andintroduce appropriate interventions for furtherimprovements in reproductive efficiency.

2.6. The links established betweenscientists, AI services, farming communities

and extension systems must be furtherstrengthened and developed. This shouldinclude regular monitoring, analysis andutilization of data collected in AI programmes,regular communication and interchange ofinformation between researchers, extensionstaff and farmers.

2.7. It is strongly recommended that routineservices to dairy farmers, including diagnosisof non-pregnancy and infertility based onprogesterone RIA, be established.

Second RCM to “Develop and Validate Standardized Methods for Using Polymerase ChainReaction (PCR) and Related Molecular Technologies for Rapid and Improved Animal DiseaseDiagnosis” (D3.20.17)


The meeting was held from 17 to 21 May1999 in Pretoria, South Africa.

The meeting reviewed the work of theResearch Contract holders. The individualreports highlighted key areas in the problemsof technology transfer of moleculartechniques, in particular for the establishmentof validated polymerase chain reaction (PCR)methods.

Major areas discussed

1. Training. It was stressed that bothintensive training in basic molecular biologyas well as specific applications, is essential.Personnel are lost to commercial companieswho can offer much larger salaries, and this ishighly disruptive. Better methods for trainingshould be examined. This includes grouptraining for adequate periods of time withcertification that candidates have good basicknowledge of molecular techniques.

2. Good laboratory design. This isabsolutely essential before PCR is attempted.

3. Contamination problems. These arecommon and greater precautions are needed toidentify and avoid them.

4. Protocols. It was concluded that an‘agreed’ protocol using the PCR forrinderpest, PPR, and related viruses, can beproduced. This does not indicate that otherprotocols are invalid, but will provide a knownworking standard, incorporating developments

in PCR technologies over the past two years,e.g. ‘Hot start’, and ‘wax bead’methodologies, as well as the use of morestable enzymes. This protocol will be preparedby Agreement holders and field tested in theResearch Contract holders’ laboratories in thenear future. There was recognition thataccount must be taken of the availableequipment (e.g. thermocyclers), in the agreedprotocol.

5. Differential diagnosis. Sets of primers toinvestigate samples for virus genomes will bestandardized. These will examine rinderpest,PPR, IBR, BVD and MCF. This should allowscientists not only to indicate whether asample is negative for one disease, but also topossibly identify a positive signal againstanother disease. There is increasing pressurefrom administrations asking the question“Well if it is not rinderpest, then what is it?”.The development of differential diagnostictests using PCR will assume increasingimportance under GREP.

6. Role of PCR. All the participants stressedthat PCR technologies must be used inconjunction with serological techniques, andthat PCR alone was a dangerous route to take.It was acknowledged that there is oftenpolitical pressure for this route, which shouldbe resisted. Discussions as to the feasibilityand use of sequencing PCR products weremade. These included use of automatic andmanual sequencing and commercialsequencing services. The role of PCR in

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studying diseases where serologicaltechniques were unsuitable, is also made.

7. Help desk. The need to have a source ofexpertise on PCR was emphasized. The role ofthe Joint Division in providing a “help desk”facility was discussed. It was stronglyemphasized that a priority for efficienttechnology transfer and sustainability must bethe establishment of e-mail in all laboratories.

Research Contract holders prepared logicalframeworks outlining their next year’sresearch schedule. Individual needs forequipment were discussed.

There was consensus that the RCM wasextremely useful and timely in emphasizingthe problems of technology transfer of thePCR in Africa.

D. STATUS OF EXISTING CO-ORDINATED RESEARCH PROJECTS

Use of RIA and Related Techniques to Identify Ways of Improving Artificial InseminationProgrammes for Cattle Reared Under Tropical and Sub-tropical Conditions (D3.10.20)


The Final RCM was held in May 1999 (seePast Events for a detailed report) and a full

account of the results will be published by theend of this. The CRP is therefore completed.

Use of Nuclear and Colorimetric Techniques for Measuring Microbial Protein Supply fromLocal Feed Resources in Ruminant Animals (D3.10.21)


This CRP now in its Phase II, has six newResearch Contracts and two ResearchAgreements making in all nine ResearchContract holders and six Research Agreementholders. The CRP is aimed at developing amethod which can readily be used by farmeradvisors or extension workers to identify

major problems of nutrition that result in agrossly inefficient rumen digestion of feed anda low level of microbial supply to the hostanimal. The next RCM will be held in March2000 to assess the progress of the workconducted and to develop procedure(s) toassess the impact of the techniques developed.

Use of Nuclear and Related Techniques to Develop Simple Tannin Assays for Predicting andImproving the Safety and Efficiency of Feeding Ruminants on Tanniniferous Tree Foliage(D3.10.22)


This CRP has six Research Contracts, oneTechnical Contract and three ResearchAgreements. The first RCM was held inVienna, Austria, from 8 to 12 March 1999(see Past Events for conclusions and

recommendations). The Contract holders willbe provided training on tannin assays at theInstitute for Animal Production in the Tropicsand Sub-tropics, University of Hohenheim,Stuttgart, Germany, from 23 August to 24September 1999.

To Improve the Effectiveness of Monitoring Trypanosomosis and Tsetse Control Programmesin Africa Using Immunoassay and Parasitological Techniques (D3.20.13)

Technical Officer: Ron Dwinger The CRP is aimed at using an immunoassaytechnique (ELISA) for improved diagnosis of

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trypanosomosis and at applying thisserological technique together with standardparasitological techniques, such as the buffycoat technique (BCT) for monitoring theeffectiveness of tsetse and trypanosomosiscontrol programmes.

All Research Contract holders (RCH) havereceived consumables which will enable thevalidation of two indirect ELISAs designedfor detecting antibodies directed againstTrypanosoma congolense and T. vivax.

The RCH have been requested to sendpreliminary results, being raw optical density

data and PP values of the serum samplestested (with a complete background history ofthe samples) not later than mid-March, 1999.The results will enable an overall analysis forvalidation of the antibody-detection ELISA.

Moreover, a full and detailed report of theinvestigations should be submitted to Viennaby August, 1999. Thus, it will be possible forthe Research Agreement holders to examinethe results and discuss the reports during thefinal RCM, which is planned for 6 to 10September 1999, at the ILRI site in AddisAbaba, Ethiopia.

Use of Immunoassay Technologies for the Diagnosis and Control of Foot-and-Mouth Disease inSouth East Asia (D3.20.14)


The final RCM took place in Phnom Penh,Cambodia, from 22 to 26 February 1999 (seePast Events for a detailed report) and the

results will be published as an IAEATECDOC later this year. This CRP is nowcompleted.

Rinderpest Sero-monitoring and Surveillance in Africa Using Immunoassay Technologies(D3.20.16)


This CRP has 20 Research Contracts and twoResearch Agreements. The research focuses onthe use of the FAO/IAEA rinderpest ELISA forthe surveillance of rinderpest through surveys

and active disease research.

The third RCM is planned to be held in Garoua,Cameroon, in March 2000.

To Develop and Validate Standardized Methods for Using Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)and Related Molecular Technologies for Rapid and Improved Animal Disease Diagnosis(D3.20.17)


This CRP has seven Research Contractholders involving investigations on rinderpest,peste-des-petits ruminant (PPR), contagious

bovine and caprine pleuropneumonia (CBPPand CPBB). The third RCM will tentatively beheld in Namibia in January 2001.

The Monitoring of Contagious Bovine Pleuropneumonia in Africa Using EnzymeImmunoassays (D3.20.18)


This CRP has 11 Research Contracts and threeResearch Agreements. The research carriedout under this project is aiming at thevalidation of the competitive CBPP ELISA for

the diagnosis of antibodies againstMycoplasma mycoides mycoides sc. Thesecond RCM will be held from 27 Septemberto 1 October 1999 in Lusaka, Zambia (see alsounder Forthcoming Events).

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Assessment of the Effectiveness of Vaccination Strategies against Newcastle Disease andGumboro Disease Using Immunoassay-based Technologies for Increasing Farmyard PoultryProduction in Africa (D3.20.19)


A description on the first RCM held in Rabat,

Marokko from 8 to 12 March 1999 is availableon page 10 of this Newsletter.

The Use of Non-structural Protein of Foot-and-Mouth Disease Virus (FMDV) to Differentiatebetween Vaccinated and Infected Animals (D3.20.20)


This CRP has 13 Research Contracts sixResearch Agreement holders. The CRP started

in January 1999.

The first RCM will be held in March 2000 inRio de Janeiro, Brazil.

E. NEW CO-ORDINATED RESEARCH PROJECTS

Application of PCR-ELISA for the Diagnosis and Control of Animal Trypanosomosis


Introduction

Traditionally, trypanosomosis in animals hasbeen diagnosed by laborious microscopicexamination of individual blood samples,initially thin and thick Giemsa stained smears,later wet films. Concentration methods weredeveloped in the seventies using a haematocritcentrifuge. As a result, the diagnosis of thedisease was improved and more animals weredetected to be infected with trypanosomes.These techniques, the Woo method and thebuffy coat technique (BCT) had, as anadditional advantage, that the anaemia of theanimal could be assessed simultaneously bymeasuring the packed red cell volumepercentage. However, although the specificityof the techniques was good (very few falsepositives were encountered), the sensitivity wasinsufficient. The lower detection limit of themost sensitive technique (the BCT) wasreported to be between 100 and 1000trypanosomes/ml blood. This proved to beinsufficient, since trypanosomosis in cattle isoften encountered under field conditions as achronic disease with low levels of circulatingparasites in the blood.

The discovery of monoclonal antibodies and theuse of ELISA technology provided anadditional diagnostic tool for testing largenumbers of samples with a reasonable accuracy

of detecting infected individuals. Althoughinitial results using the antigen-detectionELISA were promising, it soon becameapparent that many infections were missed(false negatives) and that even false positiveresults were not uncommon. Moreover, underexperimental conditions it was found that theantigen-detection ELISA was not any better indiagnosing infected animals than the BCT. Inother words, the test not only failed to detectanimals with a low amount of circulatingantigen during the initial (sub-acute) phase ofinfection, but also was not able to detectparasites during later stages of the disease dueto the formation of immune complexes maskingthe antigenic determinants recognized by themonoclonal antibodies used in the test.

Rationale

Consequently, it became necessary to develop anew set of test reagents and a new format oftesting. A combination of ELISA and novelmolecular techniques such as the polymerasechain reaction (PCR) might be the answer to theneed for a reliable and accurate diagnosis of thedisease.

The PCR is known to be a very sensitive test.For trypanosomosis in particular, this testwould be ideally suited as the ‘gold standard’. Itwould be used to verify doubtful samples,which have been detected positive by ELISA,but have not been found positive

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parasitologically in order to distinguish the truefrom the false positives. At the same time, itwould be useful if the PCR technique could beemployed to detect infected individuals thathave tested negatives in the ELISA and BCTdue to insufficient sensitivity of these latter twotests (in other words, to detect the falsenegatives). However, it should be noted that thePCR technique will show false positives ifinsufficient controls are being used during thesampling and testing procedures.

Consequently, a test combining the propertiesof PCR and ELISA and including sufficientcontrols might provide the correct diagnosticresults. The proposed CRP intends to developand validate a PCR in combination with anELISA format. The practical significance ofsuch a test would be in disease eradicationprogrammes. In such cases, it is of greatimportance to detect remaining foci of infection(to detect the false negatives). It is equallyimportant to unmask the false positives whichwould assist in indicating when to stoperadication efforts.

Overall objective

To improve livestock production througheffective control/eradication of livestockdiseases.

Specific objective

To introduce a molecular biological technique(PCR-ELISA) for a more effective diagnosisand surveillance of trypanosomes.

Expected outputs

• Development of a standardized PCR testto detect trypanosomal DNA in bloodsamples. The ideal golden standard testwould consist of a unique reaction usingone couple of primers amplifying theDNA of all pathogenic trypanosomes ofmammals. Since this test is not readilyavailable, in the first phase the PCR willconsist of a species-specific test, appliedwith primers already available that havebeen shown to properly amplify the DNAof: T. vivax

T. brucei sensu latoT. congolense (savannah type)

• Modification of the technique to an easy-to-use, more sensitive, standardized

format, which can handle larger numbersof samples (PCR-ELISA).

• Development of a ‘pan-tryp’ test that willamplify the DNA of all pathogenictrypanosomes of mammals. The test canbe applied in specified geographicalregions to assess trypanosomosisprevalence and assist decision makers infocusing and implementing appropriatedisease control programmes.

• Evaluation of the PCR-ELISA for theidentification of sleeping sickness usinghuman blood samples.

• Application of a more sensitive techniqueto evaluate the importance and identify thepresence of animal reservoirs of humantrypanosomosis.

• Improved monitoring of control and/oreradication programmes with a moresensitive diagnostic technique with theresult that a larger number of animals canbe identified as infected and subsequentlytreated, and that animals no longerinfected with parasites will be correctlyidentified.

• Improvement of knowledge and technicalskills of Research Contract holder’s in theuse of molecular tools for diagnostic andepidemiological studies through trainingactivities. Workshops will be organisedduring the Research Co-ordinationMeeting’s dealing with aspects of diseasediagnosis, analysis of data and applicationof results for rapid risk assessment orappropriate orientation andimplementation of disease controlprogrammes. Short-term trainingfellowships will be awarded for selectedscientists in collaboration with partnerinstitutes possibly leading to higherdegrees.

Proposals

Scientists working in countries in Africa,Latin America and Asia, wheretrypanosomosis is a serious problem for thelivestock industry and for human health andwhere control programmes are in operation,are requested to submit research proposalsusing the appropriate forms (“ResearchContract Proposal”).

Only those institutes with already sufficientlaboratory equipment and capability in the

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areas of ELISA and PCR technology presentshould apply for participation in the new CRP.The number of participants will be betweeneight and ten.

Proposals should describe the experimentaldesign (for example number of samples,number of animals, geographical area,

parameters, sampling techniques,experimental animals, etc.) of the validationand application of the PCR-ELISA. Inaddition, the expected output and benefits (forthe laboratory, the farmers and the country)should be indicated.

The Development of Strategies for the Effective Monitoring of Veterinary Drug Residues inLivestock and Livestock Products in Developing Countries


It has been decided to carefully review theactivities to be undertaken under this CRP toensure that it is in line with the rapidlychanging needs and opportunities in this area

of food quality monitoring. All thosesubmitting proposals have been informedaccordingly and a re-evaluation of submittedproposals will be undertaken in the comingmonths.

General information applicable to all Co-ordinated Research Projects

Submission of Proposals

Research Contract proposal forms can beobtained from IAEA, National Atomic EnergyCommissions and UNDP offices. Suchproposals need to be countersigned by theHead of the Institution and sent directly to theIAEA. They do not need to be routed throughother official channels unless local regulationsrequire otherwise.

Complementary FAO/IAEA Support

IAEA has a programme of support throughnational IAEA Technical Co-operation Projects

(TCP). These are concerned with aspects ofanimal production and diagnosis of animaldiseases. Through such projects, additionalsupport may be provided for the activitiesplanned under the individual ResearchContracts. This would provide furtherequipment, specialized training through IAEAtraining fellowships and the provision oftechnical back-stopping through visits by IAEAexperts for periods of up to 1 month. Suchsupport would be available to IAEA MemberStates.

F. QUALITY ASSURANCE PROGRAMMES

EQA Highlights

Since the last Newsletter, data from 4 EQArounds with FAO/IAEA ELISAs wereanalyzed: two rounds with the indirectbrucellosis ELISA (BRA97a and BRA98a),one round with the competitive RinderpestELISA (RP98a) and one round with the FMDLPBE (FMD98a). Detailed interim reports,including a list of ‘recognized’ laboratories,were produced and distributed to theparticipants and interested institutions, e.g.FAO, OIE.

Overall, results show that the majority ofparticipating laboratories have a goodproficiency in conducting the FAO/IAEAELISA test. However, several laboratories stillneed to improve their IQC practices; i.e. theymust concentrate on the monitoring andanalyses of the IQC data and should regularlycheck the calibration of their ELISA equipment.To improve this situation, a number of stepshave been undertaken:

• Guidelines for the auto-monitoring ofinternal quality controls have beenproduced. A document entitled: “Internal

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Quality Control (IQC) of CompetitiveEnzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (C-ELISA) for the Measurement ofAntibodies against Rinderpest and Pestedes Petits Ruminants (PPR) Viruses UsingCharting Methods” describes the properway of producing and analysing IQCcharts. The document also includestroubleshooting procedures based on themost common problems in assayperformance. Similar documents are beingprepared for other FAO/IAEA ELISAs.

• Additionally, an Excel spreadsheet hasbeen produced to assist a laboratory toproduce its own IQC charts. Theadvantage of the use of the spreadsheet isits easy use and uniform approach. ELISAdata can be imported/converted fromdifferent programmes (e.g. EDI,Procomm) and then are automaticallydisplayed as graphs showing intra- andinterassay variation. The same data can besent via e-mail attachment or on disketteto the Technical Officer/EQA Co-ordinator for further analysis.

• To improve the calibration andmaintenance procedures, a documententitled: “The Laboratory Wizard – Apractical loose-leaf edition guide for allwho want to share and update ordinaryinformation reported from technical staffof diagnostic laboratories world-wide” isbeing distributed and continuouslyupdated.

It is hoped that these measures help colleagueswho directly work with the ELISA assistingthem to identify early stages of problems inassay performance.

Future EQA rounds and perspective forrecognition

The definition for ‘Recognition’ requires that“a laboratory must have successfully fulfilledall of the requirements of the EQA for the

designated assay including the most recentproficiency tests.”

Based on the results supplied during earlierrounds, some countries have accumulatedgood data for the different EQA components,e.g. correct identification of EQC samples, butno submission of IQC results or noquestionnaire information. Provided thatresults from all EQA components are receivedand evaluated as acceptable, the followinglaboratories (expressed in code numbers) areearmarked for ‘Recognition’ for the next EQAround. See Table 1 below.

Résumé of EQA rounds with the RIA forthe determination of progesterone in milkand serum/plasma samples

RIA EQA

Recently the analyses of the 21st ExternalQuality Control (EQC) exercise has beenconcluded. EQC samples were distributed to23 laboratories for milk determination and to12 laboratories for serum/plasmadetermination as part of the FAO/IAEAExternal Quality Assurance Programme(EQAP). The report has been prepared fromthe results returned by 13 laboratories thatprocessed the milk EQC samples (59%response rate) and six laboratories thatprocessed the serum/plasma sample (50%response rate). Within the milk EQC (X and Ysamples) there was only one outlayer for eachcategory. The serum/plasma results were allwithin limits. It is concluded that resultsobtained during this round were better thanresults from earlier rounds.

The 22nd EQC round for milk andplasma/serum is scheduled for June 1999.

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Table 1

Rinderpest: Brucellosis1 (need to supply more IQC data) 12 25 58 69 12 (IQC data outside)10 13 (IQC data outside)11 17 (IQC and quest. missing)12 (need to supply more IQC data) 28(IQC data outside)13 (need to supply Questionnaire and IQC data) 3014 3715 38 (IQC data outside)Rinderpest: Brucellosis

16 3922 (IQC data not OK in earlier rounds, OD for Cm too low)232426 (need to supply IQC data)29 (EQC results were wrong in last round, PI results too low)3031

G. COMPUTER SOFTWARE PROGRAMS

1. SID

SID 3.1 has now been supplied to most ofthose using a previous version of SID. It

provides a computerized basis for linking fielddata with laboratory test results.

2. TADInfo

Under the FAO EMPRES programme a newsoftware program called TADInfo is beingdeveloped for use at the national, regional orglobal level. This program will be designed toallow those making decisions on diseasecontrol or eradication to be better informedthrough a systematic collection and multiplemanipulation of reports on disease occurrence.It is foreseen that such reports will be geo-referenced (either at the point of collection orsubsequently centrally) to allow the full use of

GIS (geographical information system) inanalysing these reports. A link within thisapproach is a software program (LABInfo) fortracking laboratory samples from theircollection point, to the laboratory for testingand the submission of a final test report (seebelow).

Driving the TADInfo initiative from FAOHeadquarters in Rome is Roger Paskins and hewill work closely with us.

3. LABInfo

The Joint FAO/IAEA Division and EMPRES,FAO have commenced the development of a

system to assist laboratories in recording,analysing, interpreting and presenting their

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data for tracking and managerial purposes.The main objectives of this product, LABInfo,is to assist in daily management ofsubmissions, sample tracking and facilitationof reporting.

LABInfo is intended to be distributed tonational laboratories, as a counterpart of thenational animal disease information system,TADInfo, that is currently being developed byFAO and field tested in pilot countries.

H. GEOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION SYSTEMS — UPDATE

Two visits have been made to the TALA(Trypanosomiasis And Land-use in Africa)Research Group and ERGO Ltd.(Environmental Research Group Oxford) atthe Department of Zoology, University ofOxford, in December 1998 and February1999.

The aim of the first visit was to get familiarwith the set-up, the updated version and futuredevelopments of the DAVID (Disease andVector Integrated Database) program forfuture training purposes and disease mappingexercises. A debugged version has beenreceived and the first updated version is on itsway.

In addition, some initial discussions focusedon the best approach to “determine priorityareas for tsetse control in Africa” using a GIS.

The purpose of the second visit was to collectsatellite images and digital maps and data forthe GIS-exercise “determination of priorityareas for tsetse control in Africa” for thestudy-areas (Ghibe Valley, Didessa Valley andsouth-west Ethiopia). This was done throughimporting and resampling of 239 satelliteimages, digital maps and data of differentsubjects (for example climate, vegetation,population) into latlong projection (deg) in adefined window for south-west Ethiopia.

Preliminary research to determine availabilityof data sources and data quality for the GIS-exercise “determination of priority areas fortsetse control in Africa” is undertaken at themoment. At a later stage, a final databasedesign and data organization (data dictionary)structure will be produced. Thereafter, themethods of analyses will be determined. Alimiting factor for this exercise could be thelack of reliable field data, particularly tsetsedistribution and disease data.

New GIS software has been ordered.Cartalinx is a spatial Data Builder, a digitaldevelopment tool that serves as a companionto a variety of GIS and desktop mappingsoftware products. Cartalinx will be mainlyused as a digitising tool. An update version ofArcView (3.1) with a new Spatial Analystapplication will be used to produce andanalyse the (final) products for GIS-training oftwo Sudanese fellows (envisaged in June1999) and the GIS-exercise mentioned above.

The Spatial Analyst is a new application forspatial modelling and analysis features tocreate, query, map and analyse cell-basedraster data and to perform integrated vectorraster analysis.

I. GUIDELINES FOR THE USE OF PERFORMANCE INDICATORS

Performance indicators have been conceivedin response to needs of countries to haveaccess to a management tool to monitor theirsurveillance systems efficiently and are aproduct of expert missions, detaileddiscussions, workshops and field testing. Morespecifically, performance indicators would

provide a method of objectively measuringand assessing surveillance systems and theirability to detect rinderpest disease or virus ifthese were present in the country.

Additionally, countries may use the concept ofperformance indicators to providedocumentation to the OIE for official

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international recognition of ‘freedom fromrinderpest’ in order to benefit from increasedaccess to international export markets forlivestock and livestock products.

Guidelines for the use of performanceindicators, as a part of rinderpest surveillancefor the Global Rinderpest EradicationProgramme (GREP) have been prepared andwill be published as an IAEA–TECDOC. Itwill be distributed to Chief Veterinary

Officers, Directors of Veterinary Services,rinderpest control co-ordinators, sero-surveillance co-ordinators and laboratorydirectors at national level. The document aimsto guide readers through a comprehensiveindicator system capable of assisting routinemonitoring of a national surveillanceprogramme and identifying any deficienciesthe programme may possess to promptremedial action.

J. PUBLICATIONS

Published:

1. TECDOC entitled “Diagnosis andEpidemiology of Animal Diseases in LatinAmerica”: Proceedings of the Final RCMsof an FAO/IAEA/SIDA Co-ordinatedResearch Programme entitled“Immunoassay Methods for the Diagnosisand Epidemiology of Animal Disease inLatin America” held in Guadeloupe,Lesser Antilles, 13–17 June 1994, and“The use of ELISA for Epidemiology andControl of Foot-and-Mouth Disease andBovine Brucellosis in Latin America” heldin Vienna, Austria, 14–18 April 1997. —IAEA–TECDOC–1055, Vienna, IAEA,1998.

2. A special edition of the Journal ofPreventive Veterinary Medicine. Thispublication contains most of the reports ofthe Final RCM of the FAO/IAEA Co-ordinated Research Project onDevelopment of SupplementationStrategies for Milk-producing Animals inTropical and Sub-tropical Environmentsheld in Malang, Indonesia, 24–28 March1997, PREVET January 1999, Volume 38,issues 1–2.

In Press:

1. Proceedings of the Final RCM of the Co-ordinated Research Project on“Development of Feed Supplementation

Strategies for Improving the Productivityof Dairy Cattle on Smallholder Farms inAfrica” held at the Agency’s Headquartersin Vienna, Austria, 7–11 September 1998.

2. Proceedings of the Final RCM of the Co-ordinated Research Project on“Development, Standardization andValidation of Nuclear-based Technologiesfor Measuring Microbial Protein Supplyin Ruminant Livestock for ImprovingProductivity” held at the Agency’sHeadquarters in Vienna, Austria, 24–28August 1998.

These proceedings will be published in1999 as IAEA–TECDOCs.

In Preparation:

1. Proceedings of the Final RCM of the Co-ordinated Research Project on “ImprovedDiagnosis and Control of Foot-and-MouthDisease in South East Asia using ELISA-based Technologies” held in Phnom Penh,Cambodia, 22–26 February 1999.

These proceedings will be published in1999 as IAEA–TECDOC.

2. Surveillance of Rinderpest in Africa —Reports 1998.

98-02191

Animal Production and Health Newsletter

Joint FAO/IAEA Division of Nuclear Techniquesin Food and Agriculture

International Atomic Energy AgencyP. O. Box 100, A–1400 Vienna, Austria

Printed by the IAEA in AustriaJuly 1999

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