Project objective:
Control and eradication of tuberculosis in animals is a task of the Dutch government. In this framework, the National Reference Institute CIDC-Lelystad is charged with the core tasks of diagnostics, advice and training. In order to ensure adequate, up-to-date execution of these tasks, continuous maintenance as well as broadening and deepening of expertise are required. This is achieved by developing new diagnostic tests and via core task-related research. In addition to tuberculosis caused by M. tuberculosis and M. bovis in farm livestock, pet animals and zoo-animals, other mycobacterial infections are also of interest.
Results:
Diagnostics
Diagnostic work in suspect cases of tuberculosis and outbreaks. Maintenance of validated diagnostics tests and facilities: Pathology, histology, immunohistochemistry, culture, PCR, (molecular) typing methods for post-mortem examination. Serology, gamma-interferon tests and tuberculin testing in live animals.
Advice
Advice regarding control, monitoring and eradication of tuberculosis and other mycobacterial infections, to national (Ministries of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality and Health, National Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority [VWA]) and international (EU, FAO and OIE) authorities, industry, veterinarians.
Expertise, maintenance and innovation
Maintaining and innovating expertise regarding the agent, pathogenesis, epidemiology, diagnostic methods, typing methods and possible intervention tools.
Training and fire brigade function
Training the animal disease specialists of the VWA in all aspects of tuberculosis. Maintaining a basic infrastructure for outbreak situations: rehearsing and keeping internal crisis scenarios as well as the stock of materials and reagents for diagnostic purposes up to date. |
