Campylobacter work at the UK Veterinary Laboratories Agency Monique Toszeghy CRL Workshop for Campylobacter SVA, Uppsala, Sweden 24 th October 2006
History of VLA 1894 - a forerunner to the Central Veterinary Laboratory (CVL) was set up in a basement in Whitehall to counter swine fever 1917 - Addlestone Institute was opened 1922 - Veterinary Investigation Service (VIS) established 1946 - VIS incorporated into MAFF
Veterinary Laboratories Agency (VLA) VLA is an Executive Agency of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra( Defra) 85% of the work carried out by the agency is funded by Defra Other customers FSA Veterinary Medicines Directorate EU Commercial
Regional Laboratories Specialisms Molecular Testing Salmonella Testing Clinical Chemistry TSE Research, Pathology & Laboratory Testing TSE Histopathology Feed Testing Serology Proficiency Testing Antimicrobial Sensitivity Parasitology Testing TSE Tuberculosis Anaerobic Bacteriology Research & Laboratory Testing
MISSION STATEMENT We safeguard public and animal health through world class veterinary research and surveillance
VLA Work Areas Food and Environmental Safety consultancy, research and surveillance on food safety issues on farms and their environment Statutory & Exotic Bacterial Diseases supports Defra in the control of notifiable animal diseases of public health and veterinary significance including tuberculosis, brucellosis & mycoplasmosis Emerging Diseases and Welfare to supply high quality information on the disease status of farmed livestock and birds in England and Wales
Statutory and Exotic Viral Diseases provides an early warning system, expert consultancy and diagnostics for exotic viral diseases of animals including rabies, Newcastle disease, avian influenza and classical swine fever. Pet travel scheme Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies VLA s largest science programme, advises Government on all aspects of TSEs with special reference to BSE and Scrapie International Trade provides a comprehensive laboratory testing service and consultancy on a broad range of animal health issues relating to the import and export of animals, feedstuffs and genetic material Commercial Programme provides a high quality and efficient service to both the public and private sectors of the animal health industry
VLA is an International Reference Laboratory for many diseases of farmed livestock World Organisation for Animal Health: Antimicrobial Resistance Avian Influenza Bovine Tuberculosis Bovine Viral Diarrhoea Brucellosis Classical Swine Fever Contagious Equine Metritis Enzootic Bovine Leukosis Equine Viral Arteritis Infectious Bovine Rhinotracheitis World Health Organisation (WHO): Reference and Research on Brucellosis Characterisation of Rabies and Rabies-related Viruses UN Food & Agricultural Organisation: Newcastle Disease Brucellosis Avian Influenza Poultry Diseases United Kingdom National Reference Laboratory: Aujeszky's Disease Enzootic Bovine Leukosis Avian Influenza Equine Encephalomyelitis Brucellosis Equine Infectious Anemia Classical Swine Fever Newcastle Disease Newcastle Disease Salmonellosis Scrapie BSE European Union (EU) Community: Newcastle Disease Avian Influenza TSEs Teschen Disease Enterovirus Encephalomyelitis
Campylobacter work (past and present) Long history of work on campylobacters in humans and animals especially in chickens VLA is a member of MedVetNet Research is mainly funded by Defra,, FSA and EU Collaborators world wide, including Europe and USA Close collaboration with the public health sector Work encompasses Research, Surveillance, Consultancy and Laboratory Testing Service activities
Surveillance and Epidemiology Abattoir surveys (cattle, sheep, pig, broiler) Isolation and identification (UKAS( accredited since 2004): variety of animal species abortion material faecal/caecal caecal / environmental samples Characterisation: biochemical tests molecular typing Fluorescent Antibody Test (statutory( statutory) Antimicrobial sensitivity testing Campynet Molecular subtyping used for epidemiological studies
Research areas past 1 Mechanisms of pathogenicity in humans-looking for virulence factors animal models toxin production CDT invasion of epithelial cells Control and prevention of colonisation in poultry 1 day old chick model developed at VLA, quantitative model colonisation used world wide competitive exclusion immunology defined immune response chicken immunity DNA vaccine maternal immunity
Research areas past 2 Investigating mechanisms of environmental survival molecular subtyping showing genetic instability investigating instability under laboratory defined conditions (stress experiments) in vivo passage in chicks Antimicrobial resistance in vivo models fluoroquinolones
Research areas current 1 OZ0613 Towards risk-based control of Campylobacter: : developing the evidence as using epidemiological and bacteriological approaches Objective 1. Development and validation of methods (quantification/enumeration of Campylobacter in broilers Objective 2. National prevalence survey in broilers Objective 3. Investigation of risk factors associated with thinning and clearance Objective 4. Quantitative risk assessment farm-to consumption model
Research areas current 2 OZ0608 Epidemiological studies and development of practical control measures for Campylobacter in broiler flocks OZ0609 Determining the role of maternal antibodies in the lag phase of Campylobacter jejuni infection in chickens OZ0610 Survival and persistence of campylobacters in poultry farm environments and suggested control measures OZ0614 To develop vaccination approaches to the control of Campylobacter in poultry EU and miscellaneous collaborations