L. Comtet - A pan-serotype solid phase blocking ELISA prototype by European Commission for the Control of FMD

Ready-to-use solid phase blocking Elisa kits for detection of specific antibodies to FMDV serotypes O, A, Asia1

We describe the performances of a new Solid Phase Blocking ELISA (SPBE). The ID Screen® FMD Type Asia1 Competition ELISA (cELISA) specifically detects FMDV Asia1 serotype-specific antibodies in serum or plasma from cattle, swine or any other susceptible species.

Test specificity was evaluated by testing 1672 samples coming from non-vaccinating and non-endemic areas including 352 small ruminants, 704 swine and 616 cattle. Measured specificity of the ID Screen® cELISA was 100% (CI95% = 99.77 % - 100 %), regardless of the species tested.

Analytical sensitivity was assessed by comparison with two others commercially available SPBE cELISAs, by testing 7 samples from experimentally vaccinated animals and 11 samples from vaccinated animals in endemic area. Results indicated a globally comparable analytical sensitivity, regardless of the kit tested.

Exclusivity was tested with the IAEA serum panel from infected cattle (FAO/IAEA), that includes sera against the 6 FMDV serotypes. The ID Screen® cELISA correctly identified as positive only the Asia1 antiserum, whereas all the antiserum from other serotypes from this panel were found negative.

When comparing the results with other kits, the ID Screen® cELISA also showed an improved discriminatory capacity between infected/vaccinated and naïve/negative samples.

Kit stability was tested by accelerated ageing. All components were stable enough to allow shipment without room temperature control, like all other kits from the ID Screen® range.

The new ID Screen® FMD type Asia1 Competition ELISA demonstrates excellent performance. It allows for serotype-specific antibody detection to FMDV serotype Asia 1. The kit is particularly user-friendly: all reagents are ready-to-use and very stable. Results are obtained in 2h15. With the ID Screen® FMD Type O, type A and Type Asia 1 Competition ELISAs, IDvet now offers a complete and full range for the serotype-specific antibody detection of FMDV serotype O, A and Asia 1 respectively.

Carpentier, Alix1 ; Donnet, Fabien1 ; Roche, Mickaël ; Comtet, Loïc1 ; Pourquier, Philippe 1

IDvet, 310 rue Louis Pasteur, 34790 GRABELS, France

EuFMD Open Session
www.eufmdvirtual.com

A new pan FMDV das antigen Elisa using multi-serotype reactive monoclonal antibodies

The wide range of hosts, rapid replication, high levels of viral excretion and multiple forms of transmission make FMD difficult to control and eradicate. As FMD can spread fast, rapid and specific identification of the agent is required, as FMD is clinically indistinguishable from other vesicular diseases such as vesicular stomatitis (VS) and swine vesicular disease (SVD).

In this study, we describe the preliminary performance evaluation of a Double Antibody Sandwich (DAS) ELISA for FMDV detection.

Reactivity profile of different panFMD Mabs was investigated by indirect ELISAs. The Mabs that showed the wider spectrum of recognition were selected and submitted to further testing for their ability to capture and reveal the different virus strains in DAS ELISA format.

Inclusivity was assessed by testing different serotypes including O, A, Asia1, SAT1 and SAT2. The analytical sensitivity was evaluated by testing serial dilutions of these viruses. Results obtained with the new panFMDV DAS ELISA were compared to commercially available techniques: a Mab –based ELISA kit produced by reference laboratories and a lateral flow device test based on the well described 1F10 Mab.

The new panFMDV DAS ELISA was able to detect all strains tested. SVD virus was not detected. Interestingly, SAT1 and SAT2 strains were very well detected, whereas a very low signal was observed with the other DAS ELISA. The new panFMDV DAS ELISA showed an improvement in analytical sensitivity (up to 10-fold) compared to the other techniques, and seemed to have a wider spectrum of detection.

Further testing on more strains is ongoing to better characterize the Mabs recognition pattern and the usefulness of their use in viral detection tests. This new panFMD DAS ELISA allows for rapid and specific FMDV detection. It could be a useful tool for detecting and controlling FMDV outbreaks.

Comtet, Loïc1 ; Carpentier, Alix1 ; Donnet, Fabien1 ; Roche, Mickaël1 ; Pourquier, Philippe 1

IDVET, 310 rue Louis Pasteur, 34790 GRABELS, France

EuFMD Open Session
www.eufmdvirtual.com

F. Reviriego - Improving business continuity in the EU - the regulatory and policy challenges by European Commission for the Control of FMD

FMD serological blocking ELISA based on VHH for post-vaccination monitoring

Continuity of Business during Transboundary Animal Diseases – Lessons Learned from California’s Implementation of the Secure Food Supply Program

Abstract
Food-and-mouth disease And Similar Transboundary (FAST) animal diseases are a constant threat to the European livestock sector. They do not only cause large animal health and welfare problems, they are also disruptive for private partners of the livestock production value chain, as well as for public authorities and institutions involved. Successful prevention and control of FAST diseases requires the involvement and collaboration of private and public partners.

A group of 8 European organisations - representing farmers, breeders, traders, feed producers, renderers and the animal health sector - supported by EuFMD, has set up a platform against FAST diseases. The platform seeks communication and collaboration with public partners in a Public-Private-Partnership, and listed items for debate including:
reconsidering criteria for application of emergency vaccination and creating a lever for keeping vaccinated animals in the food chain;
incentivising biosecurity on farms for preventing FAST diseases;
capacity on farms, in test laboratories, on rendering plants, etc. in the face of FAST disease outbreaks;
biosecurity management in the feed chain.

This initiative is well in line with EuFMD Workplans Phase V 2019 – 2021, which aims to establish Public and Private Sector Platforms (PPSP) for FAST diseases. With the support of EuFMD, the private stakeholders wish to invite their public stakeholders’ partners and academia to a series of workshops and simulation exercises that addresses specific aspects of FAST disease prevention and control.

Abstract
The current pandemic of African Swine Fever (ASF) has caused major losses to the swine industry worldwide. Compartmentalization is one of the available tools to address the threat to business continuity posed by ASF to the industry. Although compartments have been implemented for various diseases and production types, no ASF-free swine compartment has been published by OIE to date.
First, we outline the advantages of the approach as well as general challenges for implementation of an ASF-free swine compartment. ASF risk management ranges from prevention, preparedness and early detection activities in disease-free territories to response and eradication after disease introduction has occurred. We discuss the role for zoning and compartmentalisation within this spectrum and specific challenges associated with compartmentalisation (e.g., zero downtime, acceptance by the Veterinary Authority and trading partners).
Then, we discuss two aspects of compartmentalization which are central for successful implementation: biosecurity and disease surveillance, using an illustrative example from North America. Both components are designed to provide evidence that compartment products are free from ASF virus. Biosecurity should be sufficient to mitigate the risk of introduction of virus via all potential routes such as people, fomites, live pigs, pork products and proximity pathways. Implementation of biosecurity measures should be thoroughly documented and auditable. Options for disease surveillance include barn-based observational surveillance, which is able to both support early detection and demonstrate freedom from ASF.
Last, we discuss the relevant stakeholders, roles and responsibilities involved in the development of an effective national ASF compartmentalisation programme. Such programme should include a governance structure, standards for biosecurity, surveillance and traceability, auditing requirements and national ASF surveillance. While integrated swine production systems lend themselves well to compartmentalization, substantial work is required to develop such a programme. Benefits go beyond ASF preparedness,

G. Savioli Et Al. - A methodology to estimate indirect costs by European Commission for the Control of FMD

Introduction
Scoping work was carried out to gather information on the state of preparedness for emergency vaccination for FAST diseases in EuFMD Member Nations (MN); and on the issues that constrain them from inclusion of vaccination in their plans. Different aspects of emergency vaccination were investigated including vaccination strategies, access to vaccines and operational preparedness. The scope of the work was category 1 FAST diseases which is Foot- and- Mouth Disease (FMD), Lumpy Skin Disease (LSD), Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR) and Sheep and Goat Pox (SGP).

Materials and methods
An online questionnaire was sent out to 39 EuFMD member nations plus three additional European countries. The online tool SurveyMonkey® was used and the data was analysed using R. The questionnaire was aimed at risk managers/ contingency planners.

Results
The response rate was 15 out of 42 countries. Some examples of preliminary key findings were that the level of planning for emergency vaccination is higher for FMD than PPR and SGP, many of the responding countries rely on the EU bank with no other arrangements to source vaccines, not all countries have a system to perform a rapid evaluation and approval of vaccines for emergency use, a relative high number of member nations would choose a vaccinate-to-cull strategy over a vaccinate-to-live strategy for FMD and over 50% of countries have an exit plan for FMD but only one country has stated they have an exit plan for PPR or SGP.

Discussion
The questionnaire result will be followed up by semi-structured group interviews with EuFMD MNs risk managers/ contingency planners to validate the results and to capture more detailed information on the gaps and needs in MNs.

B Sanz-Bernardo1 & M Grant2
1 The Pirbright Institute
2The European Commission for the Control of Foot-and-Mouth Disease (EuFMD)