§ Mr. SykesTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food which bovine tissues are known to transmit BSE infectivity and at what stages in the animal's life they are infectious; and if he will make a statement. [2311]
§ Mr. Douglas HoggA large number of tissues from cattle known to be naturally infected with BSE have been tested to determine whether they can transmit disease when inoculated intra-cerebrally and intra-peritoneally into susceptible strains of mice. Recent results have shown that two further tissues, the retina and the terminal spinal cord, can transmit BSE infectivity to mice, as well as those tissues already identified that can contain BSE infectivity, the brain and the cervical spinal cord. Infectivity had also been detected in the distal ileum of calces which has been experimentally challenged with BSE; this was first announced in an answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for Woodspring (Dr. Fox) by my right hon. Friend the Member for Norfolk (Mrs. Shephard) on 30 June 1994,Official Report, column 657–58. These new findings do not require any changes to the regulations concerning BSE. Both the retina and terminal spinal cord are already covered by the Specified Bovine Offal Order 1995. They have to be removed from all cattle over six months at slaughter and are destroyed. Such tissues are thereby prevented from entering the human and animal food chains.
In addition to the above tissues, a large number of other tissues from cattle affected with BSE have been tested to see if they can transmit the disease to mice. Tests on the following tissues have been negative:
- Abomasum
- Bone marrow
- Buffy coat
- Cauda equina
- Cerebrospinal fluid
- Clotted blood
- Distal colon
- Proximal colon
- Epididymis
- Foetal calf blood
- Heart
- Distal small intestine
- Proximal small intestine
- Liver
- Lung
- Kidney
- Lymph nodes:
- Prefemoral
- Mesenteric
- Retropharyngeal
- Supramammary
- Midrum fat
- Milk
- Muscles:
- Musculus (M.) semitendinosus
193 - M. diaphragma
- M. longissimus
- masseter
- Oesophagus
- Omasum
- Pancreas
- Peripheral nerves:
- N. splanchnic
- N. sciaticus (proximal)
- N. tibialis
- Placental cotyledon
- Placental fluids:
- Allantoic fluid
- Amniotic fluid
- Prostate
- Rectum
- Reticulum
- Rumen (oesophageal groove)
- Rumen (pillar)
- Semen
- Seminal vesicle
- Serum
- Skin
- Spleen
- Testis
- Tonsil
- Udder
- Uterine caruncle (pregnant cow)
We are also carrying out experiments to look at the way in which infectivity develops in different tissues over time. Four-month-old calves were fed infected brain from cattle with BSE. Animals were slaughtered at intervals subsequently and a large number of their tissues tested on each occasion to see if they could transmit the disease in mice. Animals developed clinical signs of BSE from 35 months after challenge onwards.
So far, we have obtained complete results on the tissue assays of animals slaughtered at two, six, 10 and 14 months after challenge. At two months, no tissue showed infectivity. From six months onwards the distal ileum—part of the small intestine—shows BSE infectivity. No other tissue tested, including the brain, spinal cord and thymus, has shown any infectivity in animals up to 14 months after challenge. Infectivity has also been detected in the ileum of animals killed 18 months after challenge, but assays of other tissues from these cattle are not yet complete.
These results support the existing precautionary controls on specified bovine offals. These require the intestines and thymus to be removed from all animals on slaughter and be destroyed. The brain, spinal cord, spleen and tonsils have to be removed from all cattle over six months old on slaughter and destroyed.
§ Dr. StrangTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many United Kingdom farms have had at least one case of BSE. [1520]
§ Dr. StrangTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many cases of BSE were confirmed in the United Kingdom in each year from 1986 to the latest available date. [1522]
§ Mr. HoggBovine spongiform encephalopathy was first identified in November 1986. Information on the incidence of the disease prior to this date is not recorded.
The following is a table of the number of confirmed cases of BSE in the United Kingdom up to 17 November 1995. The cases prior to 21 June 1988 in Great Britain and 29 November 1988 in Northern Ireland when the disease was made notifiable, are recorded by year of clinical onset of disease and the cases thereafter are recorded by year of restriction.
Year Number 1986 7 1987 435 1988 (pre-notification) 286 1988 (post-notification) 2,187 1989 7,166 1990 14,294 1991 25,202 1992 37,057 1993 34,830 1994 24,289 1995 11,031
§ Dr. StrangTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what percentage of(a) United Kingdom dairy herds, (b) United Kingdom beef suckler herds and (c) total United Kingdom herds have experienced at least one case of BSE. [1519]
§ Mr. HoggAs at 17 November 1995, 50.5 per cent. of United Kingdom dairy herds and 12.6 per cent. of beef herds have experienced at least one case of BSE. 29.5 per cent. of the total United Kingdom herds have experienced at least one case of BSE.
§ Dr. StrangTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how much money was spent by the Government in respect of BSE on(a) research, (b) slaughter, (c) compensation and (d) disposal of carcases in (i) 1993, (ii) 1994 and (iii) 1995 to the latest available date. [1521]
§ Mr. HoggThe following table shows the amount spent in respect of compensation and disposal for the financial years 1993–1994, 1994–95, and 1995–96 up to 31 October 1995. It is not possible without disproportionate cost to calculate slaughter costs separate from the other costs of field work by the State Veterinary Service. Euthanasia is predominantly carried out by veterinary officers who are already present on farm for the purpose of carrying out clinical examination of suspects, although occasionally it may require a separate visit.
195W
Years Compensation Disposal 1993–94 37,468,085 8,753.603 1994–95 20,138,239 5,552,494 1995–96 6,012,476 1,952.019 Includes estimates for Northern Ireland. The following amounts were spent on BSE research in the finanacial years:
- 1993–94:£5,688,000
- 1994–95:£5,433,000
- 1995–961:£2,447,000
- 1995–962:£5,174,000
1 To 31 October
2 Commitment.