Download African horse sickness

OIE Collaborating Centre Reports
Activities in 2011
Title of Collaborating Centre:
Address of Collaborating Centre:
Zoonoses in Europe
Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut
Federal Research Institute for Animal Health
Headquarters
Südufer 10
17493 Greifswald – Insel Riems
GERMANY
Tel.:
+49(0)38351 71102
Fax:
+49(0) 38351 71151
e-mail address:
website:
[email protected]
www.fli.bund.de
Name of Director of Institute
(Responsible Official):
Prof. Dr Dr h.c. Thomas C. Mettenleiter
(President of the FLI)
Name (including Title and
Position) of Head of the
Collaborating Centre (formally
OIE Contact Point):
Prof. Dr Dr h.c. Thomas C. Mettenleiter
(President of the FLI)
Name (including Title and
Position) of writer of this report
(if different from above)
Dr Jens Schell
(Research Coordination)
Annual reports of OIE Reference Centres, 2011
1
Zoonoses in Europe
Summary of activities specifically related to the mandate of
OIE Collaborating Centres
1.
Activities as a centre of research, expertise, standardisation and dissemination of techniques
within the remit of the mandate given by the OIE
Centre of research: The Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut (FLI) is a higher independent Federal authority with the legal
task to perform research on infectious diseases of animals. It houses all national reference laboratories (NRL) for
notifiable infectious diseases of animals in Germany as well as seven OIE reference laboratories (OIE-RL) of
which five concern zoonoses: Avian Influenza, Newcastle Disease, Bovine Herpesvirus-1 Infection, Brucellosis,
Chlamydiosis, Glanders, and Rabies. FLI is also the national authority to give market authorization for
diagnostic tests for infectious diseases in animals and participates in epidemiological investigations of animal
disease outbreaks.
FLI is involved in several national and international research projects. It is a leading partner in EPIZONE, a FP6
NoE with 19 partners on epizootic disease diagnosis and control. Furthermore, it is involved in large EU FP7
consortia dealing with swine influenza (FluPig), avian influenza (EMPERIE), or (Re-) Emerging Infectious
Diseases (EDENext, ANTIGONE). FLI is a member of the European Network for Imported Viral Diseases
(ENIVD) on diagnosis of "imported", rare and emerging viral infections. On the national level it co-ordinates the
National Research Platform for Zoonoses. This network bundles the national research activities in the field of
zoonotic infectious diseases.
Viral Diseases:
Crimean-Congo-Haemorrhagic-Fever (CCHF): A CCHFV seroepidemiological study in small and large
ruminants in twelve southeastern European states is carried out. For this purpose FLI scientisis visited their
counterparts in Albania, Macedonia and Turkey. Samples and techniques were exchanged with Ukraine,
Kosovarian and Bulgarian scientists.
Filoviruses (Ebola/Marburg): Participation in a ring trial exercise to standardize the diagnostic methodology
(qRT-PCR) for filoviruses.
Hantaviruses: Development of diagnostic tools for serological and molecular biological detection of hantavirus
infections in rodents and other small mammals was continued.
Influenza A:
Avian Influenza (AI): An OIE Twinning Project with the Egyptian NRL for AI at Giza, Egypt, ceased in 2011.
Apart from training activities several research papers were compiled in the frame of this project. Research
focussed on problems with vaccination caused by the endemic situation of HPAI in Egypt. A close-meshed
surveillance of H5N1 HPAIV is mandatory for an early warning of the rise of antigenic drift variants. The
presence of such variants requires adaptation of the vaccine. Vaccination needs to be continued to suppress the
amount of circulating virus at the human animal interface. However, human infections in Egypt continue to be
registered. Details are available from the final twinning project report.
Pandemic Influenza A/H1N1pdm: In the course of a short term project passive surveillance of influenza virus
infections in populations of domestic swine in the Northwest of Germany was conducted. According to reports
from the medical sister institute of the FLI in Germany, the Robert-Koch Institute, three human infections with
swine-derived influenza viruses occurred in 2011. Direct contact between infected swine and patients was
confirmed in all cases. Results are shared with other European partners in the FP7 ESNIP3 project.
New orthobunyavirus in cattle (“Schmallenberg virus”): Analysis at the FLI identified a novel orthobunyavirus
of the Simbu serogroup, the “Schmallenberg virus” in cattle and sheep. A newly developed real-time RT-PCR was
transfered to the laboratories in other European countries. There is severe concern about the congenital defects
Schmallenberg virus induced in newborn lambs, goats and calves. Although some members of the Simbu
serogroup, e.g. Oropouche virus, are zoonotic, the risk for humans is assessed to be very low or negligible, as the
Schmallenberg virus is closely related to Shamonda virus and so far no clinical signs in humans have been
reported. Nevertheless, clinical and serological surveillance in humans should be performed in the regions with
positive animals to update the risk assessments.
Nipah / Hendra: The molecular (qRT-PCR) and serological (ELISA) assays for the diagnosis of Henipa virus
infections were established
Orthopoxviruses: In 2011 further cowpox virus (CPXV) strains from different animal species were isolated and
characterized.
2
Annual reports of OIE Reference Centres, 2011
Zoonoses in Europe
Rabies: Participation in the annual proficiency testing regarding quality assessment of rabies serological testing
for dogs and cats within the frame of the EU pet travel scheme as well as in inter-laboratory comparison test on
FAT, RTCIT and RT-PCR and on the detection of tetracycline (as a biomarker) for monitoring of ORV campaigns
as organized by the CRL for Rabies. Organisation of an international analytical and diagnostic ring trial for
lyssavirus (RABV, EBLV-1, -2) specific real-time RT-PCRs, in which 16 European laboratories including two
OIE-RL for Rabies participated. A collaborative study on quality issues of anti-rabies conjugates for use in FAT
and an international co-operation on harmonising methods for quality control of vaccines currently used in ORV
campaigns in Europe was joined. We also have continued to establish closer links with other OIE-RLs and WHO
CCs for rabies. A novel diagnostic qRT-PCR assay for the detection of Bokeloh Bat Lyssavirus (BBLV) was
developed and validated.
Rift Valley fever (RVF): In the frame of Arbozoonet project (FP7) intense collaborations are ongoing with the
OIE-RL for CCHF and RVF at the Pasteur institute, Paris as well as NICD Johannesburg, South Africa. FLI
developed monoclonal antibodies to N- as well as G1 and G2 proteins and a G1-based ELISA. This ELISA was
validated on almost 2000 ruminant sera from SA.
Viral Equine Encephalitis (VEEV, WEEV, EEEV): Organization of a ring trial to standardize the diagnostic
methodology (qRT-PCR). Participants were EU NRL in other EU member states (UK, B, F etc.). A collaboration
is ongoing with Aphis, Ames, USA (OIE-RL) to develop and validate novel ELISAs using recombinant instead of
full virus antigens.
West Nile Fever (WNF): Serological (ELISA, immunofluorescence assays, PRNT, micro-neutralisation test) and
molecular biological methods (different quantitative realtime-PCR) were further validated for the detection of
West-Nile-Virus (WNV) infections in animals. Collaborations with the NRLs of France, Austria, Cyprus, Poland,
Switzerland and Romania are ongoing. New Realtime PCR protocols for WNV were developed and evaluated. A
vivid exchange of techniques and information to evaluate WNV diagnostic assays exists with the newly
established EU-CRL for equine diseases, ANSES, Paris, France. Molecular and serological techniques, viruses and
samples (serum, paraffin blocks) were supplied by/to the NRLs of Austria and Poland. An exchange of serum
samples for the determination of WNV antibody titres with the NRL in Romania took place and interactions are
growing. Likewise are connections to the Greek NRL for WNV.
Bacterial Diseases:
Bovine tuberculosis/Paratuberculosis: Ongoing research projects “M. bovis in the wildlife-livestock-human
interface in East and Southern Africa (DFG)” and “Integrated control of neglected zoonoses (EU FP7; ICONZ)”.
Participation in a conference organized by the CRL for Bovine Tuberculosis to initiate harmonization of diagnostic
methods in Europe.
Brucellosis: A diagnostic multiplex PCR microarray assay to detect and differentiate Brucella spp. was developed
and a project is running to evaluate the use of Raman spectroscopy for direct diagnosis of Brucella ssp. DNA
positive control material for PCR and reference sera for brucellosis and B. ovis as well as B. ovis, B. canis and
Yersinia enterocolitica O9 antigens have been provided to national and international laboratories.
Chlamydiosis: Cell cultured samples as well as chromosomal DNA from reference and field strains were
provided to OIE-member states. In research and development emphasis was laid on optimisation of existing
assays. Protocols and technical expertise of real-time PCR assays and DNA microarray tests have been provided to
laboratories in Argentina, Croatia, Hong Kong, Italy, the Netherlands, Switzerland, and Ukraine. Partners from
Croatia sent a series of samples for re-examination in order to ensure their accreditation status.
Dourine: Camel sera from CVRL, Dubai, UAE, were tested for the presence of antibodies for confirmatory
purpose and the results were transmitted.
Glanders: A new Westernblot assay showing the same sensitivity but higher specificity than the CFT was
evaluated with field sera. A project is running to evaluate the use of Raman spectroscopy for direct diagnosis of B.
mallei in samples. B.mallei - positive and negative control serum; DNA and LPS from B. mallei and B.
pseudomallei strains was prepared and provided to other laboratories.
Tularemia: Several hundred sera of red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) and wild boars (Sus scrofa) were screened
serologically as sentinel animals for tularemia. Ticks were collected in areas with enzootic tularemia and tested for
Francisella tularensis using PCR assays.
Q fever: Improvement and standardization of methods for diagnosis of Q fever. At present, FLI scientists are
collaborating with institutes from Poland, the Netherlands, France, Moldova, Belarus, and Kenya.
Parasites - Echinococcosis: Establishment and publication of a mathematical model for analysing the spatial and
temporal distribution of Echinococcus multilocularis. Studies on the spread and behaviour of the raccoon dog
(Nyctereutes procyonoides) as a new definitive host of E. multilocularis in eastern and central Europe. Validation
Annual reports of OIE Reference Centres, 2011
3
Zoonoses in Europe
of molecular techniques for diagnosis and for the differentiation of Echinococcus spp. samples and for the
distinction of Echinococcus spp. from Taenia spp. eggs.
Prions - TSE: Ongoing close collaborations with NRLs of other European countries. BSE or scrapie positive
samples and reference materials (e.g. fresh brainstem material or paraffin-embedded fixed tissue) have been
supplied. Special emphasis was put on the collaboration with the Polish NRL. Moreover, FLI provided ring trial
samples to the Canadian NRL to support their quality control system.
2.
Proposal or development of any procedure that will facilitate harmonisation of international
regulations applicable to the surveillance and control of animal diseases, food safety or animal
welfare
Viral Diseases:
Rabies: Contribution to the “Blueprint for Rabies Prevention and Control (http://www.rabiesblueprint.com/)” The
OIE-RL leads a core group of the Partners for Rabies Prevention (PRP) dedicated to develop a Blueprint for Red
Fox Rabies Prevention.
TBE: Participation in WHO meetings to discuss and approve the WHO Position Paper and the WHO Background
Paper: “Vaccines against tick-borne encephalitis”.
Bacterial Diseases:
Brucellosis: Participation in the EU Brucellosis Bovine Milk iELISA Proficiency Ring-trial and the CFT
harmonisation (organized by CRL for Brucellosis). FLI also participated in the standardisation of Fluorescence
Polarisation Assay (FPA) (organized by OIE-RL Argentina)
Chlamydiosis: The introduction of an alternative diagnostic reference test for chlamydial infections to replace cell
culture is proposed. This procedure includes a validated real-time PCR detection assay in conjunction with the
ArrayTube® microarray test. The proposal is currently being discussed among the chlamydia research community.
Glanders: The laboratory participated in the glanders specific international ring trials VETQAS CFT (organized
by VLA Weybridge) and ANSES Glanders ring trial (organized by CRL for Glanders). Furthermore it participated
in the ring trial detection of highly pathogenic agents including B.mallei/pseudomallei (organized by RKI,
Germany, within the EU-project EQADeBa).
Parasites - Echinococcosis: Advising the EU-CRL for Parasitoses in Italy, Rome, in designing proficiency trials
on E. multilocularis at the international level.
Prions - TSE: FLI collaborates closely with the EU-CRL for TSEs in Weybridge, UK and other NRLs to conduct
an EU-wide batch control system for rapid tests for the mass screening of ruminant samples for BSE and scrapie.
The FLI is responsible for the EU wide batch control of the TeSeE Test (BioRad).
3.
Networking
a)
Maintenance of a network with other OIE Collaborating Centres designated for the same
specialty, and
FLI is closely linked with NCFAD Winnipeg, AAHL Geelong, ARS Ames, HPA Salisbury, IAH Pirbright,
IVI Mittelhäusern, Laboratoire P4 Inserm Jean Mérieux Lyon, the Plum Island Animal Disease Center and
the BSL4-Laboratory in Wuhan (China). In the frame of NADIR and ERINHA, FLI collaborates with the
major European research institutes that are running BSL-3 and BSL-3+ (NADIR) and BSL4 (ERINHA)
infrastructures.
b)
Should the need arise, maintenance of a network with Collaborating Centres in other
disciplines
–
4.
Placement of expert consultants at the disposal of the OIE
The President of the FLI is a member of OIE’s Scientific Commission for Animal Diseases
4
Annual reports of OIE Reference Centres, 2011
Zoonoses in Europe
The FLI contributed to the Technical Consultation in Support of the OIE Emerging Pandemic Threats Program
activities in Paris, France on 25 - 27 January 2011
Viral Diseases:
Crimean-Congo-Haemorrhagic-Fever (CCHF): Invited expert on CCHF surveillance at the 1st Veterinary
Forum for South East Europe, 3-4 February 2011, Budapest.
Rabies: Consultant expertise was provided at (i) the Partners for Rabies Prevention Meetings in Italy and Puerto
Rico, (ii) workshop on Rabies and Oral Vaccination Monitoring in Kosovo, (iii) the 10th SEARG Meeting in
Mozambique, (iv) the EU task force meeting on assessment of ORV programmes in Bulgaria, and (v) the
extraordinary meeting in relation with the rabies situation in the common border area between Bulgaria, Greece
and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, in Bulgaria.
Rift Valley Fever (RVF): Invited expert at the ad hoc Workshop "Rift Valley Fever vaccine development;
progress & constraints" - FAO headquarters Rome, 19-21 January 2011
Bacterial Diseases:
Brucellosis: Contribution to the brucellosis chapters of the Terrestrial Manual.
Consultancy and support for setting-up two specialized brucellosis laboratories in the United Arab Emirates and
initiation of laboratory twinning. The Twinning project with Kosovo to strengthen control on bacterial zoonoses
was successfully completed.
Chlamydiosis: Update of the OIE Manual's chapter 2.3.1. Avian Chlamydiosis and review of chapter 2.7.7.
Enzootic Abortion of Ewes. A fact sheet on enzootic abortion of ewes was prepared within the European
DISCONTOOLS project.
Glanders: Consultant expertise in handling the latest outbreaks and for eradication and control of the disease was
given to Kuwait and Lebanon on request. Further expertise was provided at the Glanders Workshop in Recife,
Brazil and at the conference of the CRL in Paris, France.
Parasites - Echinococcosis: Contribution to a new edition of the WHO/OIE Manual on Echinococcosis.
Prions - TSE: Contribution to the revisions of the BSE chapter 11.6., the scrapie chapter 14.9., and
appendix 3.8.5 of the OIE Terrestrial Animal Health Standards Commission.
5.
Provision of scientific and technical training, within the remit of the mandate given by the OIE, to
personnel from OIE Member Countries
An African “Joint Master’s Programme in Transboundary Animal Disease Management” (MTADM) project was
initiated to build human resource capacity by training an effective pool of professionals in cross-border animal
disease control and management and by strengthening the regional network of veterinary faculties. The course was
organized by Addis Ababa University in Ethiopia and the Freie Universität Berlin with strong input and later
endorsement by other partner universities in Uganda and Sudan. Part of the curriculum was held at Freie
Universität Berlin with seminars given also by guest lecturers including FLI-staff.
Viral Diseases:
Avian Influenza: Training on classical and molecular diagnostic measures was provided to colleagues from
Egypt.
Crimean-Congo-Haemorrhagic-Fever (CCHF): One PhD student from Albania was trained at FLI in molecular
and serological diagnostic techniques for CCHF in animals.
Hantavirus: A student from the Ankara University was trained in serological and molecular diagnostic methods
for hantavirus detection.
Rabies: Colleagues from other OIE member countries including one person from Iran and one from South Africa
were trained on basic epidemiology, surveillance and standard rabies diagnostic tests in Germany. A PhD thesis of
a Latvian colleague on evaluation of ORV campaigns in Latvia and a master thesis of a student from the Addis
Ababa University, Ethiopia was supervised.
Bacterial Diseases:
Bovine tuberculosis/Paratuberculosis: Russian scientists were trained in diagnostic methods and field control
methods of bovine tuberculosis and paratuberculosis of ruminants. Laboratory training of a group of Lithuanian
scientists in laboratory diagnostic methods of bovine tuberculosis.
Annual reports of OIE Reference Centres, 2011
5
Zoonoses in Europe
Brucellosis: Four colleagues from UAE were trained in serological methods for brucellosis diagnosis and one
colleague from Oman was trained in diagnostic techniques regarding brucellosis. In Kosovo, scientist and
technicians were trained in brucellosis serology and PCR.
Chlamydiosis: Researchers and lab diagnosticians from Ukraine, Switzerland and Peru visited the FLI for
technical training and consultations on chlamydial diagnostic methods, with emphasis on molecular detection
methods.
Glanders: A PhD student from the University of Veterinary & Animal Science, Lahore, Pakistan evaluated the
available serological methods and commercially available antigens for glanders and compared their usefullness in
surveillance and control of glanders in endemic and non-endemic regions. Scientists from Lebanon, Ukraine and
Hungary were trained in detection methods for glanders. On hand support was provided to the VLA Weybridge,
UK in establishing the immunoblot for glanders in their laboratories.
Q fever: Training in diagnostic methods for the detection of Q fever has been performed for a colleague from
Moldova.
Parasites - Echinococcosis: Consultation with scientists from Sudan to set up studies to assess the
epidemiological situation regarding Echinococcus granulosus s.s. in the respective countries. A PhD student from
Sudan was trained in study design and echinococcosis diagnosis.
6.
Organisation of scientific meetings on behalf of the OIE
OIE Global conference on Rabies control: Towards Sustainable Prevention at the Source
Incheon, Korea, September 09-11, 2011 (Scientific committee member)
7.
Coordination of scientific and technical studies in collaboration with other laboratories,
organisations or collaborating centres
Viral Diseases:
Crimean-Congo-Haemorrhagic-Fever (CCHF): Study on the prevalence and spread of the CCHF virus and its
main vector, the Hyalomma marginatum tick in Southeastern Europe is co-ordinated in the frame of EDENext
project.Hantavirus: Coordination of the research network “rodent-borne pathogens”.
Nipah / Hendra: Collaboration with scientists of AAHL Geelong.
Rabies: In vitro studies of plant derived murine MAbs for the WHO coordinated research project on research and
development on a murine monoclonal antibody (MAbs) cocktail to replace HRIG and ERIG for rabies postexposure prophylaxis (PEP) in humans were conducted. The working group of the Partners for Rabies Prevention
dedicated to develop a “Blueprint for Red Fox Rabies Prevention” was lead. The Blueprint is expected to be
approved in May 2012.
Rift Valley fever (RVF): Collaborations are ongoing with the OIE-RL for CCHF and RVF at the Pasteur institute,
Paris as well as NICD Johannesburg, South Africa.
Viral Equine Encephalitis (VEEV, WEEV, EEEV): A collaboration is ongoing with Aphis, Ames, USA (OIERL) which aims at the development and validation of novel ELISAs using recombinant instead of full virus
antigens.
West Nile Fever (WNF): Close links exist to the EU-CRL for equine diseases at ANSES, Paris, France.
Bacterial Diseases:
Bovine tuberculosis/Paratuberculosis: Novel specific protein antigens of Mycobacterium avium ssp.
paratuberculosis were tested in an experimental infection study on goats coordinated by the FLI. Collaborators are
CVI Lelystad, The Netherlands and the Moredun Research Institute, Edinburgh, Scotland.
Brucellosis: Involvement in the validation procedure for the Brucella suis International Standard Serum. A
publication is in preparation.
Glanders: The cooperation with laboratories at the University Lahore, Pakistan, Laboratório Nacional
Agropecuário, Ministério Da Agricultura, Recife, Brazil, CVRL Dubai, UAE, and VLA Weybridge, UK was
continued.
6
Annual reports of OIE Reference Centres, 2011
Zoonoses in Europe
Q fever: Collaboration with the Academy of Science of Moldova, Institute of Zoology, Chisinau, Republic of
Moldova: “Prevalence of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato and Coxiella burnetti in ticks collected in the Republic of
Moldova and Germany” (supported by the German Ministry of Science and Research [BMBF])
Prions - TSE: Close collaborations with the NRLs of other European countries as well as the Canadian
NRL/OIE-RL are ongoing. A ring trial was conducted for the Canadian laboratory in order to verify their
diagnostic proficiency and quality control system.
8.
Publication and dissemination of any information within the remit of the mandate given by the
OIE that may be useful to Member Countries of the OIE
The FLI is responsible for editing the Rabies Bulletin Europe (RBE), in which numbers of reported rabies cases
and rabies surveillance data from all European countries are collected and published. In 2011, the issues III and IV
of 2010 as well as I and II of 2011 were edited and distributed throughout the world. Data are free to download
and available from our website (http://www.rbe.fli.bund.de/).
In 2011 about 400 peer-reviewed papers were published by the FLI. Furthermore scientists presented their
research results at numerous national and international scientific conferences and advice was given to national and
European governments.
Selected publications in 2011:
Freuling, C., Beer, M., Conraths, F. J., Finke, S., Hoffmann, B., Keller, B., Kliemt, J., Mettenleiter, T. C.,
Mühlbach, E., Teifke, J. P., Wohlsein, P., and Müller, T. (2011) Novel lyssavirus in Natterer's bat, Germany.
Emerging Infectious Diseases 17:1519-1522.
Haybaeck, J., Heikenwalder, M., Klevenz, B., Schwarz, P., Margalith, I., Bridel, C., Mertz, K., Zirdum, E.,
Petsch, B., Fuchs, T. J., Stitz, L., and Aguzzi, A. (2011) Aerosols Transmit Prions to Immunocompetent and
Immunodeficient Mice. PLoS Pathogens 7:e1001257.
Johnson, N., Freuling, C., Horton, D., Müller, T., and Fooks, A. R. (2011) Imported Rabies, European Union
and Switzerland, 2001-2010. Emerging Infectious Diseases 17:753-754.
Müller, T., Hahn, E. C., Tottewitz, F., Kramer, M., Klupp, B. G., Mettenleiter, T. C., and Freuling, C. (12-82011) Pseudorabies virus in wild swine: a global perspective. Archives of Virology 156:1691-1705.
Reinhold, P., Sachse, K., and Kaltenboeck, B. (2011) Chlamydiaceae in cattle: Commensals, trigger organisms,
or pathogens? Veterinary Journal 189:257-267.
Riehm, J. M., Tserennorov, D., Kiefer, D., Stuermer, I. W., Tomaso, H., Zöller, L., Otgonbaatar, D., and
Scholz, H. C. (2011) Yersinia pestis in Small Rodents, Mongolia. Emerging Infectious Diseases 17:1320-1322.
Vos, A., Nunan, C., Bolles, D., Müller, T., Fooks, A. R., Tordo, N., and Baer, G. M. (2011) The occurrence of
rabies in pre-Columbian Central America: An historical search. Epidemiology and Infection 139:1445-1452.
_______________
Annual reports of OIE Reference Centres, 2011
7