§ Mr. Martyn JonesTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what Government guidelines exist to assist veterinary staff and surgeons in diagnosing feline spongiform encephalopathy; and if he will make a statement. [455]
§ Mrs. BrowningThe clinical signs and pathological lesions associated with feline spongiform encephalopathy have been published in the veterinary and scientific press in considerable detail. The first confirmation was announced inThe Veterinary Record on 19 May 1990, and included details of clinical signs that would enable veterinary surgeons to identify possible cases. The signs are not dissimilar to rabies which, being a notifiable disease, veterinary surgeons would automatically report to 178W the divisional veterinary manager. Moreover, the clinical signs of FSE are in fact similar to those seen in cattle with BSE, a condition with which most veterinary practitioners and all MAFF veterinary officers are fully familiar.
Advice was given directly to such practitioners that, subject to the elimination of rabies as a cause of disease, a free post mortem examination for FSE was available through the veterinary investigation service of MAFF. Since November 1994 the diagnosis of any transmissible spongiform encephalopathy in the laboratory, other than those produced by experimental means in the course of research, has been officially notifiable.
§ Mr. JonesTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what Government procedures exist for(a) encouraging the reporting of and (b) collating data relating to feline spongiform encephalopathy; if he will indicate the date of inception for each procedure; if he will list those procedures which no longer operate; and if he will make a statement. [465]
§ Mrs. BrowningThe Spongiform Encephalopathy (Miscellaneous Amendments) Order 1994 makes suspicion of spongiform encephalopathies in species other than cattle, sheep and goats following laboratory examination notifiable. Nevertheless, from May 1990 when the first confirmation of feline spongiforrn encephalopathy was announced, MAFF encouraged the veterinary profession to report suspicion of any cases to the local divisional veterinary manager. This was done by publication of a letter from the Chief Veterinary Officer inThe Veterinary Record, as well as by local communication between DVMs and veterinary surgeons. A free diagnostic service was offered through the veterinary investigation service where a differential diagnosis was not required. Not all presentations of cases were directly through veterinary practitioners. Some were identified after referral to university veterinary departments. While the majority of cases have subsequently confirmed by examination of brain tissue at the central veterinary laboratory, the diagnosis of veterinary pathologists with experience of FSE is usually accepted as definitive.
Following confirmation, a veterinary officer of the Ministry carries out an epidemiological investigation, where possible, involving the veterinary surgeon, the current owner, and if appropriate previous owners. As with cattle, this involves full details of the animal's medical and feeding history. Details of all confirmed cases are held centrally to allow further analysis and interpretation.