HC Deb 16 May 1990 vol 172 cc462-4W
Mr. Butler

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what forward estimates he has made of the number of cattle likely to become infected with bovine spongiform encephalopathy.

Mr. Maclean

It is not possible to predict with accuracy the number of cattle likely to be affected by bovine spongiform encephalopathy. However, the incidence is not expected to decline significantly until at least 1993.

Mr. Ron Davies

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will now undertake the random sampling for bovine spongiform encephalopathy of all cattle slaughtered for human consumption in the United Kingdom.

Mr. Maclean

We have no plans to do so.

Mr. Ron Davies

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he proposes any initiative to sample for bovine spongiform encephalopathy-type disease among(a) all food animals, (b) companion animals, (c) other animals.

Mr. Maclean

We have no plans to do so. However, research into the transmissibility of bovine spongiform encephalopathy to other animals will continue. Research is also being conducted into the possibility of finding a test in the live animal. None is available at the moment.

Mr. Ron Davies

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what advice he has issued to cattle breeders concerning the possible vertical transmissibility of bovine spongiform encephalopathy; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Maclean

Revised guidelines about all aspects of bovine spongiform encephalopathy are being prepared for issue to farmers.

Mr. Ron Davies

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the occurrence of spongiform encephalopathy in a cat.

Mr. Maclean

Pathologists at the Bristol veterinary school and the central veterinary laboratory at Weybridge have diagnosed a sub-acute spongiform encephalopathy in a five-year-old Siamese cat originating from the Bristol area. Inquiries are being made into the case. At present there is no evidence that the condition is transmissible, nor is there any known connection with any spongiform encephalopathies in other animal species.

Mr. Ron Davies

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) whether he has issued any guidance to the veterinary investigation service concerning the possible incidence of spongiform encephalopathy in domestic animals;

(2) what instruction or guidelines he has given to the veterinary investigation service to monitor for bovine spongiform encephalopathy-type diseases in animals other than cattle; when such guidelines were issued; and if he will place copies in the Library.

Mr. Maclean

The veterinary investigation service is well aware of the need to monitor for the possibility of spongiform encephalopathies in other species and will consider them as differential diagnoses in appropriate cases.

Mr. Ron Davies

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the estimate of the number of cattle born to cows subsequently confirmed as bovine spongiform encephalopathy sufferers, since the disease was declared notifiable, which have been(a) slaughtered for human consumption, (b) exported, (c) retained as suckler cows, (d) destroyed as suffering a notifiable disease, (e) retained as dairy cows or (f) otherwise disposed of; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Maclean

This information is not available.

Mr. Matthew Taylor

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) whether any cases of possible or confirmed bovine spongiform encephalopathy-related conditions in domesticated animals have been reported to officials of his Department; and if he will make a statement;

(2) whether any cases of possible or confirmed bovine spongiform encephalopathy-related conditions in domestic cats have been reported to officials of his Department; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Maclean

Transmissible spongiform encephalopathies can be confirmed only by post mortem histopathology of brain tissue and, apart from bovine spongiform encephalopathy in cattle, are not notifiable. In addition to cattle, these diseases are known to occur naturally in man and in sheep, goats, mule deer, elk and farmed mink.

Some of these diseases have been successfully transmitted under laboratory conditions to a number of species. The experimental animals used have included certain primates, mice, hamsters, sheep, goats, cattle, cats, mink and voles.

In addition, a spongiform encephalopathy has been identified in a zoo antelope and a domestic cat in Great Britain. It is not known whether these diseases are transmissible, or what relationship they have to BSE.