HC Deb 09 March 1999 vol 327 cc190-3W
Mr. Flynn

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what research projects his Department has commissioned(a) to anticipate and (b) to facilitate speedy and effective implementation of the changes in rabies control he expects to follow from the report of the Advisory Group on Quarantine; if this research specifically includes critical path planning; and what are the expected times for completion of each of these projects. [74794]

Mr. Rooker

[holding answer8 March 1999]: The Government are considering the outcome of the consultation on the report of the Advisory Group on Quarantine (AGQ), which recommended changes to the quarantine system. A dedicated team has been established in this Department which is able to call upon the services of a wider multi-disciplinary group of experts. They will employ recognised project management techniques which will include critical path analysis. The team has received project management training.

Projects commissioned by the team to date are as follows:

  • A further study of the risk associated with animals imported from the USA and Canada. This is expected to be completed in April.
  • proficiency test programme for laboratories carrying out blood tests. The earliest that a laboratory might be authorised would be autumn 1999.
  • Consideration of the efficacy and security of microchip identification. A seminar was held in the Ministry's premises at Tolworth, Surrey, on 1 February. Work on animal identification is expected to be completed in a few months.
  • Preparation of a list of zoonotic infections and infestations found in cats and dogs in the EU/EEA Member States and rabies free islands which are not found in the UK.
  • Initial design work for potential port facilities.
  • A programme of work to identify an ELISA test for rabies that might replace the existing virus neutralisation test.

The advice of the Advisory Committee on Dangerous Pathogens (ACDP) has been obtained on the implications of the AGQ recommendations. A workshop is planned to be held by the ACDP on 12 April to consider this matter further.

The Office International des Epizooties and the World Health Organisation have been requested to consider the designation of specified methods for a prescribed blood test(s). It is hoped that this will be concluded in May.

Furthermore, the Chief Veterinary Officer wrote to counterparts in other EU Member States in November 1998 to ask them to confirm that they would be able to provide certification of cats and dogs to the standard recommended by the AGQ. Governments of islands that it is believed could be classified as rabies free are also being contacted. The replies are being evaluated. Work is also underway on designing an appropriate form of certificate for British cats and dogs taken out of the UK with the intention of their being re-imported.

Mr. Flynn

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what were the principal project areas in which his Department commissioned research on rabies over the last 15 years; and what were the approximate costs incurred in respect of each of these projects. [74793]

Mr. Rooker

[holding answer8 March 1999]: Details of research on rabies between 1991 and 1999 together with the annual budget for each project is as follows:

  • 1991–92
    • Rabies: Differentiation of strains using monoclonal antibodies— £21,000
    • Development of alternative diagnostic systems for rabies: neuroblastoma culture—£37,000
    • Development of rapid diagnostic tests for rabies: PCR—£31,000
  • 1992–93
    • Rabies: Differentiation of strains using monoclonal antibodies— £21,000
    • Development of alternative diagnostic systems for rabies: neuroblastoma culture—£37,000
      • 192
    • Development of rapid diagnostic tests for rabies: PCR—£31,000
    • Biology and control of mammalian vectors of rabies—£184,000
  • 1993–94
    • Development of rapid diagnostic tests for rabies: PCR—£78,000
    • Biology and control of mammalian vectors of rabies—£129,000 Development of ELISA methods for rabies diagnosis capable of dealing with samples received in the event of a UK outbreak— £64,000
  • 1994–95
    • Biology and control of mammalian vectors of rabies—£162,000
    • Development of an optimisation of rapid PCR methods for the diagnosis or rabies—£132,000
    • Development of rabies contingency programmes—£50,000
  • 1995–96
    • Biology and control of mammalian vectors of rabies—£183,000
    • Development of an optimisation of rapid PCR methods for the diagnosis of rabies—£135,379
    • Expression of rabies glycoprotein in baculovirus for use in a rapid diagnosis kit for antibody level determination—£116,778
  • 1996–97
    • Development of an optimisation of rapid PCR methods for the diagnosis of rabies—£146,528
    • Expression of rabies glycoprotein in baculovirus for use in a rapid diagnosis kit for antibody level determination—£119,113
    • Differentiation of strains of rabies and rabies-related viruses using automated sequence analyses—£101,315
    • Biology and control of mammalian vectors of rabies—£186,044
  • 1997–98
    • Expression of rabies glycoprotein in baculovirus for use in a rapid diagnosis kit for antibody level determination—£85,370
    • Differentiation of strains of rabies and rabies-related viruses using automated sequence analyses—£72,190
    • Biology and control of mammalian vectors of rabies—£189,097
    • Development of rapid PCR-based systems for the detection and differentiation of rabies and rabies-related viruses—£116,516
    • Rabies defence measures in the Channel Tunnel—foxes and DNA fingerprinting—£5,645
  • 1998–99
    • Differentiation of strains of rabies and rabies-related viruses using automated sequence analyses—£101,143
    • Biology and control of mammalian vectors of rabies—£189,097
    • Development of rapid PCR-based systems for the detection and differentiation of rabies and rabies-related viruses—£156,797
    • Molecular detection techniques to investigate aspects of the pathogenesis of rabies—£133,757.

Information on rabies research between 1984 and 1991 is not available in this format.

During the 1980's MAFF research on rabies concentrated on answering the hypothetical question "If rabies entered the UK, where did it come from and what measures were needed to be taken to control/eradicate it". Research centred upon the collection of rabies viruses from all areas of the world where rabies was endemic and the production and use of monoclonal antibodies with which these viruses could be identified.

Subsidiary work included vaccine potency testing for the European Pharmocopoeia, research in mince into the potential use of inactivated oral vaccines, and the development of a serological test to measure the neutralizing antibody levels in animal sera.

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