Bovine TB (Hansard, 27 May 2004)

§ Mr. Paterson
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the current status of the gamma interferon trials being conducted by her Department is; what the total cost so far expended on developing this test is; and what the estimated total cost fully to develop this test to the point where it can be used routinely is. [158000]

§ Mr. Bradshaw
Desk studies have estimated that significant savings will need to accrue from the use of gamma interferon (γ-IFN) before it becomes cost-effective in GB. The field trial of the γ-IFN test taking place in Wales and the Midlands is sponsored by Defra and the Welsh Assembly Government. It aims to assess 1735W the cost-effectiveness of using γIFN in infected herds in conjunction with the single intradermal comparative cervical test.
The field pilot began in November 2002, with the intention to recruit 660 herds. Recruitment to the trial has been slow, with 115 herds recruited by 19 May 2004. Approximately one third of herds recruited so far are γ-IFN tested, with the other herds subject to "extra-severe" interpretation of the skin test and a control group (status quo).
From May 2004, newly recruited herds will have a 50 per cent. chance of being allocated the γ-IFN treatment, with 25 per cent. allocated to "extra-severe" and 25 per cent. to "control" groups. It is hoped this will encourage more eligible herd owners to participate.
Since 1999, the Government have spent more than £900,000 on γ-IFN research projects and £8.5 million on other research projects contributing to the development of γ-IFN as a diagnostic test. This is in addition to the £667,000 we expect to spend on the field pilot for the test.

§ Mr. Paterson
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the average number of cattle involved in a herd TB breakdown was over the last five years; what the average was in herds with repeat breakdowns; and what epidemiological significance there is to the number of animals affected in a herd breakdown. [158675]

§ Mr. Bradshaw
The following table details the average number of reactor cattle slaughtered per TB incident (breakdown) over the last five years:

Reactors per incident 1

1999 2.5

2000 2.8

2001 3.1

2002 4.7

2003 3.6

¹ Includes all the herd incidents recorded each year (new and ongoing).

Separate figures are not available for herds with recurrent breakdowns as a subgroup of all breakdowns. This data can be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
The number of reactors per incident is a proxy for the severity of a TB breakdown. Severity of a breakdown is in turn determined by the number of cattle in the herd infected at the initial exposure (index animals), the time elapsed between introduction of infection in the herd and the disclosing test (or slaughterhouse case), social interactions between infective and susceptible cattle, herd size, herd management system, susceptibility of the host, the portal of entry into the host and infective dose and, possibly, the strain of "M. bovis" causing the breakdown. Confirmed TB incidents tend to last longer and yield more reactors than unconfirmed incidents.

§ Mr. Paterson
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs in how many herd breakdowns in 2003 only one reactor was detected; and in how many of those herds there had been no cattle movements into the herds in the preceding 60 days. [158678]
1736W

§ Mr. Bradshaw
In 2003 there were 1204¹ breakdowns with one reactor detected. Of these, the number with no cattle movements in the preceding 60 days is not centrally recorded on the State Veterinary Service database and can only he provided at disproportionate cost from other sources.
¹Provisional data downloaded from the State Veterinary Service database on 4–5 March 2004. Subject to change as more data becomes available.
Note:
For the purposes of this question a reactor has been defined as (i) an animal which reacts positively to the tuberculin test and (ii) an animal which has had an inconclusive reaction to the tuberculin tests on three occasions.

§ Andrew George
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many tuberculin positive reactor cattle were slaughtered in the UK in each year from 1999 to 2003 inclusive; and in how many bovine TB infection was not confirmed on culture or examination post mortem in each year. [172557]

§ Mr. Bradshaw
The information requested is given in the following table for Great Britain.

Number of TB Number of

reactor cattle slaughtered¹ unconfirmed cases²

1999 5,910 2,709

2000 7,031 2,629

2001³ 5,048 2,293

2002 19,903 9,671

2003 20,117 10,180

¹ For the purposes of this question a reactor has been defined as
(i) an animal which reacts positively to the tuberculin test or (ii) an
animal which has had an inconclusive reaction to the tuberculin
tests on three occasions.

² Failure to detect visible lesions or culture Mycobacterium bovis
(M. bovis) from samples does not confirm the absence of infection
or that the animal has not been exposed to M. bovis.

³ In 2001, the TB testing and control programme was largely
suspended due to the Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) outbreak.
Since testing resumed in 2002, resources have been concentrated
on herds with overdue TB tests which would have had a longer
period in which to contract the disease. Also the proportion of
high risk herds being tested post-FMD is greater than that prior
to the outbreak. As a result since 2002 the statistical data is not
comparable to that of previous years.

Note:
Data downloaded from the State Veterinary Service database on 1 April 2004 (1999–2001) and 8 March 2004 (2002–03). This is provisional data, which is subject to change, as more data becomes available.

§ Mr. Laurence Robertson
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what further research she proposes to undertake to investigate TB in wildlife; and if she will make a statement. [173694]

§ Mr. Bradshaw
Defra is funding the Randomised Badger Culling Trial and associated research (including the Road Traffic Accident survey of badger carcases in seven English counties). A limited survey of wildlife (badgers, and deer with suspicious lesions) killed on the roads in the Furness Peninsula, Cumbria is also under way.
Recently published research highlights that the use of farm buildings and cattle troughs by badgers can constitute a TB risk to cattle. A study of possible badger/cattle interactions and how cattle husbandry methods may limit these is under way.
1737W
Defra currently funds two research projects investigating the risk to cattle from wildlife species other than badgers. Both projects are due to be completed during 2004 and their final reports will be studied closely before deciding on future research requirements in this area.
Other work is looking at the "perturbation" effects of removing badgers from an ecosystem, innovative ways of estimating badger numbers and a project to derive economic values associated with changes in badger populations. Another project is devising strategies to diagnose M. bovis infection in badgers in the field (such as alternatives to the Brock test with increased sensitivity).
Defra is also part-funding collaborative work on the experimental vaccination of badgers with BCG in the Republic of Ireland through a contract with the Veterinary Laboratories Agency. A recent workshop (April) with the animal pharmaceutical industry discussed possible ways of taking this work forward.

§ Nick Harvey
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the extra costs, beyond the cost of the test itself, to farmers of using a TB test; and if she will make a statement. [174082]

§ Mr. Bradshaw
The cost of statutory tuberculin testing by an authorised Veterinary Surgeon is currently paid for by Defra. Cattle keepers are responsible for presenting the animals for testing in a manner in which the test can be performed safely, this includes provision of the necessary cattle handling equipment and labour.
The main cost to farmers incurred for TB testing is labour use. The time spent on testing varies greatly from farm to farm, and will depend on such factors as the size of the herd, the age, breed and sex of the animals, the efficiency of the system employed the way the cattle are handled, gathering times, preparation and cleaning times and subsequent post-test paperwork.
Some dairy farmers have also reported a reduction in milk yield on testing days.
A full Regulatory Impact Assessment will be required if proposals on pre or post-movement testing outlined in the consultation document "preparing for a new GB strategy on bovine tuberculosis'' are taken forward. This will include an assessment of the additional economic burden to farmers.

Reactors per incident 1
1999	2.5
2000	2.8
2001	3.1
2002	4.7
2003	3.6
¹ Includes all the herd incidents recorded each year (new and ongoing).

	Number of TB	Number of
	reactor cattle slaughtered¹	unconfirmed cases²
1999	5,910	2,709
2000	7,031	2,629
2001³	5,048	2,293
2002	19,903	9,671
2003	20,117	10,180
¹ For the purposes of this question a reactor has been defined as (i) an animal which reacts positively to the tuberculin test or (ii) an animal which has had an inconclusive reaction to the tuberculin tests on three occasions.
² Failure to detect visible lesions or culture Mycobacterium bovis (M. bovis) from samples does not confirm the absence of infection or that the animal has not been exposed to M. bovis.
³ In 2001, the TB testing and control programme was largely suspended due to the Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) outbreak. Since testing resumed in 2002, resources have been concentrated on herds with overdue TB tests which would have had a longer period in which to contract the disease. Also the proportion of high risk herds being tested post-FMD is greater than that prior to the outbreak. As a result since 2002 the statistical data is not comparable to that of previous years.