"Cost sharing for disease control" may seem like an
extreme statement, but for the UK's largest animal health research
institute, established by farmers in 1920s,Moredunis a well established example of a public-private
partnership, according to scientific director Julie Fitzpatrick,
speaking at the institute's annual press day.
"Looking at Moredun's
set-up it is a potential blueprint for cost and responsibility
sharing among government and stakeholders, including primary
producers, associated support industries, food processors and food
retailers. Moredun's blueprint is what England wants," she
believes.
The critical link with farmers is still maintained with 2500
members made up from the farming, vet and associated industries
with four of the boards chaired by farmers. But for this to work,
the £6.5m funding from the Scottish Government is crucial.
Prof Fitzpatrick makes it clear co-operation in the industry is
vital if climate change and food security are to be tackled.
"Dealing with endemic diseases is crucial for climate change, for
those diseases hindering production it is wasted methane," she
said.
And Moredun's set-up could have worldwide implications for
animal health and welfare, since it is on the verge of making a
breakthrough with the development of a vaccine for the
barber's-pole worm, Haemonchus contortus. "The vaccine is being
trialled in Australia next year and, if this proves successful, it
will be groundbreaking for nematode control," she explained.
Vaccine development is the practical output from research and as
well as moving vaccine research findings into commercial success
possibly for pneumonia and caseous lymphadenitis, there is also
research into a vaccine and diagnostic tests for the common, but
under diagnosed Neospora caninum.
As much as 22% of all cattle abortions and reproductive failure
could be as a result of
Neospora caninum, a parasite spread by dogs. And with
reproductive failure in the top three for financial loss, farmers
must be aware of this, said Moredun's Neospora specialist Elisabeth
Innes.
The survey conducted by Moredun Research Institute with
colleagues at SAC Vet Service in south-west Scotland found 22% of
all cattle abortion samples submitted for diagnosis contained
Neospora caninum.
This is substantially more than any other pathogen, said Dr
Innes. "Neospora caninum is a parasite which causes abortion and
reproductive failure in dairy and beef cattle worldwide, with
cattle becoming infected through consumption of feed or water
contaminated with the parasite eggs which are shed by infected
dogs.
The problem with Neospora is the eggs can persist in the
environment for long periods, but there are no drugs which can kill
the parasite, says Dr Innes. "The other is cattle, once infected,
show few clinical symptoms and this means problems occur in the
pregnant animal where the parasite invades the placenta infecting
the developing foetus."
Neospora infected animals are three to seven times more likely
to have an abortion compared to uninfected cattle, but the problem
is knowing which cattle have it, added Dr Innes. "Because of
transmission from mother to foetus, Neospora transmission could be
continuous, passing through generations and, therefore, making it
difficult to control," she added.
"At Moredun we have found infection of the foetus early in
pregnancy is likely to cause foetal death, whereas infection later
in preganancy may result in birth of a live, but congenitally
infected animal."
But scientists at Moredun are hoping current work on new genetic
techniques to help detect the parasite in infected animals will be
successful as well as a vaccine currently being worked on in the
bid to help control the disease.
"The most important tool we need is a test for the parasite.
Studies of naturally infected cattle in the field suggest
congenitally infected animals do not develop good immunity,
therefore, it may be best to target a vaccine to protect uninfected
cattle and to identify and cull congenitally infected cattle,"
explained Dr Innes.
Neospora caninum
- Causes up to 22% of abortions
- Spread by infected dogs
- Transmitted to foetus
- Vaccine and tests in development