APPLICATION OF NUCLEAR TECHNIQUE IN ANIMAL DISEASE SURVEILLANCE AT NATIONAL VETERINARY RESEARCH INSTITUTE,

VOM NIGERIA

LAZARUS, D. D*.; FASINA, F. O.; MESEKO, C. A.; ULARAMU, G. H.; WOMA, T. Y.; JOANNIS, T. M.; IBRAHIM, G. A.; SHAMAKI, D.; AHMED, M. S.

NATIONAL WORKSHOP ON THE REVIEW OF THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE NATIONAL ENERGY MASTERPLAN IN THE NUCLEAR SECTOR, 1-2 NOVEMBER, 2010

Background History of NVRI

• NVRI-established as a Vet. Dept. in Zaria, 1913.

• conducting livestock Census• disease surveys• controlling disease by isolation & quarantine• It was relocated to Vom in 1924 as a Vet. Lab.• In the same year, the first biological was

produced to control rinderpest outbreaks.

Background History of NVRI

• By the production of the first anti-rinderpest serum in 1924, it became a pioneer Institute in W. African sub-region in the production of a wide range of vaccines.

• Up to 1972, apart from meeting the local demand, the Institute also supplied vaccines to all the Anglo-phone countries in the sub-region.

Mandate

• To conduct research into all aspects of animal diseases, their treatments and controls.

• To develop and produce animal vaccines, sera and biologicals to meet national demand.

• To provide surveillance and diagnosis for animal diseases.

• To introduce exotic stock for improved egg, meat and milk production.

Mandate

• To provide extension services to poultry and livestock farmers.

• To train intermediate manpower in Veterinary Laboratory Technology and Animal Health and Production Technology.

Introduction

• The early, rapid and sensitive diagnosis of infectious animal diseases is a high priority to ensure food security.

• Most of the modern biotechnologies rely on nuclear inputs, either in their development or their implementation phase.

Introduction

• Nuclear, nuclear associated/related techniques, including ELISA, PCR and nucleic acid sequencing, ensure that these food security priorities are met.

• Recently developed real time PCR tests for most TADs now enable specific identification of the organisms.

Introduction

• There is an advantage in providing diagnostic results at the pen side, to enable immediate decision on appropriate control measures.

• Radiation inactivation is another technique that has enormous potential for producing vaccines against pathogens that have so far proved intractable and in finding methods to protect against infections.

Introduction

• The IAEA has produced and validated ELISA kits that are now in use for diagnostic purpose.

• Rinderpest• FMD• ND• Brucellosis• Trypanosomosis

Application

• The use of isotope related techniques in disease management:

• Diagnoses• Epidemiological studies• Sero-monitoring to verify vaccination coverage• Surveillance to monitor outbreaks• Epidemiological surveys to declare freedom of

disease

Application

• Rinderpest is today eradicated worldwide through combinations of nuclear techniques (ELISA) and epidemiological surveys.

• Nigeria was involved in this exercise for over 5-years leading to the declaration freedom from Rinderpest disease status for Nigeria early this year (May, 2010).

• The Avian Influenza outbreak that struck Nigeria was controlled through targeted surveillance across the country including the use of nuclear techniques (ELISA and PCRs).

Application

• The Institute was keenly involved in national surveillance especially at the laboratory levels for the declaration of freedom from rinderpest.

• Over 6000 samples were collected from both domestic animals and the wildlife and analyzed for antibodies to rinderpest.

• Since the ASF outbreak in 1997, the Institute has applied ELISA and Immunoblotting as a routine tool in diagnoses and surveillance.

Application

• For AI, ND and other avian viruses similar techniques are in use for their diagnoses and control.

• For FMD, both solid and liquid phase ELISA technique are in application for diagnoses.

• Similarly, for PPR, both competitive and immunocapture ELISA.

Indirect ELISA plate for ASF

M LN PT C- C+

Phylogenetic analysis of Asian and African strains of rinderpest based on sequence data derived from fusion protein gene

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Discussion

• The development of nuclear techniques by several organizations has helped in the control and eradication of infectious animal diseases globally.

• This has also contributed to the understanding of the epidemiology of many diseases.

• Diseases like rinderpest that have posed threat to the livestock industry have been eradicated by the application of these techniques through prompt diagnoses and surveillance.

Discussion

• Using such techniques early and rapid diagnosis of TADs have helped to achieve success in disease control.

• The rapid, sensitive and specific detection of disease nucleic acids using molecular technologies (RT-PCR, PCR sequencing) and use of isotopes to label or trace virus nucleic acid or proteins have come with tremendous success.

Discussion

• The application of these techniques in disease diagnoses and surveillance has achieved success in the control and eradication of many of the prevalent livestock diseases.

• This has improve livestock production and food security. It has also empowered farmers economically.

• The application of nuclear technique has come to stay in animal disease surveillance.

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