HC Deb 25 May 1995 vol 260 cc685-6W
Mr. Martyn Jones

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what survey he has made of research into BIV being undertaken in other countries. [25857]

Mrs. Browning

In September 1994, senior veterinarians from the Veterinary Investigation Service, and the virology department of the Central Veterinary Laboratory carried out a study tour of North America, where research into bovine immunodeficiency-like virus has been undertaken for a number of years. Discussions were held with the veterinary regulatory authorities in Washington and Ottawa and with veterinarians and research workers at the National Animal Disease Centre, Ames, Iowa; the National Cancer Institute, Frederick, Maryland; the Louisiana State university; the Animal Disease Research Institute, Ottawa; Ontario Veterinary college, Guelph; and the veterinary laboratory services, Ministry of Agriculture and Food, Guelph, Ontario.

The veterinary regulatory authorities in the USA and Canada confirmed that they had no concerns whatsoever over food safety with respect to BIV and were unaware of any concern by the public health authorities with regard to BIV. They also confirmed that there was no scientific evidence that the lentivirus in question caused immunodeficiency in cattle.

Mr. Martyn Jones

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment he has made of whether it has been proved that the BIV organism is destroyed by normal dairy pasteurization. [25855]

Mrs. Browning

Judging from the similarities with other lentiviruses, we would expect that bovine immunodeficiency-like virus would get into milk but that pasteurisation would kill it. We are carrying out experimental work at the Department's Central Veterinary Laboratory to investigate this hypothesis.

Mr. Martyn Jones

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what research is being conducted into BIV and cross infection to humans. [25852]

Mrs. Browning

None. Bovine immunodeficiency-like virus infection of cattle has been known for a long time. There is no evidence that it affects humans, whether through contact with animals, through drinking milk or eating meat or indeed when injected into the body, as happened, accidentally, to two US researchers who suffered no ill effects. Experimental efforts in the USA to grow the virus in human cells have failed. It is characteristic of these types of viruses to be highly species specific.

Mr. Martyn Jones

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what number and percentage of United Kingdom herds are infected by BIV. [25856]

Mrs. Browning

A limited laboratory investigation was carried out by the Central Veterinary Laboratory in 1990. Several hundred cattle sera, from a considerable number of cattle herds spread throughout Great Britain, were tested as part of a programme to develop a diagnostic test for bovine immunodeficiency-like virus. Approximately 10 per cent. of the samples tested were serologically positive for BIV using the tests being developed at that time. This level of infection is consistent with what has been found in other countries but the investigation was not structured nor were the results validated and for that reason it is not possible to estimate with any precision what is the actual level of incidence of BIV infection in the United Kingdom.

A full-scale survey would currently be inappropriate, particularly in the absence of a specific and sensitive test suitable for widespread application.