Veterinary Surveillance
Formed in 2004, the Veterinary Surveillance team is part of a collaborative venture between CSL and the VLA (Veterinary Laboratories Agency).
The team provides veterinary parasitological expertise through our leadership of Defra's Animal Health research and surveillance projects and VLA consultancy programmes. We also provide an emergency response capability, offering authoritative advice and support to control parasitic disease outbreaks.
Our scientists provide wildlife disease diagnostic services and coordinate wildlife and vector-borne diseases surveillance. We conduct horizon scanning, risk and emergency response on zoonotic diseases with wildlife reservoirs and provide qualitative risk assessments on disease issues. We also provide veterinary expertise in relation to diseases in cats and dogs for the Pet Travel Scheme, and advise the Home Office on the potential role of wildlife reservoirs in bacterial bio-terrorist diseases.
Activities
The team provides both programme and contract management for a Defra research programme that aims to develop alternative control methods for the sheep scab mite Psoroptes ovis. Two projects are currently underway concentrating on immunological and biological approaches.
Another Defra-funded project aims to develop a user-friendly computerised model to aid the design of control strategies for parasitic gastroenteritis in sheep. This will help in minimising the development of anthelmintic resistance and should also reduce the exposure of animals and the environment to chemicals.
The team provides data on the prevalence of Trichinella in UK wildlife as part of a three-year rolling programme of carcass collection and diagnostic testing on foxes. Data derived from this and two previous studies will be collated and submitted to the FSA for submission to the EU for disease-free status.
Our work on the CBRN (chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear substances) project will provide risk assessments to enable contingency planning in preparation for the deliberate or accidental release of certain zoonotic diseases into the UK. The project involves collating detailed information and epidemiological knowledge of the transmission routes for each of the nine diseases stipulated by the Home Office.
Achievements
- Development of a wildlife disease surveillance network to assess the incidence and prevalence of zoonotic diseases, for national disease clearance.
- Certification and provision of authoritative consultancy in veterinary parasitology to Defra via VLA consultancy programmes in zoonotic, endemic and exotic parasitic diseases.
Publications
Coles G C, Jackson F, Pomroy W E, Prichard R K, Samson-Himmelstjerna G, Silvestre A, Taylor M A, Vercruysse J: The detection of anthelmintic resistance in nematodes of veterinary importance. Veterinary Parasitology, Vol 136, pp 167-185.