§ Mr. CohenTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what reports his Department has received on the death of a 12-year-old lion at Newquay Zoo from feline spongiform encephalopathy; what estimate he has made of the number of animals which have died from FSE; and if he will make a statement. [145351]
§ Ms QuinThe lion, which was born on 25 July 1987, and acquired by Newquay zoo in October 1997, had been suffering from lameness and increasing inco-ordination of the hind limbs from May 2000. It was euthanased in142W August 2000 and the carcase examined at the Veterinary Laboratories Agency (VLA), Truro. Tissues were sent to pathologists at VLA Lasswade where the diagnosis of feline spongiform encephalopathy was made. This diagnosis was supported by further examinations carried out at VLA Weybridge.
Post mortem examinations of domestic and exotic cats are routinely carried out by the VLA on behalf of MAFF, as part of the surveillance for transmissible spongiform encephalopathies.
Cases confirmed to date are as follows:
Domestic cat Cheetah Lion Ocelot Puma Tiger 1990 12 — — — — — 1991 12 — — — — — 1992 10 1 — — 1 — 1993 11 1 — — — — 1994 16 — — 1 — — 1995 8 — — 1 2 1 1996 6 1 — — — — 1997 6 1 — — — — 1998 4 1 1 — — 1 1999 2 — 1 1 — 1 2000 1 — 1 — — —