The Deer Initiative

South West Region News

News update from Norman Healy , South West England Deer Liaison Officer

Welcome!

The disease surveillance issues are to the fore with updates on Blood sampling and Bluetongue as well as our normal deer management issues. I haven't included a specific DMG section in this update, I will report on them in the autumn after the pre-season meetings.

I hope you find the contents of this edition interesting, if you have a topic that you would like more information or passed on (deer related!) through these pages please let me know.

Disease surveillance

Quantification of the role of UK deer in the epidemiology of arthropod-borne infections

Research into the prevalence of tick-borne diseases carried by deer has been undertaken by three academic institutions University College London, Liverpool University and the Veterinary Laboratories Agency to try and coordinate a number of research projects that have been proposed to maximise the results from the minimum number of samples, The scientists have agreed to share the samples which will preclude having to do the same exercise 3 times, the sampling phase started in April.

A project brief by Dr Silvia Alonso, Royal Veterinary College.

Background

In the light of the current increased interest in the understanding of the epidemiology of vector-borne diseases in the UK and in Europe in general, it has become essential to investigate the role that different wildlife species present in the country may have in disease dynamics.

The medical and veterinary importance of diseases transmitted with vectors in the UK, and in Europe in general, appears to be rising. Of particular concern are infections transmitted by ticks or midges. A recent national survey, aimed at documenting the popular view of landowners, farmers, gamekeepers and the general public in the UK that ticks have increased in abundance and distribution over recent years, confirmed these suspicions, and concluded that one of the key correlates with these rises was the well-documented increase in abundance and range of the deer population. That these two parameters are linked is unsurprising since deer have long been considered one of the most important hosts for Ixodes ricinus , the most common tick species in the UK. Ixodes ricinus is the vector of a number of infectious agents including Borrelia burgdorferi , the agent of Lyme disease, Anaplasma phagocytophilum , the agent of tick-borne or pasture fever, Babesia divergens , the agent of redwater fever, and louping ill virus. However, the exposure and susceptibility of deer to these infections, and the frequency of disease transmission from deer to livestock and humans is still unclear and has not been rigorously tested. The exposure and susceptibility of deer to bluetongue, a midge-borne viral infection, is also unknown. This, and the shortfalls discussed above may have significant implications for disease control in the UK.

Research proposal

In the light of these gaps in appropriate knowledge of the role of deer in the transmission of these important diseases, a common project proposal was prepared by researchers in three main research institutions in the UK:

• Dr Silvia Alonso, Royal Veterinary College

The role of wild deer in Lyme disease emergence in the UK

• Dr Richard Birtles, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Liverpool

Quantifying the role of deer in tick-borne fever and red water fever transmission in the UK

• Dr Chris Oura, Institute for Animal Health, Pirbright

Assessing exposure to bluetongue virus among the UK deer population

A proposal was submitted to the British Deer Society in December 2008 to obtain financial support for collection of approx 1,000 samples from deer across the country. This joint proposal aims to assembling an archive of clinical material collected from the UK deer population in a structured way from, in the first instance, January 2009 until September 2009. This archive will be shared among co-investigators (and other interested parties) as a resource for the epidemiological investigation of specific infections.

BDS supported the proposal and contributed £4,000 to cover the expenses derived from sampling.

Sampling strategy

Members of the Forestry Commission across England and Wales, and a number of BDS members, have agreed to coordinate and carry out the collection of blood samples and ticks from deer in the context of the annual culling of these animals. To date, the analysis of samples has not yet started in any of the research institutions. But it is expected to start by the end of summer 2009, when sample collection may have finished ( this has now been extended to the end of the 09/10 doe/hind season ). It is expected to collect a total of over 1,000 blood samples.

Bluetongue virus

Situation update by the Bluetongue core group

BTV8 in the UK

The situation in the UK has remained static since the last confirmed premise for BTV-8 (an imported case) was detected on 14 November 2008. In summary:

•  149 confirmed premises affected by BTV-8 in England and Wales to date, since the first case of BTV-8 was confirmed in September 2007.

•  During 2008 we received 10 confirmed BTV8 positive consignments in England arising from imported cattle or sheep from mainland Europe; these were detected through post ­import testing for all serotypes. These animals were moved to UK legally.

•  During 2009 over 3700 animals have been imported from Europe, predominately from Germany and the Netherlands, since 1 April these have been double post-import tested, with no confirmed positive results so far. No further domestic cases of BTV8 have been detected

•  The whole of GB remains in a Protection Zone for BTV8 which means that moves are permitted from confluent BTV8 zones, and that a domestic BTV8 positive animal found here would be allowed to live and to move freely across GB.

European situation

•  Defra continues to work closely with the European Commission and other Member States to keep abreast of the current situation on the continent. Evidence suggests that there have been a handful of BTV8 and BTV1 cases so far during 2009. However it is still early in the season and we could see further cases later in the year.

•  BTV -1 planning at present, the threat of BTV-1 incursions from Europe remains low, although there is great uncertainty about the disease situation.

•  The Core Group have been considering with Defra what the preferred options would be should BTV1 arrive, and whether any preventative action would be feasible and justifiable.

•  Defra have conducted economic cost benefit analysis, underpinned by epidemiological modelling, which has supported a clear conclusion that the costs of putting in place a pre-emptive lower risk zone to allow vaccination for BTV1 before disease arrives would far outweigh the benefits in terms of disease reduction at present. The UK will therefore not be putting in place a `Blue Zone' for BTV1 for now.

•  Any incursion of BTV1 found during 2009 would be dealt with proportionately, following guidance in our control strategy (which includes implementation of zones, movement controls and a vaccination programme). However, the core group will work closely with Defra and other experts to ensure that the time of year, location of incursion as well economic impacts of any control measures on the industry are taken into account to minimise impacts on industry.

•  We continue in our discussions with vaccine manufacturers and the VMD regarding authorisations of BTV1 vaccines so that we are prepared should BTV1 arrive in the UK.

•  Vaccination is only allowed within a protection zone for that serotype. Vaccination for BTV1 is currently illegal in the UK (except in Jersey and the bailiwick of Guernsey as these Channel Islands have already declared themselves in a Protection Zone for BTV1 due to their proximity to France)

Actions to be taken

BTV8 vaccination

•  Vaccination played a role in keeping us free from circulating disease last year, and it is vital that livestock keepers continue to vaccinate to protect their stock against BTV8.

•  We remain at risk of disease from Continental Europe, or re-emergence of disease in the UK, and if adequate vaccination levels are not reached this year disease will spread through midges to unvaccinated animals if it is present.

•  Sales data from the supply chain suggests 5.46 million doses of Government underwritten vaccine have been sold this year. Stocks of Government BTV8 vaccine (Menial 100ml bottles) will be available at their reduced rate until the end of August when the last batches reach their expiry dates. No further Government vaccine will be available after this time. You can order vaccine via your veterinarian, from any of the three manufacturers licensed to supply (Fort Dodge, Intervet and Merial)

Imports

•  It remains our policy, as outlined in our Control Strategy, to take proportionate action against animals infected with serotypes of bluetongue. Any new cases will be considered on a case by case basis, taking into account factors such as time of year, levels of infection in the animals and evidence from epidemiological investigations.

•  Defra continues to post-import test all bluetongue susceptible animals arriving in the UK. As from the 1 April 2009 these animals will be tested twice. The first test will take place between 1-3 days and the second test will take place 7 days after the first test. This enables us to detect infection as soon as an animal is imported and then 7 days later when infection that may not have been apparent on import is starting to show.

•  With the threat of possible infection from other imported serotypes, double testing ensures that we have a robust post import risk management policy that assures us that we are able to detect BTV positive imports as quickly as practicable.

We urge industry to consider the risks and check the health and vaccination status of animals when sourcing susceptible animals from abroad.

Vigilance

•  There has been a drop in the number of suspect cases being reported compared to this time last year. We are approaching the peak of the midge season and farmers should not become complacent about the risk of bluetongue.

•  We strongly encourage all livestock farmers to remain vigilant and report any clinical signs of disease. Even those who have already vaccinated against BTV8 need to remain vigilant: BTV is on the move in Europe, and we need to be on our guard against both BTV8 but also new serotypes.

•  There is a legal requirement for livestock holders to report all cases of bluetongue infection on their premises. This reporting requirement is crucial to enable Defra to detect disease and any new midge-transmission from the continent or re-emergence of disease.

Forward look

•  Later in the year, once the midge season is over, Defra and the Devolved Administrations intend to carry out GB wide cross-sectional surveillance for all BTV serotypes. This will enable us to get a clearer picture of the BTV8 disease situation, and enable us to detect any potential incursion of new serotypes.

•  Defra will also be working with the European Commission in the later part of this year to ensure that the legislation remains appropriate and proportionate. This will help to inform our bluetongue policy for 2010 and beyond. The DI will continue to work alongside Defra to ensure industry views are taken into account in policy development and delivery, and keep industry fully aware of future developments on Bluetongue to make sure that we are prepared for any future outbreaks and scenarios,

Deer Managers are reminded to remain vigilant over the summer months and report any suspicion of disease to their local Animal Health Office.

Best Practice Guides (England and Wales)

Keep checking our Best Practice page as new guides are frequently published.  The guides are ‘live' documents soif you have comments on any of the published guides please let us know.

Amendments to the Hunters Exemption in the Wild Game Guide

The following amendments have been received from the Food Standards Agency

Hunters and Hunter Exemption

For the purposes of the food hygiene regulations, hunters are people who shoot alone or are active members of a hunting party (includes non-shooting gamekeepers, ghillies, beaters and pickers-up, but not mere spectators).

The Hunter Exemption

The hunter exemption recognises the close relationship between the producer and the consumer. It is separate from the primary producer exemption and allows you to supply wild game meat . You can benefit from this exemption if you shoot alone or if you take an active part in a hunting party.

Members of hunting parties and individual hunters are exempt from :

•  having to develop their premises into an approved game handling establishment (AGHE). All game must have been shot by hunting party members (it cannot be sourced from others) and can be prepared into meat by any one (or more) of the party. As with the primary producer exemption , only small quantities may be supplied, either direct to the final consumer or to local retailers that directly supply the meat to final consumers (but not to retail outlets that only supply other retailers).

It is the premises where you prepare meat that have to be local to the retailers you plan to supply and not the place(s) where you shoot. So you can shoot on other people's estates and then bring the game back to your own premises.

The hunter exemption does not exempt you from :

•  being considered as a food business operator;

•  registration of food businesses , traceability , FBOs' responsibilities , HACCP , maintaining the cold chain and the probable need to provide a chiller (see game larders , including temperature controls);

•  requirements for hygienic transport including maintaining the cold chain (both for the in-fur/in-feather game you bring from the shooting area and for the meat you deliver to final consumers/retailers).

The structural and operational hygiene requirements for the premises that you use cover both the way you store primary products (in-fur and in-feather game) and the way you prepare food from them. If a private dwelling house or temporary/movable premises are to be used, then some of the general requirements are adapted.

Estates

•  Where an estate organises shooting, only those who play an active part in the shoot are entitled to the hunter exemption for preparing game meat. Onlookers would be excluded from this category, but non-shooting gamekeepers, stalkers/ghillies or those responsible for gundogs, as beaters, for picking up, etc would be included in this category. So any of these people could be responsible for preparing game meat from carcases back at the designated premises because they were members of the hunting party.

•  If an estate wishes to use its facilities to prepare game meat from game shot or purchased from elsewhere then it must become an approved game handling establishment (AGHE) . Please also see the note on the proposed UK Pilot Project on varying veterinary controls at certain AGHEs.

More details and the full guide can be found here on the Food Standards Agency website.

Deer Management Groups

The last quarter has been the quiet period for most groups but now we are moving into the autumn round of meetings.

I have had interesting meetings with a few DMGs recently discussing their various management issues including impact assessments, thermal imaging, best practice and disease implications as well as the best use of resources.

I always try to attend as many group meetings as I can, if a group would like me to talk to their group about current deer management issues or training matters please contact me.

Best Practice

Keep checking the Best Practice page on the DI website to see which new guides have been published.  If you have comments on any of the published guides please contact Head Office.

Background

Wild deer management and issues arising from the presence of deer encompass a wide range of sometimes highly technical or involved subjects. It can be difficult for even experienced deer practitioners to keep abreast of developments.

The purpose of the Best Practice project is to provide a single source of information to help make practitioners aware of:

• the aims of deer related tasks, and procedures for carrying them out effectively or better, based on best current information
• the procedures that are required to safeguard personal and public safety and animal welfare
• legal requirements

The guides should help practitioners to feel that when following the guidance they are acting humanely, responsibly and effectively, carrying out their activities in a rational and considered way based on the best current information. The guides are compatible with the Deer Commission for Scotland Best Practice guides, are designed to support the Deer Stalking Certificate levels 1 and 2 and to reflect the National Occupational Standards where applicable.