As part of their training and ongoing professional development, veterinary practitioners must be familiar with the symptoms associated with exotic diseases. They must report all suspected EADs to Agriculture Victoria immediately. Agriculture Victoria encourages veterinary practitioners to use the Significant Disease Investigation Program to investigate and document any unusual disease event involving livestock. As part of this program, financial assistance is available to help practitioners thoroughly investigate the event (see Section 3.4.1). Veterinary Practitioners Registration Board of Victoria The Veterinary Practitioners Registration Board of Victoria (the Veterinary Board) is a statutory body established under the Veterinary Practice Act 1997. The main purpose of the Act is to protect the public by providing for the registration of veterinary practitioners, and to investigate the professional conduct and the fitness to practise of registered veterinary practitioners. As at 30 June 2016, there were 3068 veterinary practitioners registered in Victoria, with 3.3% of these employed as government officers. The Minister for Agriculture has an appointee on the Board from the CVO Unit who acts as a conduit between the Board, the CVO and ultimately the minister. There are nine members on the Board: six veterinary practitioners, one lawyer and two other non- veterinarians. When the Board receives complaints about registered veterinary practitioners from the public, staff ensure they are in the appropriate written format for further investigation. The Board reviews each complaint. Any that are deemed to be lacking in substance, vexatious or outside the jurisdiction of the Board are not investigated. During the financial year ending 30 June 2016, 283 complaints were submitted to the Board. Livestock industries The livestock industries, from peak bodies to individual service providers, are an essential part of Victoria’s animal health system. Industry peak bodies provide input into the strategies and policies developed through formal channels such as livestock consultative committees (Appendix A). In implementing these policies, Agriculture Victoria animal health staff regularly visit individual producers, stock agents, saleyard managers, livestock transporters and other service providers to educate, monitor, provide and gain feedback, and enforce activities in line with agreed standards.
3 Disease surveillance activities Victoria’s livestock industries have a high animal health status. Ongoing surveillance is necessary to ensure early detection of diseases with the potential to affect public health, trade and productivity. The Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) defines surveillance as the systematic ongoing collection, collation and analysis of information related to animal health, and the timely dissemination of information to those who need to know so that action can be taken. In general, surveillance is in place to demonstrate the absence of disease or infection, determine the occurrence or distribution of disease or infection, and detect exotic or emerging diseases as early as possible. Surveillance activities are also used to monitor disease trends, facilitate disease management, support claims for freedom from disease to maintain markets, and provide data for use in biosecurity risk analysis and decision making. The Victorian animal health surveillance system is principally on structured activities, including: disease reporting or notifications disease management programs and health schemes targeted testing and screening on-farm disease investigations use of sentinel animals antemortem and postmortem inspections at abattoirs and knackeries laboratory investigations. The Livestock Disease Control Act 1994 and subordinate legislation support disease surveillance. These legislated requirements help to monitor background patterns, and detect new and emerging diseases. Recording and reporting of surveillance data The National Animal Health Information System (NAHIS) collates data from a wide range of government and nongovernment activities to provide an overview of animal health in Australia. These data are essential for supporting trade in animal commodities and meeting Australia’s international reporting obligations. Every quarter, Agriculture Victoria provides summary surveillance data and reports of disease investigations to NAHIS. The data come from a range of sources, including surveillance activities, monitoring programs, disease control programs, diagnostic laboratories and veterinary investigations. Summary NAHIS data are available from the Animal Health . animalhealthaustralia.com.au/elibrary), and are reported in the Animal Health Surveillance Quarterly newsletter and the Animal Health in Australia annual report. Data collection Surveillance data in Victoria are collected from a number of sources, including surveillance activities, monitoring programs, disease control programs, diagnostic laboratories, Agriculture Victoria staff, private veterinary practitioners and livestock producers. During 2016, more than 2000 disease surveillance records were entered from around Victoria, achieving extensive coverage of the main livestock-producing regions of the state (Figure 3.1).
Figure 3.2 Distribution of anthrax testing in Victoria, 2016 laboratory diagnostic tests, particularly if an EAD was suspected. No EADs were detected during the reporting period. However, the newly emerging condition upper alimentary ulcerative syndrome was detected (see Section 1.2.1). The difference from previous years in the proportion of cases diagnosed as endemic infectious disease and metabolic disease appears to be due to the inclusion of calves in the project in 2016. Sheep and Goat Mortality Surveillance Project The Sheep and Goat Mortality Surveillance Project aims to determine the causes of death of sheep and goats of all ages (excluding perinatal deaths), and to investigate causes of abortion in ewes and does. The Victorian Sheep and Goat Compensation Fund and Agriculture Victoria co-fund the project. During 2015–16, 102 mortality investigations were conducted in flocks and 7 in goat herds. Table 3.5 shows the conditions diagnosed during 2015–16. Endemic infectious diseases accounted for a significant number of diagnoses in sheep. Other frequent diagnoses included noninfectious conditions (including poisonings from toxic plants), abortion in ewes and nutritional diseases (including deficiencies). Internal parasitism continues to be a major cause of mortality in lambs, although it was not reported in goats during 2015–16. No EADs were detected. A range of diseases were recorded in goat flocks as individual diagnoses: goitre (iodine deficiency) in kids, and deaths due to tetanus, enterotoxaemia, oxalate poisoning and colibacillosis. These findings demonstrate the project’s value, both in establishing a baseline of disease in the Victorian sheep and goat population, and in investigating causes of abortion in these species. Agriculture Victoria animal health staff receive training in disease investigation techniques, including on-farm necropsies, as a result of this project. Saleyards and Abattoirs Surveillance Project The Saleyards and Abattoirs Surveillance Project contributes substantially to Victoria’s disease surveillance strategy. Victorian saleyards and abattoirs process more than 15 million sheep annually, providing convenient and effective aggregation points
3.4 Conditions diagnosed under the Knackery Surveillance Project, 2015–16 Condition Percentage of cattle examined Endemic infectious disease 34 Endemic noninfectious disease 6 Metabolic disease 8 Traumatic injury 9 Obstetrical conditions 11 Musculoskeletal injuries 0 Undetermined (EADs excluded) 32 Total 100 EAD = emergency animal disease at which to perform disease surveillance. The project is co-funded by the Victorian Sheep and Goat Compensation Fund and Agriculture Victoria. Sheep and goats that are recently deceased, or unfit for sale or slaughter are necropsied to determine the cause of death, or unsuitability for sale or slaughter. Agriculture Victoria animal health staff made 61 visits to saleyards and 67 visits to abattoirs during 2015–16, observing nearly one million animals during these visits. A total of 185 sheep and 19 goats were necropsied for diagnostic purposes. Endemic infectious disease (particularly internal parasitism), traumatic injury and metabolic disease (predominantly hypocalcaemia and pregnancy toxaemia) were the most common diagnoses. No EADs were detected. In one instance, a ewe presented at an abattoir with oral lesions consistent with disease (FMD). Exclusion testing for FMD was performed, and a tracing exercise was undertaken to locate the property of origin. FMD was not confirmed; the ewe had sustained traumatic injury to her gums, presumably from rough feed on the farm of origin. The Saleyards and Abattoirs Surveillance Project continues to provide valuable data to demonstrate to industry and trading partners the absence of EADs in the Victorian flock and goat herd. It is an effective and efficient surveillance tool, with wide industry Table 3.5 Conditions diagnosed under the Sheep and Goat Mortality Surveillance Project, 2015–16 Condition Sheep Goats Endemic infectious disease 32 2 Other noninfectious disease 20 2 Internal parasites 18 0 Nutrition-related conditions 11 1 Undetermined (EADs excluded) 21 2 Total 102 7 EAD = emergency animal disease
against Q fever, but staff working at adjoining businesses were not necessarily vaccinated. This finding enabled precautionary measures to be taken, and all staff potentially at risk to be vaccinated against Q fever. Q fever research also continued at the University of Melbourne as a result of a significant outbreak in regional Victoria in 2015. Psittacosis Agriculture Victoria staff were involved in a field investigation when a significant number of birds in aviaries at a wildlife sanctuary were reported to be infected with psittacosis (Chlamydophylla psittaci). A site-specific response plan was developed that included a revised biosecurity protocol, and treatment and monitoring of all affected birds. No human cases were reported during the incident. Australian bat lyssavirus An increased number of samples, mainly young bat pups, were submitted for surveillance for Australian bat lyssavirus during 2016. This is likely to be due to good seasonal conditions for bats during the mating season, a subsequent increase in juvenile bats, and a period when inadequate feed resulted in the increased bat population becoming weak. Laboratory results indicated that the virus is circulating in the fruit bat population in Victoria, albeit at low levels. This knowledge allows accurate and ongoing communication with bat handlers and people who are scratched by bats. Salmonellosis Agriculture Victoria conducted several field investigations in 2016, including three incidents involving Salmonella Typhimurium in caged and free-range commercial egg enterprises. Samples were collected at the implicated properties and were tested at the department’s veterinary laboratory, AgriBio. Audits were conducted on the affected properties to ensure correct egg handling and grading protocols.
Animal welfare Animal welfare, including domestic animal management, is a sensitive and complex field. It is a key government priority. Animal welfare legislation To meet the community’s expectations and protect the welfare of animals in Victoria, Agriculture Victoria provides a regulatory framework to underpin animal welfare practices. Agriculture Victoria administers legislation covering cruelty to animals and animal welfare management, including the: Domestic Animals Act 1994 Domestic Animals Regulations 2005 Impounding of Livestock Act 1994 Impounding of Livestock Regulations 2008 Livestock Management Act 2010 Livestock Management Regulations 2011 Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1986 Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Regulations 2008 Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Domestic Fowl) Regulations 2006. Agriculture Victoria manages animal welfare and domestic animal legislation and policy matters involving the Australian and Victorian governments, local government, animal welfare agencies and the community in Victoria. It also provides executive services to those responsible for the Animal Welfare Advisory Committee (AWAC) and the National Animal Welfare Task Group. AWAC members are appointed based on their skills and expertise in animal welfare for a of animal species and industries. The committee’s role is to provide the Minister for Agriculture with expert and strategic advice on issues relating to animal welfare (see Appendix A). Animal welfare reform The Minister for Agriculture has identified animal welfare as a key priority and initiated a range of reform activities. These include a five-year action plan and a new animal welfare legislative framework. Key activities in 2016 included the release of the Draft Animal Welfare Action Plan 2017–2022 for public consultation. An online platform was established as the portal for consultation. Stakeholder and community feedback demonstrated strong support for the action plan. Market research was conducted to identify the of the Victorian community with regard to animal welfare. This identified that 75% of respondents felt that more needed to be done to protect the welfare of animals. Work to review and develop new animal welfare legislation will commence in 2017. Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1986 The purpose of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1986 (POCTA Act) and supporting legislation is to prevent cruelty to animals, encourage considerate treatment, and improve the level of community awareness about preventing cruelty to animals. There are two main parts to the POCTA Act: the first relates to general cruelty provisions, and the second to using animals in research and teaching. General cruelty provisions Agriculture Victoria develops policy and legislation relating to the welfare of all species and all uses of animals, regularly advising stakeholders on animal welfare legislation
Appendix B Notifiable diseases in Victoria Compiled from: Order of 5 June 2012 Livestock Disease Control Act 1994 Livestock Disease Control Regulations 2006 PART A – Exotic diseases of mammals and birds (Notify immediately) A African horse sickness African swine fever Aujeszky's disease Australian lyssaviruses, including bat lyssavirus Avian influenza (highly pathogenic) Avian influenza (low pathogenicity virus subtypes) B Bluetongue disease Bovine diarrhoea virus type 2 Brucellosis – canine (Brucella canis) Brucellosis – bovine (Brucella abortus) Brucellosis – caprine and (Brucella melitensis) C Camel pox Chagas disease (Trypanosoma cruzi) Classical swine fever Contagious agalactia Contagious bovine pleuropneumonia Contagious caprine pleuropneumonia Contagious equine metritis Crimean Congo haemorrhagic fever Cysticercosis (Cysticercus cellulosae) D Devil facial tumour disease Dourine Duck virus enteritis (duck plague) Duck virus hepatitis