OIE Collaborating Centre Reports
Activities in 2010
Title of Collaborating Centre:
Address of Collaborating Centre:
Zoonoses in Europe
Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut
Federal Research Institute for Animal Health
Headquarters
Suedufer 10
17493 Greifswald – Isle of Riems
GERMANY
Tel.:
(+49 [0)] 38351) 71.102
Fax:
(+49 [0)] 38351) 71.151
e-mail address:
poststelle@fli.bund.de
website:
www.fli.bund.de
Name of Head of Centre
(Responsible Official):
Prof. Dr Dr h.c. Thomas C. Mettenleiter
Name of OIE Contact Point:
Prof. Dr Dr h.c. Thomas C. Mettenleiter
Name of writer of this report
(if different from above)
Dr Jens Schell
Annual reports of OIE Reference Laboratories and Collaborating Centres, 2010
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Zoonoses in Europe
Part I: 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 as well as eight OIE reference laboratories of which five concern
zoonoses: Avian Influenza, Enzootic Bovine Leukosis, 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 and is involved in large EU FP7 consortia dealing
with swine influenza (FluPig), avian influenza (EMPERIE), or Emerging Infectious Diseases (EDENext).
FLI is member of GOHLD (Group of High Containment Laboratory Directors) which is a top-level mutual support
network for Directors of high-containment laboratories (HCLs) working with animal pathogens and/or high threat
zoonotic agents. GOHLD intends to facilitate sharing of top-level issues affecting the management of HCLs and to
provide international leadership for the management of HCLs. It was founded to act as a consolidated point of focus
for national, regional and international organisations, such as WHO, OIE and FAO when considering issues around
HCLs. By improving the collaboration GOHLD tries to facilitate national and international training in biocontainment, biosecurity and biosafety. Other members of GOHLD are the directors of 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 in Wuhan (China). FLI also participates in the FP7INFRASTRUCTURE projects NADIR (network of animal disease infectiology research facilities in Europe of BSL3 and BSL-3+) and ERINHA (unites European research infrastructure on highly pathogenic agents at BSL-4).
FLI has become an official member of the European Network for Imported Viral Diseases (ENIVD) which includes
more than 80 (primarily European) medical (non-veterinary) laboratories which are working on diagnostics of
"imported", rare and emerging viral infections. These laboratories provide mutual help by the exchange of diagnostic
samples, i.e. sera, viruses, methods, and information in order to improve diagnostics. Another remit of ENIVD is to
establish recommendations for the standardisation, for biosafety requirements and for quality control in diagnostic
laboratories and to identify and operate standard assays according to defined quality control criteria.
On the national level it coordinates together with the University of Münster and the Telematikplattform für
Medizinische Forschungsnetze e.V. (TMF) the National Research Platform for Zoonoses. This network bundles
the research activities in the field of zoonotic infectious diseases. Development of flexible and sustainable
solutions to strengthen research, prevention, and therapy of zoonotic infectious diseases are its main objectives.
Viral diseases:
Crimean-Congo-Haemorrhagic-Fever (CCHF): In the frame of the EDENext project the FLI leads the work
package to determine the prevalence and spread of the CCHF virus and its main vector, the Hyalomma
marginatum tick in Southeastern Europe. It aims at developing better diagnostic tests as well as at generating risk
assessment models for outbreaks and the virus spread. A CCHFV seroepidemiological study in small and large
ruminants in twelve southeastern European states is under preparation.
Filoviruses (Ebola/Marburg): Participation in a ring trial exercise to standardize the diagnostic methodology
(qRT-PCR) for filoviruses in order to be able to function in case of emergency as a front line diagnostic laboratory
for suspect cases. This ring trial was conducted by Prof. Drosten, University Bonn.
Hantaviruses: Development of diagnostic tools for serological and molecular biological detection of hantavirus
infections in rodents and other small mammals was continued. These efforts were mainly focussed on the
development of tools for the detection of antibodies in shrews, the generation of recombinant antigens and
monoclonal antibodies for diagnostic use and the development of novel RT-PCR protocols for hantavirus RNA
detection. These tools were generated in close collaboration with the Bundeswehr Institute of Microbiology,
Munich, the Bernhard-Nocht-Institute for Tropical Medicine, Hamburg, the Institute of Virology, Charité, Berlin,
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Annual reports of OIE Reference Laboratories and Collaborating Centres, 2010
Zoonoses in Europe
the Institute of Biotechnology in Vilnius, Lithuania and the Department of Microbiology, Hokkaido University
Graduate School of Medicine, in Sapporo, Japan.
Nipah / Hendra: The molecular (qRT-PCR) and serological (ELISA) assays for the diagnosis of Henipa virus
infections were established, based on the experience and advice of AAHL Geelong. The reliability of the testing
was eventually successfully verified by probing a blinded proficiency testing set of samples. The establishment of
diagnostic assays requiring live viruses is foreseen after the commissioning of the BSL4 unit.
Influenza A:
Avian Influenza (AI): Focus was put on an OIE Twinning Project with the Egyptian NRL for AI at Giza, Egypt.
In particular, the antigenic and phylogenetic properties of pathogenic AIV of subtype H5N1 currently circulating
in Egypt have been studied and co-circulating lineages were identified. Among them, one antigenically distinct
lineage, obviously a vaccine driven variant, and emerging since 2008 attracted attention. Studies concerning the
efficacy of commercial AIV H5 vaccines confirmed the lack of protectivity of standard vaccines against the
emerging Egyptian antigenic drift lineage. In addition, a multiplex real time RT PCR was developed which
ensures optimized detection of AIV H5 in Egypt and simultaneously allows a lineage-specific distinction. A
prolongation of the twinning project for one year was suggested by the partners and received permission by the
OIE. Participation in several OFFLU technical groups offering expertise on the availability of commercial AIrelated diagnostics, the production and dissemination of PCR standard controls, and on the evaluation of standard
positive control sera was continued.
Pandemic Influenza A/H1N1pdm: Several reports have documented that a number of animal species is
susceptible to infections with the human pandemic H1N1 virus which emerged in 2009 (H1N1pdm). This includes
cats, dogs, ferrets, minks, turkeys and, foremost, swine. In swine, stable chains of infection are established rapidly.
It is anticipated that H1N1pdm will gain a foothold in swine populations as well. Intensified studies on porcine
influenza virus infections in Germany identified a total of three pig holdings with acute H1N1pdm infections in
three different federal states since 2009. Molecular analyses showed that one of the H1N1pdm viruses had
undergone reassortment with an Eurasian H1N1 swine-adapted virus of which it carried the neuraminidase gene
segment on the genomic background of H1N1pdm. Since there is no systematic surveillance of swine populations
in Germany, the true prevalence of H1N1pdm in swine and the occurrence of further reassortants currently are
open to speculation only. In order to gain more substantial insights a better structured approach to monitoring
swine populations in Germany is sought.
Orthopoxviruses: In 2010 several cowpox virus (CPXV) strains from different animal species (rat, alpaca, cat, racoon
and monkey) were isolated and partially used for pathogenesis studies. Infection of Wistar rats was established as
suitable infection model for the recent CPXV. From these animal experiments additional reference materials were
collected. Genetic characterisation of the new isolated CPXV strains by sequencing of the hemagglutinin gene was
performed. Furthermore for selected isolates the sequencing of the whole virus genome by next-generation
sequencing was started.
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 interlaboratory comparison tests. A national
ring trial including 26 national and 3 international laboratories (UK, Austria, Turkey) was organised. Diagnostic
facilities were provided to the American Armed Forces stationed in Germany for confirmatory testing and sequencing
of rabies virus isolates from Iraq and Afghanistan. We also have continued to establish closer links with other OIE
reference laboratories for rabies and WHO CCs for rabies, e.g. the VLA, UK, and CDC, USA. A novel diagnostic
qRT-PCR assay for the detection of RABV was developed and validated in international collaboration.
Rift Valley fever (RVF): Current available ELISAs are based on the N-protein, no ELISAs exist which are based
on RVFV structural G1- and G2-glygoproteins. Hence, there is also no information available about which of these
three virus antigens represents the predominant immunogen in host animals. Therefore, focus is laid on the
evaluation i) of the sensitivity and specificity of two ELISAs which use RVFV structural proteins and ii) of the
antigenicity of these different virus proteins in naturally affected animals from different species.
Viral Equine Encephalitis (VEEV, WEEV, EEEV): Participation in a ring trial to standardize the diagnostic
methodology (qRT-PCR) to function in case of emergency as a front line diagnostic laboratory for suspect cases.
This ring trial was conducted by Prof. Drosten, University of Bonn.
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
Annual reports of OIE Reference Laboratories and Collaborating Centres, 2010
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Zoonoses in Europe
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
against published methods and results were published. 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: Organisation of a national ring trial for the detection of Mycobacterium
bovis in bovine tissue samples with molecular-biological methods. 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)”.
Brucellosis: We received Brucella canis isolates from Austria for confirmatory testing and results were submitted.
Collections of camel serum samples from CVRL, Dubai, UAE were confirmatory tested and results were
transmitted. Within the framework of a PhD student from Egypt the available serological methods for brucellosis
are tested and compared for their use in camel herd monitoring. Results are submitted for publication. A project is
running to develop a lab on a chip based diagnostic tool to detect Brucella spp. from air samples.
Chlamydiosis: Protocols and technical expertise of real-time PCR detection and DNA microarray tests have been
provided to laboratories in Austria, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Italy, Argentina and Ukraine. These methods are
being used by diagnostic labs in a number of countries, and some of them have the potential to become standard
procedures. In 2010, RL Chlamydiosis organised a ring trial involving 29 participants (one each from Austria,
Switzerland and the Netherlands, and 26 from all federal states of Germany). The objective was to evaluate the
robustness and reproducibility of two real-time PCR assays previously developed by our group for rapid detection
of Chlamydiaceae spp. and Chlamydophila psittaci, the causative agent of psittacosis. As a result, 28 participants
fulfilled the proficiency criteria by correctly identifying more than 85 % of all samples (23 in each test). The
outcome is taken as clear evidence of the tests' robustness and inter-laboratory reproducibility.
Glanders: A protocol of the Western Blot technique for the serological diagnosis was evaluated, compared with
other diagnostic techniques and submitted for publication. Panels of serum samples from glanders outbreaks in
Bahrain, Kuwait and Brazil were investigated.
Q fever: Diagnosis is routinely performed according to validated tests. Involvement in many national Q fever
projects aiming at the improvement and standardization of methods for diagnosis of Q fever. At present,
collaborations with research institutes from Poland, the Netherlands, France, and Moldova exist.
Salmonellosis in cattle: Epidemiological analysis of bovine salmonellosis according to the data in National
Animal Disease Reporting System in Germany.
Tularemia: Ongoing collaborations with the NRLs of France and Switzerland as well as other laboratories in
Austria, and Poland that are involved in the detection of biological agents. An exchange of biological material,
techniques and information to evaluate diagnostic and typing tools took place.
Parasites - Echinococcosis: Publication of the identification of the red-necked wallaby (Macropus rufogriseus)
as an intermediate host of Echinococcus multilocularis. Studies on the spread and behaviour of the raccoon dog
(Nyctereutes procyonoides) as a new definitive host of Echinococcus multilocularis in eastern and central Europe.
After accreditation of the laboratory according to ISO 17025:2005, the laboratory validated molecular techniques
for diagnosis and for the differentiation of Echinococcus spp. samples and for the distinction of Echinococcus spp.
from Taenia spp. eggs. Contribution to a new edition of the WHO/OIE Manual on Echinococcosis.
Prions - TSE: Close collaboration with the NRLs of the other European countries, especially with those of EU
members reflected in numerous EU-funded research projects exist. In the context of these activities FLI has
supplied other TSE NRLs and research groups with several dozens of BSE or scrapie positive samples and
reference materials (e.g. fresh brainstem material or paraffin-embedded fixed tissue). Special emphasis was put on
the collaboration with the Polish NRL regarding the biochemical characterization of the first notified atypical
scrapie cases in Poland. Moreover, in close collaboration with the Canadian NRL ring trial samples in order to
support their quality control system were provided.
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Annual reports of OIE Reference Laboratories and Collaborating Centres, 2010
Zoonoses in Europe
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: The EFSA project "Development of harmonised schemes for monitoring and reporting of rabies in
animals in the European Union" has been completed. Currently existing recommendations on rabies surveillance
of international organisations were reconsidered and the introduction of a situation-based rabies surveillance both
for terrestrial (classical) rabies as well as bat rabies were suggested. The full report can be downloaded at
http://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/scdocs/scdoc/67e.htm. A revised version of the chapter 2.1.13. “Rabies “ of the OIE
Manual on Diagnostic Tests and Vaccines for Terrestrial Animals and the chapter “Rabies” of the OIE Terrestrial
Code were reviewed and commented on. Contribution to the development of the “Blueprint for Rabies Prevention
and Control (http://www.rabiesblueprint.com/)”
TBE: Participation in meetings organized by the WHO to discuss and approve the ‘WHO Position Paper” and the
“WHO Background Paper” “Vaccines against tick-borne encephalitis”.
Bacterial diseases:
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: As a participant in a EU project the laboratory took part in one international ring trial for antigen
detection of highly infectious agents, including B. mallei and B. pseudomallei. Furthermore, the laboratory was
involved in the Glanders CFT QAU Proficiency Testing organized by the VLA, Weybridge.
Q fever: The EFSA project "Development of harmonised schemes for monitoring and reporting of rabies and Q
fever in animals in the European Union" has been completed. The related external report is published at:
http://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/scdocs/scdoc/48e.htm
Salmonellosis in cattle: Comparative studies on the salmonellae detection method were performed. As result of
these activities, the existing method for bacterial detection of salmonellae according to the “German Regulation on
protection against salmonellosis in cattle” was replaced by the method according to ISO 6579 Annex D.
Parasites - Echinococcosis: Proficiency testing was prepared to compare the performance of different diagnostic
techniques in various laboratories at the international level.
Prions - TSE: In close collaboration with the EU Community Reference Laboratory for TSEs in Weybridge, UK
and other NRLs an EU-wide batch control system for rapid tests for the mass screening of ruminant samples for
BSE and scrapie is under development. A major progress was achieved concerning four different BSE rapid tests
(IDEXX HerdChek Test, PrioSTRIP Test, Prionics Western Test, BetaPrion BSE EIA Test Kit / ajRoboscreen).
The German NRL is responsible for the EU wide batch control of the TeSeE Test (BioRad). Moreover, FLI has
contributed 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.
3.
Placement of expert consultants at the disposal of the OIE
Viral diseases:
Avian Influenza: The head of the OIE reference laboratory represented OFFLU at a meeting of the WHO
Technical Advisory Group on molecular influenza diagnosis.
Rabies: Consultant expertise was provided at the Partners for Rabies Prevention Meetings in Italy and Mexico. A
Regional Workshop on surveillance and control of Rabies in the Caucasian Region (Georgia) and expert mission
on development of an operational plan for ORV of foxes in Croatia were organized. Both missions were supported
by EU-TAIEX. Evaluation of emergency and planning of future ORV campaigns in red foxes in North Eastern
Annual reports of OIE Reference Laboratories and Collaborating Centres, 2010
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Zoonoses in Europe
Italy, evaluation of current and future oral vaccination programmes of foxes against rabies in Estonia and
neighbouring countries, November 2010 (subgroup rabies of the EU task force).
Bacterial diseases:
Glanders: Participation in two OIE missions on Glanders to Syria, Kuwait and Bahrain.
Part II: Other activities related to the mandate
of OIE Collaborating Centres
4.
Provision of scientific and technical training, within the remit of the mandate given by the OIE, to
personnel from OIE Members
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
Kenya, Poland, Egypt and Nepal.
Hantavirus: For training purposes young scientists from other laboratories in Germany and Switzerland were
involved in the hantavirus investigations of the FLI-coordinated network “Rodent-borne pathogens”.
Rabies: Training of laboratory staff in establishing and conducting active rabies surveillance in indigenous bat
populations of Turkey, September 2010 (OIE laboratory twinning project Germany-Turkey)
Scientists from Slovenia, Iran, and Lithuania were trained including all standard rabies diagnostic tests, follow-up
investigations of oral vaccination campaigns, and virus characterization. Also, training in epidemiology,
implementation of adequate rabies surveillance and epidemiological analysis was provided. A PhD thesis of a
Latvian colleague on evaluation of ORV campaigns in Latvia is supervised.
Bacterial diseases:
Brucellosis: An Egyptian student finished her PhD study on brucellosis in camels and has been trained in all
relevant methods.
Chlamydiosis: In 2010, researchers and lab diagnosticians from Italy (2), Argentina and Ukraine visited the RL
Chlamydiosis for technical training and consultations on chlamydial diagnostic methods, with emphasis on
molecular detection methods.
Glanders: One PHD student from University of Veterinary & Animal Science, Lahore, Pakistan was working in
the field of “Molecular identification and seroepidemiology of Glanders”. One veterinarian from Brazil had a twoweek training on the laboratory diagnosis of glanders.
Parasites - Echinococcosis: Proficiency testing was prepared to compare the performance of different diagnostic
techniques in various laboratories at the international level.
Consultation with scientists from Oman and Sudan to set up studies to assess the epidemiological situation
regarding Echinococcus granulosus s.s. in the respective countries.
Prions - TSE: NRLs of new member states requested assistance in elaborating and establishing the diagnostic
routine. In the past colleagues from FLI have participated in Twinning Projects and have developed an excellent
working relationship with scientists from these countries. Several follow up visits and visits to other eastern
European NRLs have therefore taken place e.g. in Sofia, Bulgaria, and in Pulawy, Poland.
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Annual reports of OIE Reference Laboratories and Collaborating Centres, 2010
Zoonoses in Europe
5.
Organisation of scientific meetings on behalf of the OIE
The 3rd international symposium on Animal Health in the 21 st century was held from 11 – 13 October 2010 in
Greifswald. The symposium was opened by a stakeholder session involving the OIE (Dr. Vallat), WHO (Dr.
Meslin), DG-SANCO (Dr. Füssel), BMELV (Dr. Schwabenbauer) and the FAO (Dr. Slingenberg). The state-ofthe-art of animal health research and its future perspectives were presented by national and international experts.
Viral diseases:
Hantavirus: Involvement in the scientific organization of the 2nd workshop of the network “Rodent-borne
pathogens”, Münster, 24-26 November 2010, with participants from different institutions in Germany and a guest
speaker from London, UK.
Rabies: Scientific committee member of the 2nd International Berlin Bat Meeting: Bat Biology and Infectious
Diseases, Berlin, Germany, 19-21 February 2010 and organizer of the session “Bats and Rabies”.
Glanders: Organisation of the 27th Jena Symposium “Horse Orphan Infectious Diseases”, 3-4 November 2010,
Jena, Germany. Presentations are available online: http://www.fli.bund.de/
6.
Coordination of scientific and technical studies in collaboration with other laboratories,
organisations or collaborating centres
Viral diseases:
Crimean-Congo-Haemorrhagic-Fever (CCHF): In the frame of EDENext intense collaborations have started
with the OIE reference laboratory for CCHF and RVF at the Pasteur institute, Paris as well as with many of the
other 46 partner laboratories. Outside of EDENext but on the same topics a valuable collaboration has started with
Prof. Aykut Özkul, Ankara University, Turkey.
Hantavirus: Coordination of the network “rodent-borne pathogens” and extension to new rodent-associated
pathogens such as endoparasites, e.g. Giardia, or rodenticide resistance and pest management. Besides the long
time running studies on wild rodents, investigations on commensal rodents such as house mouse and Norway rat
were intensified together with several novel network partners. Moreover, longitudinal studies on rodent population
dynamics and hantavirus prevalence were continued in collaboration with a group at the Julius Kühn-Institut,
Münster.
Nipah / Hendra: A valuable collaboration has been established with scientists of AAHL Geelong. Concerted
experimental infection studies with large animals with Henipa viruses are planned after the commissioning of the
BL4 unit at FLI.
Rabies: The WHO co-ordinated research project on research and development on a murine monoclonal antibody
(MAbs) cocktail to replace HRIG and ERIG for rabies post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) in humans was continued.
A joined “quantitative risk assessment on the change in likelihood of rabies introduction into the United Kingdom
as a consequence of adopting the existing harmonised Community rules for the non-commercial movement of pet
animals” with the VLA, UK as the leading scientific institution.
Rift Valley fever (RVF): In the frame of an EU funded integration project called Arbozoonet intense
collaborations are ongoing with the OIE reference laboratory 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 (OIE
reference laboratory for these diseases) 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.
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Zoonoses in Europe
Bacterial diseases:
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.
Tularemia: Participation in a round-robin focused on detection and identification of biological agents organized
by the Robert Koch Institute (Berlin, Germany) called EQADEBA.
Parasites - Echinococcosis: Material for proficiency testing for the detection of Echinococcus multilocularis in
the intestinal mucosa of foxes was provided to the Community Reference Laboratory (CRL) for Parasites of the
European Union in Rome, Italy. The CRL organised a ring trial with the material and analysed the results.
Participation in the ring trial.
Prions - TSE: Close collaborations with the NRLs of other European countries, especially with those of EU
member states as well as the Canadian NRL / OIE TSE reference laboratory are ongoing. A ring trial was
conducted for the Canadian laboratory in order to verify their diagnostic proficiency and quality control system.
7.
Publication and dissemination of any information within the remit of the mandate given by the
OIE that may be useful to Members of the OIE
In 2010 almost 300 peer-reviewed papers were published by the FLI. Furthermore scientists presented their
research at numerous national and international scientific conferences.
Cliquet F, Freuling C, Smreczak M, Van der Poel WHM, Horton D, Fooks AR, Robardet E, Picard-Meyer E,
Müller T. Development of harmonised schemes for monitoring and reporting of rabies in animals in the European
Union. 2010. http://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/scdocs/scdoc/67e.htm.
Sidi-Boumedine K, Rousset E, Henning K, Ziller M, Niemczuck K, Roest HIJ and Thiéry R (2010): Development
of harmonised schemes for the monitoring and reporting of Q-Fever in animals in the European Union. EFSA-Q2009-00511, http://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/scdocs/scdoc/48e.htm
More, S., J.A. Stegeman, A. Rodolakis, H.J. Roest, P. Vellema, R. Thiery, H. Neubauer, W. van Hoek, K. Staerk,
H. Needham, A. Afonso, M. Georgiev, and J. Richardson (2010) Scientific opinion on Q fever. EFSA J. 8:1595.
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 2010, the issues 03/2009,
1/2010 and 02/2010 were edited and distributed throughout the world. Data are free to download and available
from our website (http://www.rbe.fli.bund.de/).
Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases (TTBD): an international, peer-reviewed scientific journal was founded in 2009.
The journal covers the following topics: Ticks; Ecology/ecoepidemiology of tick-borne diseases; Tick-borne
pathogens; Tick-borne diseases in domestic animals and wildlife; and Tick-borne human diseases: Editor-in-Chief:
Jochen Süss, FLI; Jena, Germany (http://ees.elsevier.com/ttbdis/)
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Annual reports of OIE Reference Laboratories and Collaborating Centres, 2010