SPF chicken production technology and scientific application

Chang Chia-Chen

Abstract

Specific Pathogen Free (SPF) animals refer to experimental animals that do not contain specific microorganisms and specific parasites, but allow normal microorganisms to be naturally fixed. Therefore, the production of SPF animals requires the facility of barrier maintenance systems and the implementation of relevant specific pathogen-free quality declarations. The Animal Health Research Institute has produced SPF chicken and embryo eggs for more than 30 years, which are mainly used in the surveillance and diagnosis of poultry diseases and the inspection of animal drugs. It is an important part of the national animal disease prevention and epidemic prevention policy. This topic will be reported on the production technology, quality declaration and scientific application experience of our SPF chicken and embryo eggs.

Re-emergence of rabies in wildlife in Taiwan

Yang-Chang, Tu

Abstract

Rabies is a neurological disease characterized by acute, progressive, fatal viral encephalomyelitis. The disease is caused by a highly neurotropic rabies virus (RABV) belonging to the genus Lyssavirus of the family Rhabdoviridae. Taiwan had been considered as a rabies-free region for more than 50 years. In 2013, Formosan ferret badger (TWFB) rabies was diagnosed through the wildlife disease surveillance. Since the rabies outbreak, 711 of 1,416 submitted TWFBs for rabies test were positive by direct fluorescent antibody test. In order to understand rabies infection in TWFB, especially the long term crypitical infection. The phylogenetic and phylogeographic analyses of glycoprotein (G) and nucleoprotein (N) gene were conducted to investigate the temporal and spatial evolution of RABV in Taiwan. The results of molecular clock and phylogeographic analysis indicated TW-RABV strains were derived from China rabies isolate around the beginning of 19th century, and then the virus evolved within the Taiwan to form two major clades (TW-CS and TW-E) and the variation is associated with the geographical distribution. The population expansion analysis showed TW-E strains revealed population expansion increased rapidly in the 2013. For TW-CS strains, a relatively constant population size with only a small peak occurred in the 2010.

Report on the Regional Short-term Training on Swine Disease Control and Diagnosis

Yang-Chang, Tu

Abstract

In the Asia Pacific region, transboundary diseases, such as foot-and-mouth disease, porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrom, classical swine fever, and porcine epidemic diarrhea have emerged and threatened pig production causing livelihood and economic loss. As part of the action response to improve capacity building in the Asian Pacific region, the OIE sustains the effort on swine disease control activity. One researcher of Animal Health Research Institute was dispatched to attend the Regional Short-Term Training on Swine Disease Control and Diagnosis hold in Beijing, China from 29th July to 3rd August 2018. Totally, 15 trainees from 9 countries around the Asia Pacific region attended the training course. The aims of this training course is providing participants with knowledge on swine disease surveillance plan, prevention control measure, emerging swine infectious disease, and swine disease diagnosis including clinical description of disease, sample collection and result interpretation. The main outcome of the training is to strengthen member countries’ capacity to control swine disease in line with the OIE standards and develop a better understanding of emerging swine infectious disease, and to provide concrete guideline and examples on how to diagnose swine disease.

Emergency Poultry Disease Response Certificate Course

Fan Lee

Abstract

One research scientist of the Animal Health Research Institute, under the financial support of Council of Agriculture and American Institute at Taiwan, participated the Course from June 18 to 22, 2018. The Course is held at Newark, Delaware, the United States by University of Delaware and sponsored by USDA. Using seminar, discussions, and hands-on technology demonstrations, the Course covers: understanding OIE reportable poultry diseases including avian influenza virus, surveillance, biosecurity, outbreak response and control, incident command structures, protecting the responder, depopulation, disposal, composting, and decontamination. The Course uses avian influenza as a model for poultry and other foreign animal diseases. The experiences gained during the spring 2015 highly pathogenic avian influenza response in the United States are used as a building block for the course. A tour at the middle of the week will provide hands on experience and emphasize aspects relevant to emergency response.

Implementation of the Project of Animal Health and Preventive Veterinary Medicine of Waterfowls Farming system in Hungary

Yen-Ping Chen

Abstract

Based on the minutes of 1st and 2nd Taiwan-Hungarian Agricultural Cooperation Conference, two researchers of Animal Health Research Institute and Livestock Research Institute obtained the financial support from the International Agricultural Cooperation Project and the Department of International Affairs, COA to implement the project "Animal Health and Preventive Medicine for Waterfowl Production System" in Hungary during June 9 to 17, 2018. The researchers went to Hungary to learn the technologies and management of the farming system, disease diagnosis, and experiences of disease control. Through the entire journey, they were accompanied by Director David K.C. Chou of Taipei Representative Office in Hungary, and Dr. Brigitta Eckhart of Hungarian Ministry of Agriculture. The opening meeting in Hungarian Ministry of Agriculture was hosted by Dr. Lajos Bognár, Deputy State Secretary of the Minister of Agriculture. Then, they visited the Institute for the Veterinary Medical Research of Hungarian Academy of Sciences to understand the current studies of waterfowl mycoplasma and duck cell lines, the Directorate of Animal Health and Diagnostics of National Food Chain Safety Office to understand the diagnosis of avian influenza and the diagnostic and necropsy techniques for viral diseases of Hungarian waterfowls, and the Research Centre for Farm Animal Gene Conservation to know the conservation of duck frozen semen and the breed conserving techniques. Besides, they also visited goose and duck farms with farm’s veterinarians to understand the farming system, biosecurity, and disease prevention strategies of Hungarian waterfowl farms. Hungary has plenty knowledge in the diagnosis, prevention and research of the waterfowl diseases, and good development in the waterfowl farming techniques. In the future, both sides of animal husbandry and veterinary researchers should continue to maintain contact and look for opportunities for mutual cooperation.