§ Mr. MuddTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many tests for listeria were carried out at the veterinary investigation centre, Polwhele, Truro, in 1987, 1989 and to the most convenient date in 1990; and what percentage of these tests gave a positive response.
§ Mr. MacleanThe veterinary investigation service does not routinely carry out tests specifically for listeria. As a disease of animals, listeriosis is considered as a differential diagnosis when pathological material is submitted to a veterinary investigation centre by a practising veterinary surgeon.
In the period 1987 to 9 July 1990 the following diagnoses of listeriosis were made at Truro VIC either by microbiological examination or pathological examination or both:
1987 1988 1989 11990 Cattle 3 17 14 9 Sheep 7 6 8 10 1 To 9 July 1990.
§ Mr. MuddTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many possible BSE samples were examined at the veterinary investigation centre, Polwhele, Truro, in each of the years 1987, 1988, 1989 and 1990 to date; and what percentage of these cases proved positive.
§ Mr. MacleanThere are two stages in the examination of brain material for BSE carried out in veterinary investigation centres.660W
- (i) The removal of brain material for examination.
- (ii) The histopathological preparation and miscroscopic examination of the selected tissues.
In respect of (ii) the VI centre at Polwhele acts as one of 11 designated centres for this purpose and as such the numbers examined do not necessary reflect the situation.
In 1987 to 9 July 1990 the VI centre at Truro carried out the following procedures:
1987 1988 1989 11990 (i) Removal of brain tissue 44 364.00 611.00 620.00 (ii) Histopathological examination 44 437.00 537.00 730.00 Percentage histopathological examination +ve 100 90.16 89.57 89.18 1To 9 July 1990.