The following table shows a detail of the amount of reports received by the SENASA's official vet, about animals vvith suspected symptoms which could be mistaken for FMD, since January 2002 until today.

Year Reports Infection center Suspicions Total 2001 159 2438 64 2661 2002 97 1 3 101 2003 72 1 0 73 2004 42 0 0 42

Where:
•"reports" are those cases rejected clinically by the official acting veterinarian visiting the problem premise, •"suspicions" correspond to those cases v.+hich, after being investigated and proved through iaboratory tests, are rejected as disease found absent, •"infection center" being confirmed after having been declared a "suspicion".
Every case of infection center or suspicion of bladder disease are investigated, first to reach a final diagnosis, and in the confirmed cases of FMD to determine origin and propagation of the disease (retrospective and prospective tracking, respectively).Investigation and tracking is carried out by technicians from emergency teams formed in affected areas, and supported by the local veterinarian. The information is a combination of observation, visits, interviews and sample collection. Also useful is the local SENASA office's data base (Sanitary 

### Management System). With the information about the affected establishment and its neighbours (movements of cattle, people, vehicles, vaccinations) the premises and persons involved are investigated.
During the epidemic of 2000 and 2001, due to the great amount of registered cases, investigations proceeded, in most cases, at a local or regional level. This investigation's aim was to study the epidemic in each district.
99. Also, what kind of coordination and level of communication exists among central, regional, and local levels in terms of investigation and notification of outbreaks?
AII reports are received and registered loca9ly, in the local intervening Office, and centrally, in the_Epidemiology Bureau of the National Bureau of Animal Health. Each local office keeps a copy of the procedures of each case (reportlsuspicion protocol, sample col9ection protocol ; laboratory results, additional information, etc.). At headquarters there exists a data base (Access) vvith the whole countries' procedures (reports, suspicions and infection centers) vAth their corresponding documental archives.Instrumental and executive follow-up outlines of local procedures, in the case of an infection center being reported and investigated, are contained in the FMD Infection Center Attention Manual, and SENASA resolution n° 779 estabiishes a diagram of responsibilities and communication between levels, Headquarters' responsibilities, in Epidemiology, being the planning and follow-up of strategies and procedures necessary in the case of reports and suspicion of bladder disease complemented vvith Advising Technical Commissions (of epidemiology and virology) thus fonning a Sanitary Emergency Committee.

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More details on the diagnostic procedures and techniques used for diagnosis 

### and identification of the FMD virus would 6e helpfuL An English translation of the "Fielare Aftosa• 

### Manual de Procedfmientos para /a Atenci®n de un Foco" would also assist 

### in our evaluatfon. (Annex 

### l/)

100. VVhat procedures and cel9 types are used in vira! isolation?
In the viral isolation of epithelial tissue samples, the material is processed and an ELISA Typing test is carried out. Next, three (3) passages in cell cultures (BHIC 21 Clone 13) with an ELISA Typing test is done after each passage.

101. lNhat is "liallee" mediurco?
It is a medium composed of phosphate glycerine (PH 7.2) with phenol red, used to transport and conserve samples of epithelial tissue.i s s a • •- x e a: s • 

### inti bodie 

### s?
Viral characterization with panels of monoclona! antibodies. These panels have been developed by the Animal Virology Center (CEVAfV).

103. What .. .. • , • for what purpo 

### se use d 

### ?
The seroprotection test is performed in unweaned mice and it consists of applying bovine serum of vaccinated animals and then aphthous virus in different dilutions to the mice to see which is the levei of protection of the vaccine.

104. UVhat laboratory testing is done on imported anirnals?
The test to be used is established by the Quarantine Bureau, depending on the country of origin. In general, serological tests to determine antibodies to non structural proteins — ELISA 3 ABC and EfTB in bovines and ViAA in other species are recommended.

(< . ,... describe in more detail the background and expe 

### r tis 

### e of the tersonnel in each •r the laboratories• the training s "••


### • • ~The FMD Coordination staff made training courses on FMD diagnosis and FMD Vaccine Control at the PANAFTOSA — OPS regional reference laboratory. In Biosecurity and exotic diseases in INIA — Spain.- In Biologic Assessment in Ames — IOWA.- In Good laboratory practices and quality assurance in SENASA courses. They take part of diagnostic methods and quality assurance assessment projects (ISO 17025) of FAO — IAEA.- The CV of ail the staff are available at the Laboratory Bureau.

106. Your submission indicates that Argentina has private, accredited laboratories in the proposed region. How and by whom are the accredited?
There are no laboratories accredited to carry out diagnostic tests in FMD. AII the tests are performed by the central laboratory.

107. Please describe the purpose of resolution 46412001, which calls for temporary "suspension of all SENASA net-laboratories to carry ouf FMID epidemiological surveiilance diagnostic test" (Appendix 3).
Transitory postponement of diagnosis tests of epidemiological vigilance of FMD by the net-laboratories, as it has been considered necessary to revise the actual technical criteria in relation to the internal validation of analytical methods and auditorship in laboratories authorized to perform diagnostic tests of epidemiological vigilance of FMD.1 Q8. What are the time frames from coliection of samples to delivery of the samples to the laboratory, and from delivery of samples to the laboratory until results are obtained?
In case of suspected vesicular disease the epithelial samples are analized in the central SEIVASA laboratory on the day it is received and that same day the result of the direct typing tests are sent by fax.
109. How are false positives ruled out?
Procedure for the follow up of positive cases in the serological samples is based on the recommendations of Annex 3.8.7. of the Terrestrial Code of OIE:
In the case of positive results in serology for structural antibodies (animals not vaccinated) and non structural ones (vaccinated animals) of the FMD virus, first a wider sampling of the establishment where the virus was detected is carried out, individually identifying the sampled animals. This sampling, which depends on the region and availability of animals in the establishment, can include various suspected species, and also a neighbour farm. If new positive animals appear in this ampler sampling, a pair up serology is carried out, with a minimum interval of 21 days, to compare differences in prevalence of Antibodies. Also, in those positive cases samples of oesophagus pharyngeal liquid (LEF) vvith Probang cup to try to isolate the virus or PCR.110. Please provide detailed information on your vaccine production program and facilities.

See Annex Xi.

111. What laboratories (in addition to the Central Laboratory) are authorized to perForm serologic testing for FMD (3 ABC ELISA, EITB and VIAA)?
There are no laboratories accredited to carry out diagnostic tests in FMD. All the tests are perFormed by the central laboratory.

112. Where was the majority of the serum samples tested in the recent serologic surveys?

There are no laboratories accredited to can

- y out diagnostic tests in FMD. AII the tests are performed by the central laboratory.

113. Is the laboratory capacity sufficient to address a major outbreak?
The central laboratory has enough capacity to attend a sanitary emergency. It has the capacity to carry out FMD virus typing tests or viral isolation tests or to analyze 40 daily samples of epithelium or tissues. The estimate capacity to perform FMD serological tests is 1,000 daily sera.Please provide us with copies of the Year 2000 lab audit reports by the European Union and the Pan American FMD Centre — PAHO. See Annex


### Disease Control Programs and Emergency Response

Capabilities.

114. What steps are taken after a suspected FMD case is reported, but pending confirmation? How iong would it take to notify trading partners if an FMD outbreak is detected?
When the official veterinarian visits a premise after hearing a report and cannot clinically dismiss the presence of FMD and requires laboratory supporl to confirm his diagnosis, he adopts contention measures in case it is FMD, until it is confirmed or dismissed after laboratory tests and investigations have been carried out. Those measures include interdiction and total prohibition of movements of suspected animals in the affected area and its neighbours, boundary marking of the infected area, subarea and surveillance area, and start of ring vaccination.

115. What penalties do you have in place for failing to report an FMD suspicion?
According to Sanitary Police Law n° 3959 and its modifiers, the arlicles about PUNISHMENTS (numbers 29 to 33) mention those applied to offences against the established laws, and which might be applied to different situations in whichany physical or juridical person might incur, as a consequence of his acts, affecting the rodeo's sanitary situation and his obligations to report and comply with the laws in force to prevent, detect and/or apply the provisions in the laws of the National Plan to Eradicate FMD.