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We belong to the VISAVET Research Centre from the Complutense University of Madrid (UCM). We work in research and teaching on animal infectious diseases.

 

  • Vigiasan: Proyecto de Innovación Empleo de Tecnologías para evaluar el estado de salud, bienestar y productividad en ganado

  • VACDIVA quiere resolver el problema de la Peste Porcina Africana (PPA) en Europa y en los países afectados, desarrollando vacunas seguras y efectivas para cerdos domésticos y jabalíes, tests de diagnóstico y herramientas para estrategias de control y erradicación en Europa
  • Proyecto de Innovación "Empleo de Tecnologías para evaluar el estado de salud, bienestar y productividad en ganado"
  • Somos Laboratorio de Referencia de la Organización Mundial de la Sanidad Animal (OIE) en Peste Porcina Africana (PPA) y Peste Equina Africana PEA.
  • Realizamos el diagnóstico de los principales virus que afectan a las abejas, siendo pioneros en el desarrollo y puesta a punto de nuevas técnicas para su estudio.
  • La investigación epidemiologica de la Peste Porcina Clásica y Africana (PPC y PPA) son dos de nuestras prioridades.

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Spain declared free of serotype 8 of Bluetongue virus

Almudena Sánchez Matamoros & José Manuel Sánchez-Vizcaíno
January 16th, 2013. SUAT-UCM

On 15th January 2013, Spain has proceeded to declared itself free of serotype 8 of bluetongue virus, since the region of Campo de Gibraltar (Cadiz) satisfy the health requirements to achieve this health status. This fact has been achieved through proper control and eradication strategy based on vaccination and control of animal movements.

The serotype 8 of the bluetongue virus appeared for the first time in Spain in January 2008. The system of disease surveillance implemented in Spain allowed the early detection the entry of new serotype, and the implementation of rapid and effective control measures based on vaccination and movement control, achieved a limited spread.

The restriction zones of Spain as of January 2013 are: Canary and Balearic Island are considered free of disease; Spain mainland would be considered restriction zone for serotype 1 and four provinces in southern Spain also have this category for serotype 4.

 

España libre de Lengua Azul
Fig. 6: Bluetongue restriction zones in Spain as of January 2013
Source: Ministerio de Agricultura, Alimentacion y Medio Ambiente (MAGRAMA), 2013

This advance in the fight against BTV relaxes restrictions on exports of cattle, sheep and goats from Spain. Highlight that currently in Europe only the islands of Corsica (France) and Sardinia (Italy) remain as restricted area for serotype 8.

Links: RASVE

Bluetongue situation (December)

The Ministerio de Agricultura, Alimentación y Medio Ambiente has published the "Informe de Situación de Lengua Azul (Diciembre 2012) (Status Bluetongue Report: December 2012)". This  document communicates the epidemiological status of Bluetongue in Spain in December 2012. This date coincides with the month in which Spain is almost entirely vector free period (Overview seasonally vector free periods).

Report explains the evolution of the disease and vaccination programs. It also discussed in-depth the evolution of Bluetongue in Spain during the vector activity period 2011-2012 and the beginning of the 2012-2013 period, as well as the current health situation of neighboring countries. In conclusion the report highlights the favorable epidemiological evolution of the disease in recent years, remarking the importance of appropriate vaccination programs.

Link: 
Zonas estacionalmente libres de vectores

Detection of serotype 14 of bluetongue virus in Baltic states and Poland

Almudena Sánchez Matamoros  & José Manuel Sánchez-Vizcaíno
  November 27th, 2012. SUAT-UCM

In November 2012, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland have informed at the European Commission of the detection of animals positive for bluetongue virus. In addition, Poland has made the virus sequencing obtaining results highly compatible with the serotype 14 of bluetongue virus. Thus, every country has implemented the immobilization of positive farms and epidemiological study (MAGRAMA, 2012).

Furthermore, Russian government reported the detection bluetongue serotype 14 in Belarus and Russia to animals imported from Europe (PROMED, 2012). Note that the last outbreak of bluetongue serotype 14 in Russia was reported in March 2012.

The trade of the Spanish livestock sector influenced by this disease is characterized by historically imported large numbers of live bovine animals, sheep and goats from Poland and Lithuania (Agencia tributaria, DATACOMEX, 2012). Hence, an increase of the control measure at border crossings is essential to prevent the entry of a new serotype of the bluetongue in Spain.

In response, the Ministerio de Agricultura, Alimentación y Medio Ambiente (MAGRAMA) reported to the Veterinary Services of the Autonomous Communities that increase the surveillance in animals susceptible to bluetongue from the Baltic States (Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania) and Poland.

 

Links:
RASVE-MAPAMA
ProMed-mail