2023-06-02 16:26:49
The national reference laboratory: coordinate diagnostic analyzes
The Ploufragan-Plouzané-Niort laboratory is the national reference laboratory (NRL) for avian influenza: it supervises a network of veterinary laboratories, permanently operational, to quickly carry out all the analyzes necessary for the diagnosis of the disease. When a farm or wild birds are suspected of being infected with avian influenza, based on official clinical suspicion criteria, standardized samples are taken and immediately sent to approved veterinary laboratories which carry out RT-PCR tests. The ANSES laboratory carries out confirmatory analyzes in the event of a positive result obtained during these tests.
The NRL regularly organizes interlaboratory proficiency tests to guarantee the reliability of the analyzes of the network’s veterinary laboratories. He participates every year in their equivalent at the European level.
Furthermore, faced with developments in the virus, the NRL is developing new analysis methods and implementing in-depth analyzes to finely characterize the isolated strains. It also has a collection of viral strains that it regularly adds to.
The ANSES Laboratory transmits data at the international level on the circulation of avian influenza virus strains, within the framework of OFFLU (joint global network of the World Organization for Animal Health – FAO of expertise on animal flus).
Research to better understand the avian influenza virus
Improve virus detection in the environment
The national reference laboratory for avian influenza is evaluating methods for detecting avian influenza viruses, to enable the detection of this virus in the farm environment. This will make it possible in particular to detect the most contaminated areas and materials and to evaluate the effectiveness of the cleaning and disinfection measures implemented prior to the reintroduction of animals into contaminated farms.
Better understand the strains in circulation
The in-depth study of the characteristics of avian influenza viruses detected during epizootics is essential in order to improve responsiveness and adapt control measures. The work focuses in particular on the genetic variability of viruses, their virulence factors, as well as their capacity for transmission and adaptation to a non-avian host. This latest work is carried out in close collaboration with the national reference centers for human influenza viruses and the authorities responsible for public health.
Support to prevent and manage avian influenza crises
ANSES is regularly mobilized by the ministry responsible for agriculture to support it in the management of avian influenza crises. Thus, the agency assesses the risk of introduction and spread of the disease in French poultry farms, in coordination with the animal health epidemiological surveillance platform. This assessment is based on the global and European situation, wild bird migrations and the number of poultry farms in areas frequented by infected wild birds. The Agency also supports public authorities on the management measures to be put in place to limit the spread of the disease on farms and to combat its potential spread to other animals and humans in contact. It also carries out epidemiological investigations during epizootics and during depopulation operations on contaminated livestock farms. It conducts experiments intended to evaluate the effectiveness of certain management approaches, such as the experimental evaluation of the duration of slurry sanitation or the monitoring of viral persistence on landfill sites. Through its skills in research and risk assessment but also as the National Veterinary Medicines Agency (ANMV), ANSES also supports the implementation of poultry vaccination.
Support the development of vaccination in ducks
In addition to the biosecurity measures already in place on farms, ANSES supports public authorities in developing a vaccination strategy. It thus evaluated preventive vaccination scenarios aimed at protecting the poultry sectors and limiting the spread of the virus by prioritizing, according to the means of vaccination available, the species to be vaccinated and the types of farms.
At the end of a study aimed at evaluating the benefit of vaccinating ducks once morest the virus, ANSES and the National Veterinary School of Toulouse have also demonstrated the effectiveness of two vaccine candidates in a strictly experimental framework, in conditions close to the field and in protected conditions, both on the prevention of symptoms of the disease and on the limitation of excretion and transmission between poultry. The study, commissioned by the ministry in charge of agriculture, also brought together the regions of Nouvelle-Aquitaine, Occitanie, Pays-de-la-Loire and Brittany, as well as professionals in the sector. This research is part of the action plan on vaccination once morest highly pathogenic avian influenza announced in December 2022i by the Minister of Agriculture and Food Sovereignty.
Since March 2023, ANSES, as the National Veterinary Medicines Agency, has issued several temporary authorizations for use (ATU) for veterinary vaccines effective once morest the circulating strain of HPAI. These ATUs allow the use of these vaccines in our country if a vaccination campaign is decided by the public authorities, such as the one planned for fall 2023. As of June 1, five ATUs of this type were issued, including three for vaccines usable on ducks: POULVAC FLUFEND H5N3 (chickens and Peking duck) and AVIAN INFLUENZA VACCINE H5N1 (chicken) from Zoetis France, VECTORMUNE HVT AIV (chicken) and VACCIN SRV H5 (mulard duck) from Ceva Santé Animale, VOLVAC BEST AI + ND (chickens, Pekin, mulard and prickly ducks) from Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health France. Two vaccines targeting species other than ducks are still being studied.
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