African swine fever virus p72 genotype IX, associated with outbreaks in eastern Africa, is cocirculating in the Republic of the Congo with West African genotype I. Data suggest that viruses from eastern Africa are moving into western Africa, increasing the threat of outbreaks caused by novel viruses in this region.

We studied eight different myiasis of sheep caused by screwworm flies under laboratory conditions. Swabs were taken from the wound, before, during, and after the myiasis. Seven hundred and thirty-one samples were streaked on different bacteriological media. All samples were identified by Api System (bioMerieuex). We found thirty-eight different bacterial species in the exudates from the myiasis (before, during, and after the parasitic cycle). The analysis of bacterial flora of the screwworm showed, on larvae stage 1, 10 different bacterial species, on larvae 2, 12 bacterial species; larvae 3, 15 bacterial species; crawl off, 15 bacteria species, pupa, 9 bacterial species; and adults, 2 bacterial species and on the pioneer fly, 14 different bacterial species were isolated and identified.

Cold/heat tolerance and feasible temperature management to emerge radio‐sterilized Cochliomyia hominivorax (New World Screwworm, NWS) in standard release boxes for usage in Sterile Insect Technique activities, were investigated. The biological quality of the emerged flies was determined by quality control tests. Pupae of C. hominivorax could be stored up to 132 ± 2 h at 10 °C or kept in 35 °C during the last 36 h of the pupal stage without substantial loss of quality among the emerged flies. A deleterious effect on newly emerged flies subjected to 32 °C for 28 h was recorded. By increasing the temperature from 21–27°C the time requirement was shortened by 24 h to emerge flies of corresponding good quality. Zusammenfassung Temperaturtoleranz sterilisierter Schraubenwurmfliegen, Cochliomyia hominivorax (Coquerel) (Dipt., Calliphoridae) Es wurde die Kälte‐ und Wärmetoleranz von durch γ‐Strahlen sterilisierten Schraubenwurmfliegen, Cochliomyia hominivorax, untersucht, um eine praktikable Temperaturbehandlung in standardisier‐ten Schlüpfboxen für die Anwendung der “Sterilen‐Insekten‐Technik” zu erarbeiten. Die biologische Qualität der schlüpfenden Fliegen wurde durch Qualitätskontrollen überprüft. C. hominivorax‐Puppen konnten bis zu 132 ± 2 h bei 10 °C oder bei 35 °C während der letzten 36 h des Puppen‐stadiums gehalten werden, ohne daß Qualitätsverluste bei den geschlüpften Fliegen festzustellen waren. Nachteilig war jedoch die Haltung frisch geschlüpfter Fliegen für 28 h bei 32 °C. Wurde die Temperatur von 21 auf 27 °C erhöht, verkürzte sich die Schlüpfzeit der Fliegen um 24 h bei gleichbleibend guter Qualität.

Attacks using animal pathogens can have devastating socioeconomic, public health and national security consequences. The livestock sector has some inherent vulnerabilities which put it at risk to the deliberate or accidental spread of disease. The growing concern of countries about the risks of agro-terrorism and agro-crime has led to efforts to prepare against potential attacks. One recent international effort is the launch of a joint OIE, FAO and INTERPOL project in 2019 to build resilience against agro-terrorism and agro-crime targeting animal health with the financial support of the Weapons Threat Reduction Programme of Global Affairs Canada. Given the importance of strong animal health surveillance systems for the early and effective response to agro-terrorism and agro-crime, the project will use the FAO Surveillance Evaluation Tool (SET) and its new Biothreat Detection Module to evaluate beneficiary countries’ capacities to detect criminal or terrorist animal health events. This paper presents the development of the new SET Biothreat Detection Module and how it will be used to evaluate surveillance for agro-terrorism and agro-crime animal disease threats. The module will be piloted in early 2021 and, once finalized, will be used by beneficiary countries of the joint OIE-FAO-INTERPOL project. Results from evaluations using SET and its Biothreat Detection Module are expected to provide a baseline from which countries can build targeted capacity for animal disease surveillance including early detection and investigation of potential terrorist or criminal events involving zoonotic and non-zoonotic animal pathogens.

No abstract

In the tropics, the botfly Dermatobia hominis and the NWS Cochliomyia hominivorax are the most important myiasis agents in cattle. It is frequently reported that furuncular lesions due to D. hominis are a predisposing cause for screwworm myiasis. Our results pointed out that only 5.2 to 7.4% of C. hominivorax gravid females oviposited in the offered furuncular lesions. Of 3242 eggs layed on botfly lesions (BFL), only 82 (2.5%) developed to second instar and died. In the flies tested, the furuncular lesions due to Dermatobia were used as food supply in 81.3% of the cases. In our opinion, the role of pH, the microflora associated with BFL, and the foruncular structure were the reasons for this lack of attraction. BFL do not serve as a predisposing factor for screwworm myiasis in the tropics.

Attacks using animal pathogens can have devastating socioeconomic, public health and national security consequences. The livestock sector has some inherent vulnerabilities which put it at risk to the deliberate or accidental spread of disease. The growing concern of countries about the risks of agro-terrorism and agro-crime has led to efforts to prepare against potential attacks. One recent international effort is the launch of a joint OIE, FAO and INTERPOL project in 2019 to build resilience against agro-terrorism and agro-crime targeting animal health with the financial support of the Weapons Threat Reduction Programme of Global Affairs Canada. Given the importance of strong animal health surveillance systems for the early and effective response to agro-terrorism and agro-crime, the project uses the FAO Surveillance Evaluation Tool (SET) and its new Biothreat Detection Module to evaluate beneficiary countries’ capacities to detect criminal or terrorist animal health events. This paper presents the development of the new SET Biothreat Detection Module and how it will be used to evaluate surveillance for agro-terrorism and agro-crime animal threats. The module will be piloted in early 2021 and, once finalized, will be used by beneficiary countries of the joint OIE-FAO-INTERPOL project. Results from evaluations using SET and its Biothreat Detection Module are expected to provide a baseline from which countries can build targeted capacity for animal disease surveillance including early detection and investigation of potential terrorist or criminal events involving zoonotic and non-zoonotic animal pathogens.