WRL RECOMMENDATIONS ON THE PRIORITIES FOR ANTIGEN AND VACCINE BANKS

Adoption of the Agenda

The Agenda (Appendix 1) was adopted without change. The Reports of the 85th Session of the Executive and the 40th General Session were distributed and adopted without further comment. The

most recent (August 2013) Monthly FMD surveillance report was also distributed, as a compilation of data available to EuFMD/FAO-EMPRES (Appendix 2).

Item 1. FMD epidemic situation in the region

Overview of FMD virus circulation and risk (WRL Report)

The report was provided by Dr Don King, incoming Head of the World Reference laboratory for FMD at Pirbright (Appendix 3). He summarized the data from the WRL services provided in 2013 and 2012.

In 2013, around 200 virus isolates had been made from 360 samples received, a reduction in

submissions compared to previous years. The major story in 2013 has been the epidemic circulation of serotype A viruses in West Eurasia and

East Asia (Pools 3 and 1). The genotypes involved are unrelated, but in each case there has been an

upsurge in each region and overspill to neighboring countries. In West Eurasia, this has included an overspill into the north Caucasus (Russian Federation) of viruses normally present in Iran/Turkey, and

in East Asia, spread into Mongolia and Russian Federation (RF) and eastern Kazakhstan. The latter

two countries receive viruses from both Pool 1 and Pool 3 and thus could provide a way for colonization (or spread to closer parts of Europe) by East Asian viruses; control of these incursions by

the countries concerned is vital, and surveillance partnerships are vitally important as the frequency

is increasing. Of concern is that Pool 1 has been a past source for spread to other continents/regions and the

current type A in circulation is poorly matched to the internationally provided or used vaccine in use

in South-East Asia (A MAY 97 vaccine). However, if introduced to Europe, the match against type A Iran 05 /A TUR 06 appears good, which is fortuitous given the lack of a genetic relatedness to these

viruses.

Dr King mentioned that the OIE/FAO Reference Laboratory Network reported on 1800 samples in 2012 and the Annual Network meeting is scheduled for 12-14th November 2013 in Bangkok.

Regarding the Annual Proficiency Test Scheme, managed by WRL for EC and EuFMD, four panels have

been sent to 80 laboratories, with 46 shipments so far completed in 2013.

He summarized the results obtained by virus pool, and gave recommendations for the priority antigens to be held in the National Vaccine/Antigen banks in the European region.