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REPORT ON THE ANIMAL HEALTH SITUATION IN GREENLAND 1999 Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Fisheries Danish Veterinary and Food Administration Greenland Homerule Ministry of Environment and Nature 2 3 CONTENTS Page I. Introduction ...................................................................................................5 II. Epidemiological Surveillance System in Greenland ..................................................................................................6 III Greenlands Livestock Population ...............................................................8 IV. Livestock Disease Situation, 1999 List A diseases ...............................................................................9 List B diseases .............................................................................10 V. Addresses, Telephone numbers, etc...............................................................18 Appendix ..................................................................................................................19 4 5 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 km². 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 1999, 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 6 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 occurring 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 inspection procedures under the supervision of veterinarians authorised by the 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 7 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 1999 to be: 8 Cattle - 4 (one heifer calf was born in Greenland in 1999 from a cow imported from Iceland in 1998) Pigs - none Sheep - approx. 21.000 Goats - none since 1970 Horses - approx. 130 Poultry - approx. 200 Dogs - approx. 800 Cats - approx. 300 Fresh water fish - one farm (inactive) Bees 14 families (imported from Læsø, Denmark in 1998 and - 1999 to Southern Greenland in connection with a multi-year study of bee and honey production in a semi-arctic climate) Semi-domesticated and wild-life: Reindeer - approx. 3.500 Wild reindeer - approx. 28.000 Musk-ox - approx. 14.000 Sledgedogs - approx. 28.000 Sheep farming is concentrated in the three most southwestern counties (Nanortalik, Qaqortoq, Narsaq) of Greenland, while reindeer farming is found in Qaqortoq county. 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, 1999 Information on the livestock disease position in Greenland in 1999 with regard to diseases listed in the O.I.E. list A and list B is given in the following section. List A 9 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 to 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 l999, 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 10 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 - 1999 a total of 555 foxes, 470 dogs, 12 sheep, 4 cats, 3 reindeer, 2 wolves, 1 musk ox and 1 hare were examined for rabies at the Danish Veterinary Laboratory, Copenhagen, Denmark and the Danish Veterinary Institute for Virus Research, Lindholm, Denmark (since 1990). In 1999, a total of 36 animals were examined, consisting of 10 foxes, 23 dogs, 2 sheep and 1 hare. Rabies was diagnosed in 9 foxes (90%) , 2 dogs and 2 sheep. As shown in appendix 1, the positive rabies cases in foxes were found in Qaqortoq (4), Narsaq (2), Ivituut (1), Nuuk (1), Sisimiut (1) counties while the 2 positive sheep cases were found in Qaqortoq county. Rabies in sledgedogs was found in Ittoqqortoormiit (1) and Illulissat (1) counties. Information on the location of rabies cases during the period 1975-1999 is given in tables 1 and 2. Table l. Rabies positive cases diagnosed during 1976-1999 in non sledgedog districts. DISTRICTS DOGS FOXES OTHER ANIMALS Nanortalik 0 8 0 Julianehåb/Qaqortoq 0 11 8(sheep) 11 Narsaq 1 9 3(sheep) Frederikshåb/Paamiut 0 0 0 Grønnedal/Ivittuut 0 1 0 Godthåb/Nuuk 0 13 1(reindeer) Sukkertoppen/Maniitsoq 0 2 0 TOTAL 1 44 12 Table 2. Rabies positive cases diagnosed during 1975-1999 in sledgedog districts. DISTRICTS DOGS FOXES Holsteinsborg/Sisimiut 7 35 Egedesminde/Aasiaat (inc. Kangatsiaq) 1 12 Christianshåb/Qasigiannguit 9 4 Jakobshavn/Ilulissat 7 9 Godhavn/Qeqertarsuaq 0 1 Umanak/Uummanaq 20 0 Upernavik 5 25 Thule/Qaanaaq 12 47 Ammassalik/Tasiilaq 0 2 Scoresbysund/Ittoqqortoormiit 6 7 Station Nord 1 3 TOTAL 68 145 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 12 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 l999. Non sledgedog districts Estimated No. of dogs, 1999 No. vaccinated 1999 Nanortalik 48 23 Julianehåb/Qaqortoq 144 91 Narsaq 130 28 Frederikshåb/Paamiut 42 8 13 Grønnedal/Ivittuut Godthåb/Nuuk Sukkertoppen/Maniitsoq Total number of dogs (various breeds) Sledgedog districts 1 0 375 137 91 37 835 324 Estimated No. of dogs, 1999 No. Vaccinated, 1999 Holsteinsborg/Sisimiut 1620 677 Kangaatsiaq 1314 737 Egedesminde/Aasiaat 1450 435 Christianshåb/Qasigiannguit 2350 586 Jacobshavn/Ilulissat 4208 2341 Godhavn/Qeqertarsuaq 1200 588 Uummannaq 7584 1648 Upernavik 4242 1481 Avanersuaq 1529 863 Ammassalik/Tasiilaq 1581 203 Scoresbysund/Ittoqqortoormiit 600 595 Sirus Patrol(N.E.Greenland) 107 103 Sondrestrom/Kangerlussuaq 54 57 27839 10314 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 14 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 revealed positive antibody titers for bovine herpesvirus (IBR/IPV)in 7 animals (36,8%). The laboratory testing was performed at the Danish Veterinary Laboratory, Copenhagen, Denmark, using the ELISA technique. It is assumed that these animals had been infected with the reindeer herpessvirus (RHV) which cross-reacts with bovine herpesvirus type 1 (Rockborn,et. al., Rangifer. 1990 Special Issue Nr. 3:373-384). There has never been observed signs of clinical 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 Enzootic abortion of ewes(ovine chlamydiosis) 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 15 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 16 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 Varroasis never recorded 17 Nosematosis of bees (nosema disease). Nosematosis was suspected as the probable cause of death in 2 bee families that had been imported to Greenland from Læsø, Danmark in 1998. This diagnosis was not confirmed by laboratory diagnosis. 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 and Food Administration Mørkhøj Bygade 19 DK- 2860 Søborg Denmark Tel: + 45 33 95 60 00 Fax: + 45 35 95 60 01 18 Charles H. Rose, Senior Veterinary Officer Postboks 169 3920 Qaqortoq / Julianehåb 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 Anette Haurum Munk, Chief Veterinarian Box 1614 3900 Nuuk/Godthåb Greenland Tel: + 299 32 30 00 Fax: + 299 32 52 86 Rabies in Greenland 1999 Appendix l 19