Medycyna Wet. 64 (4), 409-413, 2008
| Maciulskis P., Lukauskas K., Sederevicius A., Pridotkas G., Kiudulas V., Pockevicius A., Jonaitis E. |
| Analysis of BSE monitoring system in Lithuania |
| Lithuania has been strengthening its BSE monitoring program since July 2001. A total of 264,268 cattle were examined during the period of 2001-2006. No BSE positive case was found. A total of 93.1% of healthy slaughtered cattle, 6.3% of fallen stock, 0.4% of emergency slaughtered cattle and 0.2% of cattle with clinical signs were tested at ante mortem inspection. The number of tested adult cattle has increased 4.5 times from 4.17% in 2001 to 18.88% in 2006. 2.41% adult cattle were tested in 2002, 1.97% in 2003, 10.59 % in 2004 and 18.92% in 2005. The number of tested healthy slaughtered adult cattle has increased 4 times from 4.09% in 2001 to 17.41% in 2006. 2.11% of healthy slaughtered adult cattle were tested in 2002, 1.5% in 2003, 9.96% in 2004 and 17.66% in 2005. The number of tested risk group adult cattle has increased 18 times from 0.08% in 2001 to 1.47% in 2006. 0.3% of risk group of adult cattle were tested in 2002, 0.47% in 2003, 0.63% in 2004 and 0.96% in 2005. 94.3% of all tested cattle were from 2 to 11 years old, 0.1% of them were less than 2 years old, 3.0% were 12 years old and 2.6% were 13 years old and more. 54.3% of all tested cattle were more than 5 years old. A total of 53.9% of healthy slaughtered cattle, 59.0% of fallen stock, 61.9% emergency slaughtered cattle and 62.6% of cattle with clinical signs at ante mortem inspection were more than 5 years old. Significant correlation was found between the age of healthy slaughtered cattle and emergency slaughtered cattle and cattle with clinical signs at ante mortem inspection (P < 0.05). There was no correlation between the age of fallen stock and healthy slaughtered cattle. The mean age of healthy slaughtered cattle was 6.5 years and the mean age of fallen stock was 6.7 years in 2005. Enfer TSE and Bio-Rad rapid tests were applied for BSE monitoring. Inconclusive test results were subjected to histopathological and immunocytochemical examination |
| Keywords: BSE, monitoring, descriptive analysis |