The fourth RADISCON coordination meeting on the sheep pox eradication programme took place recently in June in Tripoli in the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya. The main issues discussed at the meeting were the sheep pox situation in the region, a general evaluation of the programme, the strategy and its target of eradicating the disease by 2005. The difficulties encountered in implementing the programme were also discussed.
The current level of programme implementation in the region is outlined below.
Algeria
There were 46 suspected outbreaks in 2000 but only two were confirmed positive by the laboratory. This year, 19 outbreaks had been reported by June, with two confirmed positive. Unfortunately, although the vaccination coverage objective was fixed at 75 percent, the introduction of bluetongue coupled with the FMD vaccination programme have greatly limited the efforts so far dedicated to the sheep pox programme. Presently, a vaccination coverage of 57 percent has been attained and the vaccination campaign is still ongoing. Private veterinarians will soon be co-opted into the vaccination programme.
This move is expected to bring about an increase in vaccination coverage, especially in the steppe zone where there exists the highest concentration of small ruminants.
The sheep pox active surveillance programme is based on regular visits to markets, water points, abattoirs and flocks. Investigations will soon take place to verify the difference between the number of suspected cases and those confirmed by the laboratory. The investigations will focus on problems such as disease recognition and laboratory techniques. To this end, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) equipment will soon be installed in support of sheep pox laboratory confirmations. The whole programme stands to gain, since the PCR technique is more sensitive and faster than virus isolation.
Problems encountered in the execution of the programme in Algeria include difficulties in grouping together different flocks and in reaching animals for vaccination.
Morocco
No outbreak of the disease has been reported for the third year running. The last outbreaks reported were in 1997. The vaccination programme is being continued in the seven governorates close to the borders with Algeria.
The objective for 2001 is to ensure the vaccination of about 90 percent of the sheep population in the area. The statistics available show that, as of 7 June 2001, a vaccination coverage of 44.7 percent was obtained, and the exercise is continuing.
In the same way, the sheep pox active surveillance programme begun in 1998 is continuing, with regular visits to markets, water points, abattoirs and flocks. Seven suspected sheep pox outbreaks were reported in 2001, but were not confirmed by the laboratory. Meanwhile, the Moroccan authorities have finally established PCR techniques for the laboratory confirmation of sheep pox.
In terms of programme implementation, the Moroccans reported problems in realizing the set objectives. Such problems include the need for greater sensitization of the livestock owners and difficulties in reaching animals for vaccination in some remote mountainous areas. Also highlighted were the legislative vacuum in relation to the application of zoosanitary measures and the due compensation in outbreak cases.
Tunisia
The discovery of bluetongue in Tunisia (December 1999) and the consequent institution of the bluetongue vaccination programme mean that a realistic objective for achieving sheep pox vaccination would be a coverage of 60 percent. In the near future, private veterinarians will participate in the vaccination campaign, which should enhance the vaccination coverage so that an objective of at least 75 percent could be attained. Meanwhile, the number of sheep pox outbreaks in 2000 was 46, falling to 25 in 2001.
Also in Tunisia, as has been seen in Morocco and Algeria above, the private sector will be involved in the sheep pox active surveillance programme. The surveillance will be targeted at the markets, abattoirs, etc. The establishment of the surveillance programme is the outcome of the third sheep pox coordination meeting and its principal aim is to sensitize livestock owners. The sheep pox case definition based on clinical signs has been substituted in favour of laboratory confirmation of suspected cases. This has been made possible through a common agreement reached with the Pasteur Institut in Tunis.
Libyan Arab Jamahiriya
The Libyan representative at the coordination meeting reported that his government has purchased about 1.5 million doses of vaccines. The vaccines have been distributed to the governorates. No follow-up has yet been made to determine the number of vaccinated animals. The Libyan chief veterinary officer also pointed out that his team is eager to reach the programme's objective of increasing sheep pox vaccination coverage and surveillance.
To achieve this goal, more sensitization of the concerned parties is needed, starting with livestock owners. In contrast, the RADISCON reporting system has been adopted by the Libyan veterinary authorities, but reports suggest that it is not functioning well, because of the autonomy granted to the local veterinary services.
In conclusion, it was observed that the objectives of the sheep pox programme in Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia are being reached thanks to the increase in vaccination coverage and decrease in the number of outbreaks. The same cannot be said of the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, which needs to double its efforts if it is to achieve the set programme objectives.
Animal affected by sheep pox
PHOTO COURTESY OF PETER ROEDER, EMPRES
Sheep pox and goat pox Sheep pox and goat pox viruses belong to the capripox genus of the family of Poxviridae, together with lumpy skin disease virus. They occur in Africa (mainly north of the equator), the Near East, Central Asia (including China and southern areas of the former Soviet Union) and the Indian subcontinent as far east as Myanmar. The incubation period is from five days to two weeks. The disease may be severe or mild and is much more severe in lambs and kids than in adult animals. Skin lesions erupt within a few days. The number varies but the lesions are most obvious where the wool or hair is shortest, such as on the head, neck, ears, axillae, groin, perineum and under the tail. The lesions follow the classical pox cycle of skin erythema papule (0.5-1.5 cm diameter), vesicle, pustule with exsudation, encrustation and scab formation over about two weeks. Source: Exotic diseases of animals - a guide for field veterinarians (W.A. Geering, A.J. Forman and M.J. Nunn). |