Edi Fero, Arla Juma, Toni Kirandjski, Robert Connor, Xhelil Koleci
Veterinary Directorate of Albania, Institute of Food Safety and Veterinary, PAZA II expert, Veterinary Public Health Department, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Tirana, Albania
* Correspondent author:xhelil.koleci@gmail.com
Abstract
Lezha district was assumed as one of rare district in Albania where bovine brucellosis was not laboratory confirmed. In 2016, a programme that prescribes compulsory screening by bulk milk of all dairy herds with more than 20 animals starts with enforcement. Animals from positive herds on bulk milk should be individually tested and control measures in accordance with Albanian legislation implemented.Positive laboratory result on bovine brucellosis on bulk milk was reported in a farm in village Blinisht in Lezha. The epidemiological investigation revealed that as many as 40 animals were introduced in the farm in September 2015. Abortions in cattle started to occur in December 2015 and continued until September 2016 with a total of 12 abortions. After the positive milk ring test, sera from 49 individual animals were tested using RBPT and confirmed with CFT. Laboratory results on individual animals revealed 30 positive results (60%).
The aim of this study is to describe the active surveillance adopted for the dairy farms in Albania, standard procedures that needs to be adopted for outbreak management and shortcomings identified in this process.
Material and method:The bulk milk sample was collected from the dairy farm and analyzed by milk ring test. Individual animals from milk ring test positive farms were tested by Rose Bengal test and positive results were confirmed by complement fixation test.
Results:The absence of measures after abortions in the period of almost 10 months resulted in very high within herd prevalence. Lack of animal movement control was identified as a source of infection in the Lezha case, and one of the principle way of introduction of Brucella infection in dairy farms in Albania. Control measures applied in the Lezha case were enforced where all positive reactors were slaughtered including cleaning and disinfection of the premises.
Keywords: DiseaseOutbreak, Bovine Brucellosis, Ring Milk Test, Biosecurity, Cleaning and Disinfection.
