OIE Laboratory Twinning on Brucellosis Judy Stack Animal Health - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

OIE Laboratory Twinning on Brucellosis

Judy Stack Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency (AHVLA) United Kingdom Sevil Erdenlig Pendik Veterinary Control Institute (PVCI) Turkey

OIE Reference Laboratory for Brucellosis

UK/Turkey Collaboration

Laboratory Twinning pairs: Parent Laboratory: Animal Health & Veterinary Laboratories Agency (AHVLA) OIE Reference Laboratory and FAO/WHO Collaborating Centre for Reference & Research on Brucellosis Candidate Laboratory: Pendik Veterinary Control Institute (PVCI) Established National Reference Laboratory for Brucellosis

Funded by World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) for 3 years. Ensuring compliance with OIE guidelines for accurate diagnosis of disease.

OIE Laboratory Twinning: Aims

• Develop or enhance sustainable relationships
• Exchange knowledge/technical guidance
• Improve compliance with OIE standards
• Promote safe working procedures and facilities
• Support to region & eventually for candidates to apply for

‘reference’ status

• Extend the OIE network of expertise geographically

Why Brucellosis?

• One of the worlds most significant zoonotic diseases in domestic

livestock (and man)

• Spreads easily, despite vaccination, control is difficult & expensive
• Control programme essential – veterinary

infrastructure - using validated laboratory tests

• Causes abortion and reduced milk production:

economic/human impact

• Easily transmitted to humans causing potentially debilitating illness
• Potential BW agent - reportedly weaponised historically by several

states

Hoover, D. L. & Friedlander, A. M. Brucellosis. In Textbook of Military Medicine: Medical Aspects of Chemical and Biological Warfare

Why PVCI?

• Previous collaboration with UK group
• Brucellosis endemic area
• Experienced scientists - required specific training
• Build on existing capacity to work towards OIE

stipulations

• Enhancing quality, biosafety & biosecurity
• Benefits for both institutes and ultimately global disease

awareness

Project Objectives

Enhance the diagnostic capability of PVCI:

• Training in new methods/oversight of existing

methods

• Prepare diagnostic standards according to OIE
• To apply molecular techniques to obtain more details
• n epidemiological situation
• Initiate a collection of material from infected animals

for research and test validation

• Ensure harmonisation of testing between PVCI &

AHVLA and introduce proficiency testing

Summary of Outputs

• Database of samples
• Turkish National Standards and reagents complying to OIE

Standards in large volumes

• Harmonisation/ring trials/proficiency (for region and within Turkish

diagnostic labs)

• Raised international profiles – presentations/meeting attendance
• Improved laboratory facility for safe and secure working at BSL3
• Molecular expertise and confidence
• Application for Turkish Commercial funding
• Future collaboration for both Institutes

Regional Workshop

Post twinning workshop hosted by PVCI:

• Representatives from 11 states across Middle East and Central Asia.
• Delegates from OIE, WHO, FAO and GP.

Aims:

• To promote PVCI as a regional centre of expertise
• To better understand regional brucellosis situation
• To discuss regional approaches to surveillance

and control Recommendations included:

• PVCI and AHVLA working together to implement regional proficiency

testing (going ahead)

• Approaches to surveillance/control should be harmonised across region
• Acknowledging success - countries to consider requesting OIE Twinning

Sustainable Project Benefits for both

For Turkey:

• Scientists competent in internationally approved methods
• Accurate diagnosis of a disease of animal and public health concern
• Ability to reach out to organise proficiency testing – audits – ring trials
• Increased engagement with international scientific community
• Joint research opportunities (both)
• Working towards more regional engagement and OIE Reference

Laboratory status

For UK:

• Increased awareness of international disease situation
• Access to material for maintenance of competence, test validation and

research

• Career development opportunities for AHVLA scientists -

communication, decision making, development of expertise etc.

Summary: Relevance to BTWC

• Example of contribution to fulfilling Article X obligations.

– Capacity building for detecting, reporting and responding to infectious disease

• utbreaks.

– Twinning programmes to develop human resources. Laboratory Twinning is an excellent platform for strengthening cooperation and assistance between States Parties.

• Such projects also reduce vulnerabilities and strengthen the Convention by:

– Improving mechanisms for detecting, reporting and responding to outbreaks. – Enhancing biosafety and biosecurity. – Strengthening existing international organisations and networks working on infectious disease. – Promoting transparency and peaceful use of dual-use skills and knowledge.

Further information:

Judy Stack, AHVLA judy.stack@ahvla.gsi.gov.uk Dr Sevil Erdenlig, PVCI sevilerdenlig@yahoo.com

OIE Reference Laboratory for Brucellosis