Published Date: 2001-12-24 23:50:00
Subject: PRO/AH> BSE - Denmark: source
Archive Number: 20011224.3108
BSE - DENMARK: SOURCE
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See Also
BSE - Denmark (02) 20010817.1952BSE - Japan: source 20011213.3016
Date: 23 Dec 2001
From: ProMED-mail <promed@promedmail.org>
Source: Danish Veterinary and Food Administration, ref ADR/PW/SBR, J no
VAO2 2236-604/01, 21 Dec 2001
Note on suspicion of a milk replacement as possible source of BSE, Denmark
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1. Milk replacements:
The Plant Directorate investigates possible sources of infections from feed
in all BSE positive cases in Denmark and has so far finished detailed
reports on the first 3 cases out of 7 in total.
It appears from the report on the 3rd case that the only feed, which has
been used in all 3 BSE-positive herds, is the milk replacement "Sundkalv"
produced by the firm "Nordmilch EG", Germany, but that contamination with
meat and bone meal (MBM) in other feed products used in the herds cannot be
ruled out.
Sundkalv is made in several varieties and is identical with the products
'Rod Kalvo' and 'Gron Kalvo' and made up approximately half of the share of
the market of milk replacements in Denmark in 1996-1997. The Plant
Directorate is investigating how widespread the use of these milk
replacements has been in the Danish livestock. According to the producer
the products contain fat derived from bones from cattle and swine delivered
from slaughterhouses in several European Union (EU) member states. At the
time of production of the batches of milk replacements that were used in
BSE infected herds, it was not obligatory to remove specified risk material
(SRM) in the slaughterhouses in all EU member states. Therefore there is a
risk that the product might have been contaminated with fat produced from
parts of spinal cord and brain from BSE positive cattle.
The reports from the Plant Directorate on the last 4 cases are not finished
yet, but so far it is evident that the 4th, 5th and 6th case also were fed
the same milk replacement. The Plant Directorate is investigating whether
this milk replacement was used in the 7th case as well.
The Plant Directorate has furthermore made investigations regarding animal
fat in feed allowing up to 0.15 per cent impurities content and has hereby
demonstrated in the fat remnants of protein identical in composition with MBM.
Denmark's BSE reference laboratory, The Danish Veterinary Laboratory (DVL),
is currently conducting a risk evaluation on the use of animal fat as feed
for ruminants and the risk entailed using the milk replacements on the
market in Denmark. The risk evaluation is made with reference to a possible
tightening of the rules concerning production, import, and use of these
feedstuffs. The evaluation takes into account international experiences,
the available scientific literature on the topic, production procedures for
the feedstuff, regulations for removal of SRM, regulations for impurities
content in fat etc.
Furthermore, DVL is working on an epidemiological project regarding the
possible causal association of BSE and milk replacements. If the product in
question has been used by most of the Danish farmers, there is not
necessarily a causal relation between a case of BSE and the use of this
milk replacement on the farm. It is expected that the results of the above
mentioned investigations might be available in mid 2002.
Furthermore reference is made to an article in Deutsche Tierarztliche
Wochenschrift, no 7 from Jul 2001 on feed ingredients, including fat, and
their potential role in the spread of BSE.
2. Meat and bone meal:
With a few exceptions there was a ban on import of MBM to Denmark from 1933
to 1998. The exceptions allowed import of limited quantities from Norway,
Sweden, and Germany.
In 1990, it was forbidden to use MBM of ruminant origin as feed to
ruminants. This feed ban has been tightened several times: on 17 Jan 1997
by a ban on the use of MBM of mammalian origin as feed to ruminants, and on
01 Jan 2001 by a ban on the use of manufactured animal protein (including
MBM) to animals kept, fed, and reared for human consumption.
In addition to the feed bans there was a tightening, in Jan 1997, of the
regulations regarding production of mixed feed to cattle. These were
practical measures, which should prevent MBM -- for example, in swine feed
-- from contaminating cattle feed. In Apr 1997, with effect from 10 May, a
regulation was put into force regarding the rendering of MBM by pressure
sterilization (133 degrees C for 20 minutes by 3 Bar pressure).
From the reports on the first 3 BSE cases made by the Plant Directorate,
it appears that cross contamination with MBM cannot be ruled out as a
possible source of infection.
Denmark has so far had 7 cases of BSE in cattle born in Denmark. The 3rd
and 7th cases were born on 08 Feb 1997 and 23 May 1998, respectively, after
the ban on the use of mammalian MBM to ruminants was put into force.
3. Conclusions:
The following possibilities for infection with BSE cannot be ruled out with
regard to the first 7 cases of BSE in Denmark:
1. Contamination with MBM -- for example, by legally used swine -- and
poultry feed on the farms or feed mixing systems as well as cross
contamination due to the use of feed transport vehicles not properly cleaned.
2. Animal fat in feed for cattle -- for example, in milk replacements for
calves.
Further conclusions may evolve from the completion of the risk evaluation
made by the DVL, the epidemiological survey, and the investigations made by
the Plant Directorate.
--
ProMED-mail
<promed@promedmail.org>
[The appearance of BSE in Denmark, a country which officially banned the
import of MBMs since 1933, is of particular interest. According to the
Danish data <http://www.vfd.dk/java_enab/f_uk.html>, Denmark has carried
out 255 951 BSE tests from Jan to Nov 2001, including 17 836 in fallen
stock (2 positive); 1682 in emergency slaughtered bovines (all negative);
232 167 tests in healthy slaughtered bovines (3 BSE positive); and 12 tests
in clinically suspected cases (1 positive).
The presented Danish notes, kindly forwarded to ProMED by the Danish
Veterinary and Food Administration, are valuable also for the assessment of
BSE cases in countries which have been regarded, until recently, to have a
low risk status and for the evaluation of possible BSE cases appearing in
additional countries of the same Geographic BSE Risk (GBR) status. Though
not (yet) conclusive, the Danish notes are highlighting again the
significant role which cross contamination in EU slaughterhouses has played
in the dissemination of BSE by means of infected feed, with special
emphasis upon the possible involvement of fat included in milk
replacements. The reader may recollect the Japanese publications,
circulated by ProMED on 12 Dec 2001, reporting that all 3 Holstein cows,
recently found BSE positive there, had consumed a milk replacement (in this
case -- according to the media -- the included animal fat was produced in
the Netherlands).
Similar investigations in other countries which have been previously
regarded as belonging to GBR of "category II", namely where "BSE is
unlikely but it cannot be excluded that cattle is infected (clinical or
sub-clinical) with the BSE agent" are highly desirable. Such countries as
Finland and Austria might add missing links and enable reaching final
conclusions related to the potential role of milk replacements in the
recent, current, or potential future spread of BSE. - Mod.AS
...........................as/sh
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