AL.121R Evaluation of Australian surveillance for freedom from bovine tuberculosis [Completed]
AL.112R Analysis of laboratory data for general disease surveillance in Australia [Completed]
AL.115F Knowledge into Practice and Policy Workshop II: The Science-Policy Interface 2009 [Completed]
AL.104F Freedom Adoption Forum [Completed]
AL.101S Building national capacity for high throughput diagnostic assays for emergency animal diseases [Completed]
AL.100R Pilot evaluation of a system for validating disease tests
AL.091R International pilot of BOSSS [Completed]
AL.089R Development of web-based epidemiological tools for researchers [Completed]
AL.088F Diagnostics Research Adoption Forum 2008 [Completed]
AL.087R Assessing the capability of eWHIS for managing wildlife biosecurity issues [Completed]
AL.083R SEAFMD Campaign Research Assessment
AL.078F Peri-Urban Pig Surveillance Adoption Forum 2008 [Completed]
AL.076F Arbovirus Adoption Forum 2008 [Completed] A
AL.072S Chikungunya Stakeholder Workshop [Completed]
Cross Sector Knowledge into Practice and Policy Workshop [Completed]
AL.068R Refining real time PCR assays for detecting changing H5N1 strains [Completed]
AL.064R Implementing new assays for avian diseases throughout Australia [Completed]
AL.063R Sustainable availability of new Luminex henipavirus assay [Completed]
AL.062F Henipavirus Research Adoption Forum [Completed]
AL.060R Enhancing adoption of scenario tree modelling for quantification of freedom from disease [Completed]
AL.057R Rapid RNA extraction to improve flu diagnostic tests [Completed]
AL.056R An external review of BOSSS and its role in remote area surveillance [Completed]
AL.053R Validating a new molecular test for Surra [Completed]
AL.038R Trialling BOSSS in rural Queensland [Completed]
AL.037R Boosting capacity for avian influenza diagnostics throughout Australia [Completed]
AL.034R Avian influenza – a guide for future research [Completed]
AL.033R Public health disease risks in northern Australia [Completed]
AL.032R Piloting BOSSS in veterinary practice and the classroom [Completed]
AL.030R Road testing new avian influenza diagnostics in South-East Asia [Completed]
AL.1.007R New SARS test for use in China [Completed]
Surveillance for animal disease provides the basis upon which Australia makes claims about the health status of animal populations. In the context of international trade, claims of freedom from disease may confer a substantial trade advantage. Evidence of freedom from disease may also be important for domestic considerations, for example in justifying a reduction in disease control measures following an eradication campaign. This project analysed abattoir slaughter data using scenario tree modelling to evaluate Australia’s surveillance data for bovine tuberculosis. The analysis shows a very high level of confidence (approaching 100%) that Australia is free of bovine tuberculosis. However, additional surveillance is required for herds not captured by abattoir monitoring (those herds selling mainly for live export) to ensure early detection of cases should the disease be reintroduced.
Full report (PDF; 912KB)
This project analysed nine years of diagnostic data on animal diseases collected by the Animal Health Laboratory at the Department of Agriculture & Food Western Australia. The data was collected using syndrome reporting of clinical (pre-diagnostic) and laboratory (post-diagnostic) information to provide a summary of routine diagnostic activity in Western Australia. This project suggests that syndrome reporting is an effective form of animal disease surveillance when applied to a substantial cumulative database. It has the potential, if applied nationally, to add considerable value to existing forms of animal disease surveillance in the country. A national reporting system would help researchers to study disease status and has the potential for the early detection of disease outbreaks. In particular this applies to new and emerging infectious diseases, indentifying endemic diseases trends and the reasons for ‘no diagnosis’. It would also provide a suite of indices to assess and improve laboratory performance. Livestock organisations, private veterinarians and the Federal, State and Territory governments stand to benefit from a national syndrome reporting system.
Full report (PDF; 712KB)
Following on from the successful Knowledge into Practice and Policy Workshop in 2007, the AB-CRC Application and Linkage Program partnered with representatives from the Queensland Department of Environment and Resource Management (DERM) to deliver the second cross sector workshop. Held in Brisbane in May, the workshop aimed for the delegates to share their ideas and knowledge for taking public benefit research knowledge into practice and policy, focussing on overcoming the barriers at the science-policy interface. Invited representatives from government, universities, industry research funding bodies, and research organizations from the biosecurity, natural resource management, environment, health and agriculture sectors attended.
Full report (PDF file; 5.16MB)
Cross Sector Knowledge into Practice and Policy Workshop 2007 [Completed]
The AB-CRC Application and Linkage Program, working with Land and Water Australia (LWA) and Health (National Institute of Clinical Studies/NHMRC) representatives from early 2007 delivered a cross sector workshop to share ideas and knowledge for taking public benefit research knowledge into practice and policy. A preliminary meeting with a small number of participants was held in April 2007 and a more formal workshop based around a Case Study approach was run with a larger number of participants 4-5 October 2007. Invited representatives from government, universities, industry research funding bodies, and research organisations (e.g. other CRC’s, ACERA) from the biosecurity, natural resource management, health and agriculture sectors attended. Four Case Studies, including one from each of these sectors, were presented (Biosecurity by Deb Cousins, Director A&L). Professor Peter Cullen, Director of LWA, attended the workshop and provided an excellent summation in his role as rapporteur.
Feedback reported the workshop as an unheralded success and consensus suggested the further forums should be run in the future.
Full report (PDF file; 1.67MB).
The purpose of this forum is to improve accessibility and uptake of methodology developed in AB-CRC Research Project 3.010R: Quantification of confidence in disease freedom within Australia. The forum will bring together a wide range of stakeholders to provide them with tools for demonstrating Australia’s disease-free status, assessing the disease status of trading partners, and optimising the use of limited surveillance resources. Delegates will also discuss the accessibility of this methodology to those planning and analysing Australian animal health surveillance activities, with a view to developing case studies if necessary for Australian adoption of the methodology. Other intended outcomes of the forum include developing a list of potential applications of the Freedom Methodology, and creating a prioritised list of desired features for practical implementation of the methodology in Australian animal health.
Read the final report for the forum.
Back to project list
AL.101S Building national capacity for high throughput diagnostic assays for emergency animal diseases
The Application & Linkage Program funded a ‘hands on’ workshop designed to build national capacity for high throughput diagnostic assays and help Australia deal with future emergency animal disease incursions. The workshop was held on the 3-4 February 2009 at the Elizabeth Macarthur Agriculture Institute (EMAI) in Camden, NSW. The EMAI laboratory handled the bulk of the testing that underpinned the diagnostic and surveillance program that ultimately led to the successful eradication of EI. Scientists and technicians from 11 veterinary laboratories across Australia & New Zealand gained knowledge and experience in the optimisation of high throughput assays, specimen handling and range of associated procedures that were developed and refined at EMAI during the equine influenza outbreak. As a result, there is now a pool of personnel who have greater knowledge and a shared approach to how to respond to an emergency animal disease event, and who can be effectively deployed in the event of an outbreak to an affected state with minimal training or delay.
Feedback indicated that all participants benefited immensely from and were keen to implement newfound knowledge, with many commenting that the EMAI approaches would also help them significantly with their current day-to-day laboratory operations. The shared approach to learning will also strengthen relationships between individuals in the recently formed national front-line Laboratories for Emergency Animal Disease Diagnosis and Response network (LEADDR).
Click here for a media release on the workshop from the NSW Minister for Primary Industries, The Hon. Ian McDonald.
Back to project list
AL.100R Pilot evaluation of a system for validating livestock disease tests
Validation capability was deemed an important issue at the recent Diagnostics Adoption Forum; and this study should enable researchers to develop a shared understanding of vocabulary and language, and come to a basic agreement on some simple quantitative measures for validation of tests. Several laboratories across Australia have been recruited for this pilot evaluation which has been approved by the Sub-Committee of Animal Health Laboratory Standards (SCAHLS). The study seeks to develop a re-usable design which will estimate the statistical reliability of major diagnostic tests in veterinary laboratories. This will include demonstrating techniques that can be broadly adopted, and evaluating the potential for a larger project that could inform guidelines on test validation. Methods and findings will be communicated to allow easy adoption of the approach by laboratories and researchers.
Back to project list
AL.091R International pilot of BOSSS
BOSSS (Bovine Syndromic Surveillance System) is a real-time, web-based program that can be utilised by producers, private and government veterinarians, animal scientists and stock agents to capture and report information on exotic disease events. The tool, developed in an AB-CRC funded Research Project, has potential for improving surveillance in remote and regional areas, though a number of barriers to its adoption in Australia have been identified.
BOSSS has generated a great deal of interest at the international level; a pilot project designed to ascertain the likely commitment of overseas aid corporations and individual countries to application and adoption of a modified version of the system (in a different, international context) has commenced. It is anticipated that the lessons learnt from an international research project will enable the role and function of a refined version of the system within Australia to be more clearly defined, facilitating future development and implementation.
Back to project list
AL.089R Development of web-based epidemiological tools for researchers
This project will develop and promote a series of web-based tools to assist researchers and other stakeholders with the design and analysis of surveys to determine confidence in freedom from disease and provide tools to evaluate diagnostic tests. The key outcome will be an internationally recognised suite of epidemiological tools, available from a single location to anyone with internet access. This will be of particular benefit to students and researchers working remotely without dedicated epidemiological support. Once completed, the updated web-site will be promoted through AB-CRC publications, national and international conferences and mailing lists.
Back to project list
The AB-CRC has invested approximately $4.3m in the Technologies to Enhance Detection Research Program, funding 11 research projects and supporting 19 postgraduate scholarships since 2003. On the 6-7 August 2008, the AB-CRC’s A&L Program ran its first Diagnostics Adoption Forum; two meetings held back-to-back bringing together over 55 delegates from the animal, public & wildlife health sectors with a interest in the application of diagnostic research.
On day one, over four sessions, 12 researchers gave overviews of AB-CRC funded projects covering the development of diagnostic tests, capacity building and tools for remote and regional surveillance. The program on day two focussed on future technologies for disease characterisation and detection, and provided an opportunity for end user and service provider representatives to discuss the priorities for future technology development at the AB-CRC.
Feedback from delegates was positive, and research collaborations were created as a result of informal networking during the forum. The outcomes from the forum will be used to shape the activities of the AB-CRC and the Biosecurity CRC Mark II with a view to maximising both the use and impact of the current and future research.
You can download the executive summary from the forum (PDF file; 29KB), the full report from the forum (PDF file; 1.67MB) or a separate document with the delegate presentations (PDF file; 4.21MB).
Back to project list
AL.087R Assessing the capability of eWHIS for managing wildlife biosecurity issues
The Electronic Wildlife Health Information System (eWHIS) is the database developed by the Australian Wildlife Health Network (AWHN) to record, manage and analyse wildlife health data. While the focus to date has been on data sourcing and entry, the database has progressed to the point where data entry is real-time or approaching real-time. This A&L Project will evaluate eWHIS’ ability to track biosecurity threats and assess confidence in freedom from disease. Three biosecurity management scenarios will be examined: support of a claim of freedom from bovine tuberculosis in Australian brush-tailed possums, investigation of an unexplained cluster of mortalities in wildlife that might indicate an emerging disease, and analysis of the occurrence and frequency of low pathogenicity avian influenza in Australian wild birds. The capacity to readily interrogate the data to provide useful information is fundamental to the success of the system and the network. This project will assess the current analytical capability of eWHIS, and identify gaps; recommendations will then be made for changes that will result in a more robust system that better meets the needs of end-users.
Back to project list
AL.083R SEAFMD Campaign Research Assessment
The South-East Asian Foot-and-Mouth Disease (SEAFMD) Campaign aims to achieve foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) freedom, using a strategic vaccination program, by 2020. The campaign, coordinated by the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE), involves partners from eight countries in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) region - Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam. The AB-CRC strongly supports processes to improve FMD control in South East Asia, and has a number of PhD students undertaking FMD research projects in the region.
In collaboration with experts in the region, this project brings together an experienced veterinary epidemiologist and a socio economist to examine the progress and outcomes of previous and ongoing FMD research activities, and critically evaluate the research needs of the SEAFMD campaign over the next 5-10 years. The initial findings of this project were presented at the AB-CRC workshop in Bangkok in June 2008, and the written report is currently being reviewed.
Back to project list
Researchers from the University of Sydney partnered with the AB-CRC to run a two-day adoption forum on 21-22 August 2008 entitled Safeguarding Australia’s Livestock Industries: Improving biosecurity in pig production systems. The forum reviewed key findings from a three-year AB-CRC research project 3.016RE, which focussed on on-farm- and post-farm-gate disease surveillance and biosecurity among pig producers trading through saleyards in eastern Australia. Held at the University of Sydney, the forum communicated the project findings to livestock industry and government stakeholders and invited consideration of the implications of these findings for current and future biosecurity, traceability and surveillance practices in the pig industry.
The forum, supported by Australian Pork Limited (APL), The University of Sydney and the AB-CRC, was attended by 35 delegates representing the pork industry, pork producers, other livestock industries, state governments, federal government, universities and the AB-CRC. A number of actions were agreed upon, including some related to the importance of coordinating a national approach to the issue and improving communications with smallholder producers.
A final report for the forum is now available (PDF file; 4.38MB); alternatively you can download the executive summary only (PDF file; 65KB), the report from the forum only (PDF file; 1.60MB), or the proceedings only (including PowerPoint presentations, PDF file; 183KB) . An article on the workshop is in the Spring edition of the AB-CRC’s Sentinel newsletter.
Back to project list
The Arbovirus Adoption Forum 2008 brought together the National Arbovirus and Malaria Advisory Committee (NAMAC), arbovirus researchers, and other stakeholders to review all current arbovirus-related research projects funded by the AB-CRC. The forum, held at the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing (DoHA) in June, provided an opportunity to update stakeholders on arbovirus research progress since the first arbovirus forum in 2006; including research outcomes from both the researcher and end user perspectives, discussing pathways to adoption, identifying research gaps, and potential areas of interest for the proposed Biosecurity CRC Mark II.
The overview of eleven AB-CRC funded arbovirus projects included presentations covering research into surveillance methods, mosquito vector competency, methods of characterising unknown arboviruses, Aedes albopictus and Chikungunya, Kunjin virus infection in birds, and West Nile Virus detection. The forum concluded with a discussion session facilitated by Dr Julie Hall, Chair of NAMAC and Principal Medical Advisor at the Office of Health Protection, DoHA.
The key recommendations stemming from this forum are included in the final report, which is now available for download (PDF file; 3.58MB). The executive summary is also available here (PDF file; 372KB). An article on the workshop is included in the Spring edition of the AB-CRCs Sentinel newsletter.
Back to project list
AL.072S Chikungunya Stakeholder Workshop [Completed]
In response to the recent escalation of outbreaks of chikungunya virus in the Asia Pacific region, and the generation of new data from Dr Andrew van den Hurk and Dr Scott Ritchie’s AB-CRC funded research (Projects 2.027RE, 2.065R and 3.043R), the AB-CRC convened a Chikungunya Stakeholder Workshop in Brisbane on 13 February 2008. The workshop brought together 25 stakeholders with a professional interest in the chikungunya virus, and aimed to increase the delegates’ shared understanding of chikungunya, identify any key gaps in knowledge and/or tools, and discuss how the AB-CRC could respond to these gaps. Formal evaluation of the workshop indicated that it was successful in facilitating knowledge exchange amongst this group of researchers and interested stakeholders; the key recommendations arising from discussions between these stakeholders will be used by the AB-CRC in forward planning. An article describing the workshop and its outcomes can be found in the Autumn 2008 edition of Sentinel and the Chikungunya Stakeholder Workshop Final Report (including the workshop proceedings, PDF file; 1.56MB) is available to download.
Back to project list
Cross Sector Knowledge into Practice and Policy Workshop [Completed]
The AB-CRC Application and Linkage Program, working with Land and Water Australia (LWA) and Health (National Institute of Clinical Studies/NHMRC) representatives from early 2007 delivered a cross sector workshop to share ideas and knowledge for taking public benefit research knowledge into practice and policy. A preliminary meeting with a small number of participants was held in April 2007 and a more formal workshop based around a Case Study approach was run with a larger number of participants 4-5 October 2007. Invited representatives from government, universities, industry research funding bodies, and research organisations (e.g. other CRC’s, ACERA) from the biosecurity, natural resource management, health and agriculture sectors attended. Four Case Studies, including one from each of these sectors, were presented (Biosecurity by Deb Cousins, Director A&L). Professor Peter Cullen, Director of LWA, attended the workshop and provided an excellent summation in his role as rapporteur.
Feedback reported the workshop as an unheralded success and consensus suggested the further forums should be run in the future. Download the full report (PDF file; 1.67MB) here.
Back to project list
This project flows from the successful development of a real time assay for avian influenza (Research Project 1.001R) and transfer of the method to state, NT and NZ laboratories (A&L Adoption Project AL.037R). The existing TaqMan assay for H5N1 (where design was based on 2004 sequence information) is now available in various Asian countries, including Indonesia and Vietnam. Different genetic sublineages or clades of H5N1 strains have evolved since 2004 and some recent isolates have acquired multiple genetic changes in the target region for the TaqMan assay. The existing method will be upgraded to include multiple target regions and alternative detection methods to safeguard against potential failure caused by nucleotide changes in the genome of newly evolving AI strains.
The new assays will be transferred to all state and territory veterinary laboratories.
Back to project list
Associated with Research Project 1.002RE, this project supports transfer of molecular tests developed for fowl cholera, infectious coryza and infectious laryngotracheitis virus (ILTV) to the state and territory veterinary laboratories throughout Australia. The project will validate each of the assays on a range of real-time PCR instruments. Validation data will be submitted for the Sub-Committee of Animal Health Laboratory Standards (SCAHLS) approval, providing Australian laboratories with rapid and sensitive diagnostics for avian respiratory diseases affecting poultry.
The major outcome will be national capability for rapid detection and control of these diseases and for differentiating endemic diseases from emergency diseases such as avian influenza. The egg and poultry meat industries will be the major beneficiaries.
Back to project list
This Application and Linkage project flowing from Reserch Project 1.013RE will deliver Australia’s independent capability for production and formulation of Luminex assay components for henipavirus (Hendra virus and Nipah virus) for long-term surveillance and emergency responses. The recombinant expression system will be imported from Dr. Christopher Broder’s group in USA and the production and purification of recombinant soluble G proteins will be established at CSIRO AAHL. When this is established and reagents are produced entirely within AAHL, the Luminex-based multiplex assays for henipaviruses will be transferred to the AAHL diagnostic group, interested State health laboratories (Qld to start with) and overseas national research and diagnostic labs (Malaysia and China, potentially Japan and Thailand).
A wider collaboration network for active surveillance of henipavirus infection in different populations will lead to better risk assessment and management for these two diseases.
Back to project list
AL.062F Henipavirus Research Adoption Forum [Completed]
A diverse mix of end users (animal and public health, wildlife health, and pig industry and equine industry representatives) attended the Adoption Forum held in Canberra on 16-17 July 2007. This Forum reviewed the progress of the Henipavirus research funded by the AB-CRC (Research Projects 1.013RE & 2.012RE) and put it into perspective alongside relevant work being done overseas. The meeting was timed to coincide with a visit to Australia by Peter Daszak (Consortium for Conservation Medicine, NY) and Raina Plowright (University California, Davis) and additional overseas presentations were telephoned in from the US (Juliet Pulliam, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Princeton University) and Bangladesh (Steve Luby, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research).
The Forum was attended by more than 40 delegates including many from public health; formal and informal feedback demonstrated the Forum was extremely successful and a sound mechanism for knowledge exchange across sectors and between researchers and end-users. Facilitated discussion following each presentation and in the afternoon allowed the group to discuss the value of the research findings, identify research gaps and discuss the research findings’ relevance to practice and policy. A briefing from the workshop was provided in the Autumn Sentinel and the forum report (PDF file; 459KB) and proceedings (PDF file; 10MB) are available for download.
Back to project list
Extending the capacity of the publicly available web system to provide simple intuitive access to the scenario tree modelling (developed in Researc Project 3.010R) to all users, regardless of computing skills will enhance the development and acceptance of scenario tree modelling. Widespread adoption, especially in developing countries where such skills are less common, will promote the approach as an international standard supporting trade. This project will design the system code and interface through collaboration by the current members of the Freedom project.
Implementation will be achieved using programming resources within the project, and be subjected to extensive testing by the project team. The team will also further develop existing documentation associated with the web site. These outputs, combined with provision of training in R (an open source software) managed by the Education & Training Program will add value to, and extend use of the freedom from disease software.
Back to project list
In any disease outbreak scenario there is real need for an efficient method of screening large numbers of samples. The development of a sensitive and specific real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test for the detection of multiple strains of the avian influenza virus (developed by Hans Heine and colleagues at CSIRO’s Australian Animal Health Laboratory, see Research Project 1.001R) has provided a valuable test for the detection of avian influenza virus from a wide range of samples. For this test to be really useful in the event of such an outbreak, a rapid sample preparation technique is vital. This project compared four RNA (ribosomal nucleic acid) extraction methods to develop faster and more efficient methods for high throughput RT PCR testing within Australia, and will include technology transfer of the selected method to all state laboratories.
UPDATE: Recommendations from this work are to use the RNeasy Mini Kit for routine diagnosis with sample number not exceeding 25, and the MagMax magnetic bead protocol for mass screening during an outbreak.
Back to project list
An external review of the Bovine Syndromic Surveillance System (BOSSS: project 3.015RE) was undertaken at a workshop in Brisbane on the 5-6 June, 2007. Funded by Meat and Livestock Australia (MLA) and the AB-CRC and supported by Animal Health Australia, this workshop reviewed the needs and opportunities for remote area surveillance and the role of BOSSS as a remote surveillance tool for producers and State/Territory/Commonwealth government end users. Approximately 35 delegates including researchers, implementers (A&L Adoption Projects AL.032R/AL.038R), corporate and individual producers, state governments with responsibility for remote area surveillance, as well as commonwealth government, various industry representatives and AB-CRC personnel attended.
UPDATE: The report arising from the workshop, which includes a series of recommendations for further work in this area, is available at BOSSS_final_270807.pdf (PDF file; 959KB).
A number of significant challenges that limit full implementation of a system such as BOSSS were indentified during the workshop. Follow up discussion with state government Departments of Agriculture, identified as critical to providing data to validate the algorithms, is underway.
Back to project list
A real-time PCR assay to detect Surra (Trypanosoma evansi) developed as part of the AB-CRC Research Project 1.002RE will be validated in accordance with the Sub-Committee of Animal Health Laboratory Standards (SCAHLS) ‘New Test Development and Evaluation Policy’. The ultimate aim is to have the test recognised as an OIE prescribed test for surra. Samples will be collected in Indonesia in collaboration with colleagues from the Indonesian Research Institute for Veterinary Science (IRIV) and the assay will be transferred to the Department of Parasitology, IRIV and Murdoch University. Data will be analysed using a Bayesian framework to infer estimates of the sensitivity, specificity and prevalence of infection in the absence of a gold standard. The key outcome of the project will be enhancement of Australia’s capacity to detect an incursion of T. evansi. This will only be achieved when there is a well validated reference test at AAHL.
UPDATE: Access to limited numbers of T. evansi infected samples for validation purposes is proving challenging. Project leaders are seeking access to additional infected material from colleagues in the Philippines so the work can be completed on schedule.
Back to project list
Current surveillance systems in remote beef producing areas use veterinarians to examine and collect samples from diseased cattle for testing. A shortage of rural veterinarians and the large distances involved means that hands-on surveillance is becoming less available. Large herd sizes in remote regions offer a solution to this problem because stock workers, farmers and cattle producers have the capacity to detect and describe disease signs in affected cattle, particularly when observed in multiple animals. This project trialled the use of the syndromic surveillance software currently available via BOSSS (Bovine Syndromic Surveillance System; see Research Project 3.015RE), with up to 50 cattle producers located throughout Queensland. Funds provided by the Northern Australian Pastoral Companies Group and Meat and Livestock Australia (as well as AB-CRC) supported this project.
UPDATE: Variable responses were received from the different parties participating in this project. Some streamlining of the system was achieved following coordinator feedback. A report from this project informed the Remote Area Surveillance /BOSSS review workshop held in June 2007 in Brisbane.
Back to project list
AB-CRC funded research at the CSIRO’s Australian Animal Health Laboratory (AAHL) has led to the development of a new diagnostic test for the avian influenza virus (see Research Project 1.001R). This real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test can be used to detect and subtype multiple strains of the virus. The Application & Linkage Program supported the technology transfer of the avian influenza diagnostic test into several major government and private veterinary diagnostic laboratories across Australia and New Zealand. This project assessed the performance of the test in nine laboratories using five different RT-PCR instrument and reagent platforms. All participating laboratories were able to use the test in their laboratory to detect the avian influenza test samples provided by AAHL and reported high levels of sensitivity and specificity. A formal proficiency testing program for the avian influenza RT-PCR test in Australia is to follow.
This project delivered a national capability for use of these rapid and sensitive tests in state and territory veterinary laboratories to reduce the time required for the identification of any potential influenza outbreaks. This capability also strengthens Australia’s response capacity for rapid activation of control measures to limit spread of disease.
UPDATE: This research and the subsequent transfer of the test to all states and territories led to its use in the states’ response to the recent equine influenza (EI) outbreak. Its availability and effective use in the states also led to changes to policy affecting the way Australia responds to an exotic disease outbreak such as EI, and will likely influence future policy change. A number of stories in relation to the technology transfer and its use in the EI outbreak were reported in the media, with good exposure for CSIRO, the states and the AB-CRC.
Download the press release or technical report: Implementation and validation of avian influenza virus TaqMan assays on various platforms in different state veterinary diagnostic laboratories (PDF file; 1.27MB).
Back to project list
Highly pathogenic avian influenza has emerged as a major threat to agriculture, public health and biodiversity in our region. Although research priorities have recently been identified both nationally and internationally through a recent Northern Australian Quarantine Strategy (NAQS) risk rating review, it was likely that research priorities would have changed, reflecting changes in the outbreak pattern, the virus, and the dynamics of infection in nature.
This project undertook a risk-based approach to prioritization, with the intention of incorporating key identified priorities into major cross-institution, cross-disciplinary national research proposals supporting Australian trade, public health and biodiversity interests. Download A risk-based approach to avian influenza virus research priorities report, commissioned by the AB-CRC (PDF file; 1MB).
Back to project list
The visionary goal of this project was to reduce the risk and impact of emerging infectious disease threats in northern Australian, particularly in relation to vector-borne diseases and emerging zoonoses. Risk assessment by characterising the nature, likelihood and impact of new and existing infectious hazards, is an important step in disease prevention and control. Some of these diseases have already demonstrated the potential to be imported from overseas and spread within Australia.
Supported by the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing (DoHA) this project delivered new data, tools and methods for risk assessment for public health diseases in northern Australia and participating countries in the Asia-Pacific region.
Back to project list
The Bovine Syndromic Surveillance System (BOSSS) developed by Dr Richard Shepherd and Dr Angus Cameron (see Research Project 3.015RE) was trialled in two veterinary practices in rural Queensland to determine its applicability in a ‘real world’ veterinary setting. It has also recently been integrated into the undergraduate Veterinary Science program at the University of Queensland in a bid to improve awareness of the use of syndromic surveillance systems in veterinary practice by newly graduating veterinary students. These graduates are an ideal target group for introducing new and innovative ways of disease diagnosis such as BOSSS, especially in areas such as rural and remote regions of Australia where there is traditionally a shortage of veterinarians.
UPDATE: A presentation on this project was provided at Remote Area Surveillance /BOSSS review workshop held in June 2007 in Brisbane. The final report providing an evaluation of BOSSS in these settings has been submitted and is being reviewed.
Back to project list
This project evaluated the sensitivity and suitability of new generation antigen tests for detection of avian influenza using samples collected during Hong Kong’s avian influenza outbreaks since 1996. Five tests, some commercially available and others recently developed, were compared. Tests that require minimal or no special equipment may be ideal for use in the field in the management of disease outbreaks.
Results from this project provide policy makers with scientific evidence of the comparable performance of five different antigen capture tests on which to base decisions for the management of an outbreak in Australia.
Download key recommendations highlighted in our Autumn Sentinel or the Evaluation of new generation rapid antigen detection tests for avian influenza virus detection report, project final report (PDF file; 869KB).
Back to project list
The recent emergence of the SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome) coronavirus posed a significant risk to humans worldwide. The AB-CRC previously funded the development of a sensitive and specific competitive ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) (see Project 1.007R) as a valuable diagnostic tool for the rapid detection of antibody to this highly infectious virus in a variety of animal species.
This project supported the training of a senior Chinese scientist and subsequent transfer of the test to China and other countries where SARS poses a higher risk. |