Download REPORT ON THE ANIMAL HEALTH SITUATION IN GREENLAND

REPORT
ON
THE ANIMAL HEALTH SITUATION
IN GREENLAND
1998
Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Fisheries
Danish Veterinary Service
Greenland Homerule
Ministry of Environment and Nature
CONTENTS
Page
I.
Introduction ...............................................................................................................5
II.
Epidemiological Surveillance System
in Greenland ..............................................................................................................6
III
Greenlands Livestock Population........................................................................8
IV.
Livestock Disease Situation, 1998
List A diseases.........................................................................................9
List B diseases.......................................................................................10
V. Addresses, Telephone numbers, etc. ......................................................................18
Appendix.................................................................................................................................19
I. INTRODUCTION
Greenland is the largest island in the world and is geographically a part of the
North American continent. Its northerly position and the fact that the central part of
the island is covered by an ice cap are the main reasons why Greenland has an
arctic climate, with the average temperature in the warmest months not exceeding
10¡C.
The ice-free areas along the coast are characterized by long and deep fjords and
cover approx. 385,000 km_. The majority of Greenlands approx. 55,000 inhabitants
live on the west coast.
The Greenland Homerule government has, since its establishment in 1979,
gradually taken over the legal and administrative responsibilities for a number of
areas. With regards to veterinary matters, the responsibilities are divided between
the Greenlandic Health Authorities and the Danish Veterinary Service under the
Ministry for Food, Agriculture and Fisheries.
Matters relating to the zoo-sanitary situation in Greenland and the inspection of
meat for export is the responsibility of the Danish Veterinary Service while the
Greenlandic Health Authorities are responsible for control of foodstuffs and
zoonotic diseases including the control of rabies. Furthermore, the Danish
Veterinary Service are responsible for all imports of live animals and animal
products with regards to protection against the introduction of animal diseases to
Greenland.
This report provides information on the animal health and disease situation in
Greenland during 1998, and the control measures in effect against various animal
diseases. The terminology and classification of diseases in mammals, birds and
bees used in this report are those used in the O.I.E. International Animal Health
Code. The fish and mollusc diseases are those listed in part one of the joint
FAO/OIE/WHO Questionnaire which forms the basis of the tables in the O.I.E. World
Animal Health.
II. EPIDEMIOLOGICAL SURVEILLANCE SYSTEM IN GREENLAND
The Decree no. 858 of 18 December 1991 which puts the Danish Animal Health Act
into force in Greenland is the main pillar in the epidemiological surveillance
system.
As a result of the above Decree, anyone in Greenland who suspects a notifiable
disease to be occuring in either domestic animals or wildlife is required to contact
one of the veterinarians employed by the Greenlandic Homerule government or the
Senior Veterinary Officer for Greenland who is employed by the Danish Veterinary
Service.
In the event of a suspected notifiable disease among domestic animals or wildlife
all relevant laboratory material is examined by one of the two reference laboratories
of the Danish Veterinary Service: The Danish Veterinary Institute for Virus Research
and / or the Danish Veterinary Laboratory.
All sheep and reindeer farms are registered by the Greenland Homerule, Ministry
for Fisheries, Hunting, and Agriculture. Additionally the Greenland Homerule,
Ministry for Environment and Nature have continuing programmes established to
monitor changes in Greenlands wildlife population both on land and in the waters
surrounding Greenland. This work is carried out in close contact with the Veterinary
Service under the Greenland Homerule and the Senior Veterinary Officer for
Greenland.
Sheep and reindeer farms are closely monitored by the Senior Veterinary Officer for
Greenland with regard to disease problems. Additionally, all farmers have received
training in recognizing animal diseases within their flocks and have close contact
with the Senior Veterinary Officer.
With the exception of a small number of animals slaughtered on farms for the
farmers own consumption, all sheep and semi-domesticated
reindeer are
slaughtered in slaughterhouses approved either by the Danish Veterinary Service
for export or by the Greenland Homerule for the Greenlandic market. All animals
are inspected ante-mortem and post-mortem in accordance with international
Danish Veterinary Service.
All imports of live animals and animal products to Greenland are controlled by the
Danish Veterinary Service in accordance with the Act of 14 March 1949 concerning
import of live animals and vegetables of foreign origin to Greenland and the
Regulation of 3 August 1970 concerning the import and sale of meat and poultry
products, etc.
III.
GREENLANDS LIVESTOCK POPULATION
The livestock population of Greenland is very small. The number of livestock and
certain other animals species was estimated in 1998 to be:
Cattle
-
3 (one cow and one bull calf were imported from Iceland in
1998 and the cow gave birth to a heifer calf in Greenland)
Pigs
-
none
Sheep
-
approx. 21.500
Goats
-
none since 1970
Horses
-
approx. 130
Poultry
-
approx. 200
Dogs
-
approx. 600
Cats
-
approx. 300
Fresh water fish -
one farm
Semi-domesticated and wild-life:
Reindeer
-
approx. 2.500
Wild reindeer
-
approx. 20.000
Musk-ox
-
approx. 14.000
Sledgedogs
-
approx. 30.000
Sheep farming is concentrated in the three most southwestern
counties
(Nanortalik, Qaqortoq, Narsaq) of Greenland, while reindeer farming is found in
Nuuk and Qaqortoq counties. Wild reindeer are found along most of the west coast
from Upernavik in the north to Ivittuut in the south. Musk ox are found in
Northeastern Greenland and in some locations on the west coast, particularly
around Kangarlussuaq and in Maniitsoq and Sisimiut counties. Sledgedogs are
found exclusively in the sledgedog
districts in Eastern and Northwestern
Greenland, cf. appendix l. It is forbidden to keep dogs of other breeds in the
sledgedog districts, with the exception of police dogs.
IV. LIVESTOCK DISEASE POSITION, 1998
Information on the livestock disease position in Greenland in 1998 with regard to
diseases listed in the O.I.E. list A and list B is given in the following section. List A
diseases are immediately reported to the O.I.E. while list B diseases are normally
reported to O.I.E. once a year.
LIST A DISEASES
Definition according til O.I.E.: List A diseases are transmissible diseases which
have the potential for very serious and rapid spread, irrespective of national
borders, which are of serious socio-economic or public health consequence, and
which are of major importance in the international trade of animals and animal
products.
None of the List A diseases have occurred during l998, the year of the last outbreak
is given between brackets:
Foot and mouth disease
(never recorded)
Visicular stomatitis
(never recorded)
Swine vesicular disease
(never recorded)
Rinderpest
(never recorded)
Peste des petits ruminants
(never recorded)
Contagious bovine pleuropneumonia
(never recorded)
Lumpy skin disease
(never recorded)
Rift Valley feber
(never recorded)
Bluetongue
(never recorded)
Sheep pox and goat pox
(never recorded)
African horse sickness
(never recorded)
African swine fever
(never recorded)
Classical swine fever(hog cholera)
(never recorded)
Highly pathogenic avian influenza (fowl plague)
(never recorded)
Newcastle disease
(never recorded)
LIST B DISEASES
Definition according to O.I.E.: List B diseases are transmissible diseases which
are considered to be of socio-economic and/or public health importance within
countries, and which are significant in the international trade of animals and animal
products.
MUTIPLE SPECIES DISEASES
Anthrax
never recorded
Aujeszky's disease
never recorded
Echinococcosis/hydatidosis
never recorded
Heartwater
never recorded
Leptospirosis
never recorded
Q fever
never recorded
Paratuberculosis (Johne's disease)
never recorded
Screwworm(Cochliomyia hominivorax)
never recorded
Rabies
This disease was first diagnosed in Greenland in l959 but has been reported to
occur among foxes and sledgedogs as early as l850.
Rabies is considered
endemic among arctic foxes (Alopex lagopus) especially in the northwestern
districts of Greenland (Sisimiut to Avanersuaq). During the period 1975 - 1998 a
total of 545 foxes, 447 dogs, 10 sheep, 4 cats, 3 reindeer, 2 wolves, and 1 musk ox
were examined for rabies at the Danish Veterinary Laboratory, Copenhagen,
Denmark and the Danish Veterinary Institute for Virus Research, Lindholm,
Denmark (since 1990).
In 1998, a total of 34 animals were examined, consisting of 18 foxes, 13 dogs, and
2 sheep. Rabies was diagnosed in 11 foxes (61%) , 2 dogs and 2 sheep.
As shown in appendix 1, the positive rabies cases in foxes were found in Sisimuit
(4) ,Kangatsiaq (3), Narsaq (2), Nuuk (1), and Ilulissat (1) counties while the 2
positive sheep cases were found in Narsaq county. Rabies in sledgedogs was
found in Qaanaaq (1) and Aasiaat (1) counties.
Information on the location of rabies cases during the period 1975-1998 is given in
tables 1 and 2.
Table l. Rabies positive cases diagnosed during 1976-1998 in non sledgedog
districts.
DISTRICTS
DOGS
FOXES
OTHER ANIMALS
Nanortalik
0
8
0
JulianehŒb/Qaqortoq
0
7
6(sheep)
Narsaq
1
7
3(sheep)
FrederikshŒb/Paamiut
0
0
0
Gr¿nnedal/Ivittuut
0
2
0
GodthŒb/Nuuk
0
12
1(reindeer)
Sukkertoppen/Maniitsoq
0
2
0
TOTAL
1
38
10
Table 2. Rabies positive cases diagnosed during 1975-1998 in sledgedog
districts.
DISTRICTS
DOGS
FOXES
Holsteinsborg/Sisimiut
7
34
Egedesminde/Aasiaat (inc. Kangatsiaq)
1
12
ChristianshŒb/Qasigiannguit
9
4
Jakobshavn/Ilulissat
6
9
Godhavn/Qeqertarsuaq
0
1
Umanak/Uummanaq
20
0
Upernavik
5
25
Thule/Qaanaaq
12
47
Ammassalik/Tasiilaq
0
2
Scoresbysund/Ittoqqortoormiit
5
7
Station Nord
1
3
TOTAL
66
144
Greenlands Homerule Government is responsible for rabies control in Greenland.
Rabies vaccination of all dogs and cats in Greenland is mandatory in accordance
with Homerule Order no. 22 of 17 September 1997. The rabies vaccine currently
being used in Greenland gives a three year protection in dogs and cats. This order
also gives provisions for establishing quarantine areas where rabies is known to
exist. These procedures also cover restrictions in animal movement in and out of a
quarantine area together with conditions for gathering of animals (sledgedogs) and
killing of wild animals (foxes) within a quarantine area.
Table 3. Rabies vaccination of dogs in Greenland during l998.
Non sledgedog districts
Nanortalik
Estimated No. of
dogs, 1998
No. vaccinated
1998
69
13
JulianehŒb/Qaqortoq
102
38
Narsaq
133
34
FrederikshŒb/Paamiut
36
14
Gr¿nnedal/Ivittuut
2
0
375
195
68
16
785
305
GodthŒb/Nuuk
Sukkertoppen/Maniitsoq
Total number of dogs (various breeds)
Sledgedog districts
Estimated no.of
dogs, 1997
No. vacci- nated,
1997
Holsteinsborg/Sisimiut
1953
864
Kangaatsiaq
1530
567
Egedesminde/Aasiaat
1950
709
ChristianshŒb/Qasigiannguit
1550
273
Jacobshavn/Ilulissat
6150
600
Godhavn/Qeqertarsuaq
1250
246
Uummannaq
6250
211
Upernavik
4788
2177
Avanersuaq
2000
789
Ammassalik/Tasiilaq
1602
632
Scoresbysund/Ittoqqortoormiit
1100
42
Sirus Patrol(N.E.Greenland)
102
115
44
18
30,269
7,243
Sondrestrom/Kangerlussuaq
Sledgedogs total
CATTLE DISEASES
Anaplasmosis
never recorded
Bovine babesiosis
never recorded
Bovine brucellosis (B. abortus)
never recorded
Bovine genital campylobacteriosis (vibriosis)
never recorded
Bovine tuberculosis (M. bovis)
never recorded
Bovine cysticercosis (C. bovis)
never recorded
Dermatophilosis
never recorded
Enzootic bovine leukosis
never recorded
Haemorrhagic septicaemia
never recorded
Infectious bovine rhinotracheitis (IBR/IPV)
never recorded**
Theileriosis
never recorded
Trichomoniasis
never recorded
Trypanosonosis (tsetse borne)
never recorded
Malignant catarrhal fever
never recorded
Bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE)
never recorded
** Serum samples from 19 reindeer slaughtered in Narsaq county in 1996 reveiled
positive antibody titers for bovine herpesvirus (IBR/IPV)in 7 animals (36,8%). The
laboratory
testing
was
performed
at
the
Danish
Copenhagen, Denmark, using the ELISA technique.
Veterinary
Laboratory,
It is assumed that these
animals had been infected with the reindeer herpessvirus (RHV) which crossreacts with bovine herpesvirus type 1 (Rockborn,et. al., Rangifer. 1990 Special
Issue Nr. 3:373-384). There has never been observed signs of clinial disease
resembling IBR/IPV among the semi-domesticated or wild reindeer populations in
Greenland. The same serum samples were also examined for the presence of
antibodies against Bovine brucellosis (B. abortus) and Bovine virus diarrhea
(BVD)and were all negative.
SHEEP AND GOAT DISEASES
Ovine epididymitis (Brucella ovis)
never recorded
Caprine and ovine brucellosis (B. melitensis)
never recorded
Caprine arthritis/encephalitis
never recorded
Contagious agalactia
never recorded
Contagious caprine pleuropneumonia
never recorded
Ovine pulmonary adenomatosis
never recorded
Nairobi sheep disease
never recorded
Salmonellosis (S. abortus ovis)
never recorded
Scrapie
never recorded
Maedi-Visna
never recorded
EQUINE DISEASES
Contagious equine metritis (CEM)
never recorded
Dourine
never recorded
Epizootic lymphangitis
never recorded
Equine encephalomyelitis (Eastern or Western)
never recorded
Equine infectious anaemia
never recorded
Equine influenza (virus type A)
never recorded
Equine piroplasmosis
never recorded
Glanders
never recorded
Horse pox
never recorded
Equine viral arteritis
never recorded
Japanese encephalitis
never recorded
Horse mange
never recorded
Surra (Trypanosoma evansi)
never recorded
Venezuelan equine encephalomyelitis
never recorded
Equine rhinopneumonitis (EHV-4)
Serological examinations carried out in 1995 on serum from eight hoses revealed
one seropositive horse. Clinical signs have never been recorded.
PIG DISEASES
Atrophic rhinitis
never recorded
Porcine cysticercosis (cysticercus cellulosae)
never recorded
Porcine brucellosis (B.suis)
never recorded
Transmissible gastroenteritis(TGE)
never recorded
Enterovirus encephalomyelitis (Teschen disease)
never recorded
Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome
never recorded
Trichinellosis
This disease has been recorded among polar bears (Tharlarctos martimus), arctic
foxes, walruses (Odobenus rosmarus) and sledgedogs. This disease has not
been recorded in sheep, horses, reindeer or musk ox.
POULTRY DISEASES
Avian infectious bronchitis
never recorded
Avian infectious laryngotracheitis
never recorded
Avian tuberculosis
never recorded
Duck virus hepatitis
never recorded
Duck virus enteritis (duck plague)
never recorded
Fowl cholera (avian pasteurellosis)
never recorded
Fowl pox
never recorded
Fowl typhoid
never recorded
Infectious bursal disease (Gumboro disease)
never recorded
Marek's disease
never recorded
Avian mycoplasmosis (M. gallisepticum)
never recorded
Avian chlamydiosis
never recorded
Pullorum disease
never recorded
LAGOMORPH DISEASES
Myxomatosis
never recorded
Tylaraemia
never recorded
Viral haemorrhagic disease of rabbits (VHD)
never recorded
FISH DISEASES
Viral haemorrhagic septicaemia of salmonids(VHS)
never recorded
Spring viraemia of carp
never recorded
Infectious haematopoietic necrosis (IHN)
never recorded
Epizootic haematopoietic necrosis
never recorded
Oncorhynchus mosou virus disease
never recorded
MOLLUSC DISEASES
Bonamiosis
never recorded
Haplosporidiosis (H. nelsoni or H. costale)
never recorded
Parkinsosis
never recorded
Marteiliosis
never recorded
Mikrocytosis (Mikrocytos mackini)
never recorded
BEE DISEASES
Acariosis of bees
never recorded
American foulbrood
never recorded
European foulbrood
never recorded
Nosematosis of bees (nosema disease)
never recorded
Varroasis
never recorded
DISEASES OF OTHER ANIMAL SPECIES
Leismaniosis
never recorded
V. ADDRESSES, TELEPHONE NUMBERS, ETC.
Matters relating to the zoo-sanitary situation, including import/export and control of
meat for export:
Danish Veterinary Service
Rolighedsvej 25
DK-1958 Frederiksberg C
Denmark
Tel: + 45 33 95 60 00
Fax: + 45 35 36 19 12
Charles H. Rose, Senior Veterinary Officer
Postboks 169
3920 Qaqortoq/JulianehŒb
Greenland
Tel: + 299 64 22 38
Fax: + 299 64 17 38
e-mail: [email protected]
Matters relating to food control and control of zoonosis including rabies:
Greenland Home Rule
Department for Environment and Nature
Veterinary Services
Hans GelsŒ, Chief Veterinarian
Box 1614
3900 Nuuk/GodthŒb
Greenland
Tel: + 299 32 30 00
Fax: + 299 32 52 86
Rabies in Greenland 1998
Appendix l
1D
1R
1D
3R
4R
1R
Sheep farming districts
Non sledge dog distric
Sledge dog districts
2 R, 2 S
Rabies positive 1998
R = polar fox, 11 cases
S = sheep, 2 cases
D = dog, 2 cases