Practical Experience Sharing in the Inspection of Veterinary Drugs

Wen-Hua Lin

Abstract

Inspections of veterinary drugs shall be handled in accordance with the Chapter Two Inspection Standards of Veterinary General Drugs (Articles 4 to 22) in the Inspection Standards of Veterinary Drugs Act, the sub-law of Veterinary Drugs Control Act. Department of Chemical Assay and Research, Animal Drugs Inspection Branch, Animal Health Research Institute, Council of Agriculture, Executive Yuan, executes national inspections of veterinary drugs in accordance with the laws and is responsible for the laboratory technical inspections and assays work to ensure the consistency, effectiveness, and safety of the drug quality to improve the national system of the veterinary drugs control. The current primary work includes the registrations and applications for the permits of veterinary general drugs and complementary feed (vitamin), and inspections and assays on the disinfectant, feed containing drugs, veterinary general drugs on the market, fake drugs, prohibited drugs, and substandard drugs. There are about 100-120 inspection cases registered per year for the permit applications. The laboratory executes the inspection in accordance with the components and the form of the sample and relevant regulations. The evaluation report will be produced according to the inspection results, and the competent authority will be notified. The evaluation report will be the basis for the license issuance. For example, “virbagen omega” animal interferon is registered through the veterinary general drug inspection. The Department of Chemical Assay and Research will continue to verify and valid the inspection and assay methods, maintain the operation of the certification system, and improve the fairness and credibility of the inspections.

Diagnosis and case reports of carp edema virus disease

I-Wen Chen

Abstract

Carp edema virus disease (CEVD), also known as koi sleepy disease (KSD), is associated with outbreaks of clinical disease in common carp and koi (Cyprinus carpio). Since the first report of KSD in Japan koi farm in the 1970s, the disease has spread to many countries including USA, several European countries, Brazil, India, China and Korea. Clinical signs of KSD include lethargic behavior, sunken eyes, swelling bodies and gills with thick mucus layers, occasionally skin alterations. Examination of the infected gill tissue samples by transmission electron microscopy revealed hypertrophic cells containing poxvirus-like particles within the cytoplasm. Up to know, the virus cannot be isolated in an extensive range of cell lines from different fish species. The main detection method for the virus is PCR-based diagnostics on the core protein P4a gene and the analyses of sequences indicate the genetic distribution into genogroups I, IIa and IIb. Animal and Plant Disease Control Center Yilan County transferred a clinical koi case to AHRI laboratory on 8th May, 2018. By molecular detection and histopathologic examination confirmed the etiology is CEV. Multiple alignment and phylogenetic analysis of all other CEV sequences of common carp and koi carp from NCBI by neighbor-joining methods revealed that the CEV belonged in genogroups IIa.

Regional Workshop for Transboundary Animal Diseases Control hosted by the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) in Mongolia

Jen-Chieh Chang

Abstract

The Animal Health Research Institute (AHRI) dispatched one staff member to attend the Regional Workshop for Transboundary Animal Diseases (TADs) Control from 22 to 23 August 2018 hosted by the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. The workshop was organized back to back with the Closing Meeting of the Laboratory Twinning Projects on FMD and HPAI between Japan and Mongolia as well as East Asia Contact Person’s Meeting. The TADs to be covered in the workshop include foot and mouth disease, avian influenza, African swine fever (ASF), lumpy skin disease, sheep and goat pox, peste des petits ruminants and other emerging diseases. Participating experts discussed the ongoing cooperation and collaboration relating to TADs in Asia and Eastern Europe. The East Asia Contact Persons finalized some follow-up actions to be proposed to the East Asia CVO’s Forum. In the workshop, the participants from Asia were worring about the ongoing outbreaks of ASF in China. Control measures of ASF were discussed and the experts recommended the Asia countries to prepare the national emergency response plan for ASF including setting goals, strategic controls and border enforcement.

Report: International Symposium on Aquatic Animal Health

Tzu-Ming Huang

Abstract

To announce the research result of Bacillus cereus Infections in Soft-Shelled Turtles in Taiwan, I attended International 8 th Symposium on Aquatic Animal Health (ISAAH). ISAAH is a quadrennial conference hosted by the Fish Health Section (FHS) of the American Fisheries Society (AFS). The main issues in ISAAH included infectious diseases caused by bacteria, virus, fungus, protozoa, parasite, and management of aquaculture and health. The oral presentation included topics of epidemiology and pathogenesis of Tilapia lake virus (TiLV) in Thailand and Central and South America, and the classification and distribution of Edwardsiella spp., etc. I also discussed with other delegates about acute hepatopancreatic necrosis disease (AHPND) or early mortality syndrome (EMS) in the US and shrimp pathology course in University of Arizona. The emerging diseases cause unpredictable losses in aquaculture. In Taiwan, there have been outbreaks of TiLV. Even the TiLV disease now is controlled adequately, it is necessary to catch on the researches of epidemiology and pathogenesis to establish control strategies for TiLV and to follow the progress of vaccine development. In addition, we can cooperate with other countries to prevent infectious diseases in shrimp. Attendance of international conference can not only explore the new trend and knowledge of disease epidemiology and control but also increase the visuality of our institute to participate international aquaculture health surveillance.