Cyprus-Forum.com

[devil]

Scrapie
Scrapie was first detected in Cyprus in 1985. In 1987, a comprehensive control policy was introduced.
Scrapie is a notifiable disease. All sheep and goat flocks are regularly inspected and any suspected cases are
eliminated. The owner is compensated and brain samples are sent for histological examination.
All animals in the affected flocks are ear-tagged and movement is prohibited, except for the slaughter and
destruction of suspected cases and the parents and progeny of confirmed cases. The premises on which
suspected or confirmed cases are found are disinfected using sodium hydroxide on a weekly basis.
The flock is depopulated when the incidence of scrapie is high. Depopulated farm premises are not used for
a period of three years while disinfection continues. Farmers are advised not to restock their premises.
Details of all flocks with confirmed or suspected cases are registered.
Written guidelines for farmers, veterinary, agricultural and extension staff have been distributed. Veterinary
staff, animal husbandry staff and private practitioners have participated in training seminars specifically
organised to improve their knowledge of the disease and their ability to detect the relevant clinical signs.
In 2004, scrapie was confirmed in 97 new flocks, from which 14,804 sheep and 5,310 goats were
confiscated and destroyed. Of the 1,640 sheep and 695 goat brains that were histopathologically examined,
1,039 sheep and 266 goats were found to be positive.
The rapid test was used to examine brain samples from dead, suspect and healthy slaughtered sheep and
goats. A total of 93 dead sheep and 88 dead goats were tested, with the percentage of positive animals
being 25.80% and 14.77%, respectively.
- 2004 - Santé animale mondiale - 2004 - World Animal Health - 2004 - Sanidad Animal Mundial - 2004 -
The percentage of infection in suspect sheep and goats was 25.80% and 11.81%, respectively. The lowest
rate of infection was found in apparently healthy slaughtered sheep and goats since only 47 animals
(7.17%)were found to be positive (32 out of 212 sheep [15.09%]; 15 out of 443 goats [3.38%]).
The above findings clearly indicate that infection is lower in goats than in sheep, especially in the group of
healthy slaughtered animals.
During the same period, the Veterinary Services continued to investigate the PrP gene of Cyprus sheep in
order to detect animals of the resistant genotype ARR/ARR. A total of 6,886 rams were tested of which
1,315 were found to be of the resistant genotype ARR/ARR. Moreover, 15,486 females were also tested of
which 2,328 were found to be of the ARR/ARR genotype. A total of 408 positive cases were genotyped. Of
these, 376 were of the ARQ/ARQ genotype, 11 were of the ARR/ARQ genotype and 21 were of other
genotypes. None of the positive animals was of the ARR/ARR genotype.
Collaboration is continuing with the Agricultural Research Institute to create a flock of animals carrying the
gene giving scrapie resistance. Within this framework, 884 ARR/ARQ and 486 ARR/ARR rams were
incorporated into scrapie-affected flocks.
The implementation of artificial insemination in scrapie-affected flocks with semen from rams with the
resistant genotype continues.

[halil]

Why the ROC government is going to destroy more than one hundred-thousand sheep and goats after the detection of an epidemic disease.

This will increase the meat prices as well.

First I've heard of this. Can you substantiate it?

Wait for a while u will get this information from news papers .
some how they always gives late. İnformation is correct.Trust me.

[Filitsa]

How can we protect ourself from Epidemic disease that discovered at Southern Cyprus.
Are'nt we take precautions at check points.
This disease discovered on sheep and goats . We must be very carefull with meat and milk products of these animals.
The disease known as Epidemic Tremor causes tremors, similar to those in Parkinson's disease.

Come now, Halil, most people are aware that Parkinson's Disease is not communicable. If this "Epidemic Tremor" is similar, then neither is it communicable; therefore, precautions at check points are fruitless, and this thread is silly.

[twinkle]

Cyprus ordered to cull 116k livestock



11/10/2007



The European Commission will look into ways to minimize the impact on Cyprus of the order of the Court of Justice of the European Communities for as many as 116.000 sheep and goats on the island to be culled over scrapie fears.
In response to a question by CNA on the ruling of Court of First Instance, the Representation of the European Commission in Cyprus said “the Commission plans to appeal this order by the Court of First Instance to suspend the application of the regulation pending the final Court judgment”.
In addition, it said, “the Commission will look into ways to minimize the impact of the Court order on Cyprus”.



Cypriot President Tassos Papadopoulos said that if the order of the Court of Justice of the European Communities for the culling of livestock due to scrapies, then surely counter-measures will be made taken.
President Papadopoulos said the decision was taken in relation to France’s appeal against the European Commission.
“The litigants are only these two. The heads of states, the EU members, voted in favour of the directive which did not impose the culling of the animals to the extent that the court decision imposes. France appealed against this directive”, the President said, adding that the Court accepted France’s request.
“Now the Commission has decided to appeal the decision and the issue that remains is whether the decision will be executed or will be suspended in view of the appeal”, the President added.
He clarified that no government can intervene, “neither we are litigants, nor can we appear”.
Asked if some counter-measures can be taken to lessen the effect of the order which calls for the culling of as many as 116.000 sheep and goats in Cyprus, President Papadopoulos replied that “surely, if it is implemented, then counter-measures will be provided. But so many other problems will be created”. He added.
For instance, the President wondered what will happen with the disposal of the carcasses, reminded that now Cyprus has the capacity to dispose 400 tonnes a day “but here we are talking about thousands of carcasses”.
“Where will all these animals go?” he wondered.
President Papadopoulos also said apart from the culling of the animals, there is also an issue of loss of income and loss of profession. Sheep, he said, can be vaccinated under certain circumstances and the government has been trying to do this since 1985 covering a large amount of animals. Not all of them, however. On the other hand, there is no proven scientific method to make goats more resistant to the virus”, he added.
Meanwhile, livestock owners accepted the percentage at CYP2 per head which is allocated to them by the deminimis funds as promised by Agriculture, Natural Resources and the Environment Minister Fotis Fotiou during a meeting on Wednesday.
Vice President of the Coordinating Committee, George Leventis said the livestock owners will also re-outline their demands so that these will comply with the acquis communautaire.



Some of the main issues discussed were the current court ruling as well as other problems facing the profession such as the increase in feed prices and matters concerning subsidy demands.
“The real sticking point, according to the legal services here in Cyprus, is that regardless of this appeal, the implementation of this law must begin and that is a big problem,” said Fotiou.
Over 80,000 goats and 33,000 sheep on 679 farms are affected in Cyprus with the court decision leaving the authorities no choice but to slaughter an estimated 116,000 sheep and goats out of a total population of 430,000 animals. The livestock does not carry the ARR genotype known to be resistant to the disease.
The aim of the EU regulation is to eradicate scrapie from scrapie affected flocks by culling animals that have susceptible genotypes.
The move has spread fear among Cypriot breeders who have warned of financial ruin for their livelihoods if the cull goes ahead.
Cyprus will be the country in the EU most affected by the ruling, as 25% of its sheep and goats will disappear.
Commenting on the health risks of eating meat and dairy products with the scrapie virus, Fotiou said that “there are no dangers from eating the meat from the animals.”
Green Party Deputy George Perdikis accused the government of not taking the necessary measures despite prior warnings from EU official about the issue of scrapie among herds on the island.

Financial Mail 11/10/07