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 

ManagementSystem). 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. 

~ .r-_ • .• ~ s .•r7 =a. 

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 bodies? 

Viral characterization with panels of monoclona! antibodies. These panels have 

been developed by the Animal Virology Center (CEVAfV). 

103.What .. .. • , • for what purpose 

used? 

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 rtise 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 which 
any 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.