New and Emerging Diseases
OIE Collaborating Centre Reports
Activities in 2011
Title of Collaborating Centre: / New and Emerging DiseasesAddress of Collaborating Centre: / Australian Animal Health Laboratory
Geelong, Victoria 3220, AUSTRALIA
Tel.: / (61 3) 5227 5000
Fax: / (61 3) 5227 5555
e-mail address: /
website: / www.csiro.au
Name of Director of Institute (Responsible Official): / Dr Martyn Jeggo
Name (including Title and Position) of Head of the Collaborating Centre (formally OIE Contact Point): / Dr Martyn Jeggo
Name (including Title and Position) of writer of this report
(if different from above) / Dr Peter Daniels
Summary of activities specifically related to the mandate of
OIE Collaborating Centres
1. Activities as a centre of research, expertise, standardisation and dissemination of techniques within the remit of the mandate given by the OIE
Research
Research
a. AAHL is a national laboratory facility for the biocontainment of foreign animal diseases and new and emerging animal diseases and viral zoonoses, operating at BSL3 (enhanced) and BSL4. It provides a rapid diagnostic capability and outbreak diagnostic surge capacity through a Diagnosis, Surveillance and Response group and conducts research in to the major transboundary animal diseases and viral zoonoses under the theme of transforming animal biosecurity. Work is directed towards 3 main objectives: Reduction of Disease Emergence or Invasion Risk, Mitigation of Disease Impact through Decision Support for Limiting Disease Spread andMitigation of Disease Impact through Modification of the Host Response. This year has seen a considerable enhancement (5 times) of the available PC4 space with the addition of 350 sq metres, including areas for small animals, insects and live cell imaging. Additionally a new large insectary will be opened by midway through this current year.
b. Research dealing specifically with emerging infectious zoonotic diseases includes:
· development of novel antiviral treatments for Henipavirus infections including passive immunotherapies
· optimization and commercialisation of Hendra vaccine for use in equines
· development of an improved diagnostic capability for Henipavirus infectionsincluding stall-side tests
· use of reverse genetics systems for further henipavirus studies
· Use of continuousbat cell lines forhost-virus interaction andimmunological studies
· comparative pathogenesis studyon different strains of Hendra and Nipah viruseswith a focus on transmission mechanisms
· Further use of the ferret model for henipavirus research and vaccine/therapeutics trials
· Studies on Paramyxovirus infections in poultry and in pigeons
· pathogenesis studies of SARS Coronavirus in bats
c. AAHL is continuing to work on AI pathogenesis and studies of AI vaccines and vaccination.
· Challenge models of H5N1 infection have been developed in chickens, ducks,ferretsand mice. Vaccine efficacy testing has continued using a number of commercial vaccines.
· Comparative pathogenesis studies are being conducted both with field strains of H5N1 from various countries and species and with AI viruses constructed using reverse genetics(in collaboration with US and European research organisations).
· Two major studies with an international poultry breeding company havecontinued; oneusing transgenic techniques to develop poultry with an enhanced immune system that will be substantially resistant to AI infectionand another to develop anti-viral therapeutics.Both projects are now well underway and are likely to substantially achieve their overall objectives.
· Wild bird isolates of avian influenza viruses from Australia have been sequenced and the data used to better understand the movement of these strains both within Australia and in neighbouring countries. .
· Epidemiological studies in Indonesia and Vietnam have continued to investigate AI transmission in markets, AI infection in ducks, and the impact of vaccination on AI transmission in both commercial and village sectors.
d. Work on foot and mouth disease includes:
· development of new diagnostic approaches and reagents
· evaluation of vaccines contained in the Australian FMD bank using challenge studies in Vietnam (in pigs)
· Epidemiological studies of effectiveness of foot and mouth disease control programs in Vietnam
· Management of classical swine fever and foot and mouth disease at the village level in Laos
e. Wildlife disease research is continues on:
· the role of Australian bats in Hendra virus maintance
· Koi herpesvirus as a potential biological control agent
f. Research on other diagnostic technologies and test development includes
· Use of molecular detection and characterisation systems for characterising unknown viruses isolated in Australia
· Rapid characterisation of unknown viruses using microarray hybridisation and PCR-select-subtraction and mass (454) sequencing
· Development and production of immunological reagents and tests for emerging infectious diseases using recombinant antibody technology
· Use of diagnostic tests for abalone herpesvirus and applying these in transmission trials and surveillance
g. Research has commenced on a number of arbovirus infections using newly acquired facilities and expertise in insects that act as vectors
· Studies on the development of a vaccine against ephemeral fever (three day sickness) in cattle
· Studies on bluetongue virus isolates from insects in Australia and their full characterisation
· Studies on innate immunity in insects
· Studies in insect transmission of important arboviruses
Expertise
· In addition to the specific missions by AAHL staff listed under section 3 below, AAHL’s Dr. Linfa Wang serves as a member of the WHO SARS Reference and Verification Laboratory Network
· With respect to terrestrial animal disease, AAHL is a designated OIE Reference Laboratory for Hendra and Nipah Virus Diseases, Bluetongue Disease, Newcastle Disease and Avian Influenza. See separate reports.
2. Proposal or development of any procedure that will facilitate harmonisation of international regulations applicable to the surveillance and control of animal diseases, food safety or animal welfare
Through OIE and FAO AAHL has been collaborating in the development of initiatives to harmonize veterinary laboratory testing for emerging infectious and zoonotic diseases. Training in systems to improve the strategic planning of laboratory activities within the animal health sector operations are being developed, as well as management systems that help laboratories fine tune their quality assurance systems and their laboratory biorisk management procedures.
AAHL continues to assist the OIE in developing approaches and standards to diagnostic test validation. Dr Axel Colling contributed to the OIE ad hoc Group Meeting on validation of diagnostic assays during 2010 as well as discussions of the recent developments in the area of test validation during an FAO/IAEA/OIE consultants meeting at the IAEA/FAO Joint Division in Vienna. During 2011 the outcomes of these processes, draft new sections and approaches in the OIE Manual of Diagnostic Tests and Vaccines for Terrestrial Animals, have been circulated to member countries for their consideration and responses.
3. Networking
a) Maintenance of a network with other OIE Collaborating Centres designated for the same specialty, and
At the invitation of the OIE AAHL collaborates with other OIE Collaborating Centres including the Center for Epidemiology and Animal Health, USDA, Fort Collins, the Collaborating Centre for Diseases at the Animal/Human Interface, IZSV, Padova, the Collaborating Centre for Emerging and Re-Emerging Zoonotic Diseases at the National Center for Emerging and Infectious Diseases, CDC, Atlanta. These Collaborating Centres come together for activities such as The Technical Consultation in Support of the OIE Emerging Pandemic Threats Program held at OIE HQ 25-27 January 2011.
b) Should the need arise, maintenance of a network with Collaborating Centres in other disciplines
AAHL participates in the Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network (GOARN) and the Emerging and Dangerous Pathogens Laboratory Network (EDPLN) under the auspices of WHO.
4. Placement of expert consultants at the disposal of the OIE
· Wilna Vosloo participated in meetings as the agreement holder for the International Atomic Energy Agency Project entitled Development of Molecular and Nuclear Technologies to FMD, Rome, Italy 8-16 Jan 11.
· Peter Daniels participated in The 3rd Meeting of OIE Bluetongue Network in Teramo, Italy on 21 January 2011
· Martyn Jeggo participated in the Animal Health Stakeholders Awareness Meeting in South East Asia 20-21, Bangkok Thailand - 19-22 Jan 11
· Peter Daniels participated in The Technical Consultation in Support of the OIE Emerging Pandemic Threats Program in Paris, 25-27 January 2011
· Peter Daniels participated the WHO/OIE/FAO International Meeting on Influenza Interspecies Transmission sponsored by CDC and held in Treviso, Italy, 1-3 February 2011
· Glenn Marsh attended the 6th international Conference on Emerging Zoonoses, Cancun, Mexico, 24-27 Feb 11
· John Allen participated in the first meeting for the lab strengthening working group for the Australian Indonesia Partnership for Emerging Infectious Diseases 2010-2014, Jakarta, Indonesia, 21-25 Feb 11.
· Sam McCullough participated in the Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network (GOARN) Training, Kampot, Cambodia, 24 Feb to 5 Mar 11.
· Wilna Vosloo was invited by OIE to attend the 17th meeting of the OIE sub-commission for FMD control in SE Asia, Denpasar, Indonesia, 7-11 Mar 11.
· Ross Lunt facilitated the OIE/FAO BTV Workshop in Bogor, Indonesia, 5-11 Mar 11
· Linfa Wang was invited as a speaker at the XII International Symposium on Respiratory Viruses, Rome, Italy, 11-17 Mar 11
· Peter Daniels attended the OIE ad hoc Group Meeting on Epizootic Haemorrhagic Disease, Paris, France, 13-17 Mar 11.
· Linfa Wang provided a seminar at the Pasteur Institute, Paris, France 20-23 Mar 11
· John Allen attended the OIE twinning Network Meeting, Paris France, 27 Mar to 8 Apr 11
· Martyn Jeggo attended meetings with Prof Borriello, Chief Executive AHVLA, to discuss Twinning Projects, Surrey, UK, 28-29 Mar 11.
· Martyn Jeggo was invited to participate in the OIE Twinning Program Workshop, Paris, France, 30-31 Mar 11
· Frank Wong attended the OFFLU Technical Meeting – Influenza in Swine, OIE Headquarters Paris, France 5-8 Apr 11.
· John Allen attended the OIE workshop on Laboratory Gap Analysis, Paris, France 12-13 May 11
· Martyn Jeggo presented at the NFID 2011 Annual Conference on Vaccine Research, Baltimore, MD, USA -14-21 May 11
· Greg Smith attended the 14th IVBW Conference in Copenhagen, Denmark, 14-24 May 11.
· Paul Selleck and Gemma Carlile visited Regional Laboratories as part of the OIE Twinning Project to establish PT panel methodology with lab staff in country, Ipoh, Malaysia, 15-28 May 11.
· Peter Daniels attended the DISCONTOOLS FP7 project meeting of the Nipah Virus Expert Group, Brussels, Belgium, 28 May – 1 Jun 11.
· Martyn Jeggo was invited to present at the conference for Emerging and Persistent Infectious Diseases: Focus on Prevention convened by the Institute on Science for Global Policy (ISGP) in San Diego, 03-08 Jun 11
· Chris Morrissy was involved meetings to prepare for linking assessment missions and gap analysis in Viet Nam, 5-19 Jun 11.
· Wilna Vosloo attended the Global FMD Research Alliance Annual Workshop in Buenos Aires, Argentina 14-16 Jun 11
· Frank Wong and Mai Hlaing Loh conducted sequencing training and to attend a sequence network meeting as part of the OIE Twinning Project, Ipoh, Malaysia, 20 -25 Jun 11
· John Allen and Chris Morrissy were invited to undertake a scoping mission for a Lab-Field Epidemiology Training Course for FAO, Bangkok, Thailand, 26 Jun to 2 Jul 11
· Serge Corbeil was invited to present at the OIE Global Conference on Aquatic Animal Health, Panama City, Panama, 27 Jun to 1 Jul 11
· Wilna Vosloo attended OIE FMD Meeting in Paris, France 27-29 Jun 11
· Martyn Jeggo was invited to attend the GREP Symposium and Rinderpest Eradication Declaration, Rome, Italy, 27-28 Jun 11
· Martyn Jeggo attended the first meeting of the International Society of One Health (ISOH), London, UK – 29 Jun 11
· Frank Wong travelled to Surabaya in Indonesia to provide sequencing training and to attend a sequence network meeting as part of the OFFLU Project, Indonesia, 3-9 Jul 11
· Alex Hyatt was invited to present as the keynote speaker at the 1st International Ranvirus Symposium, Minneapolis, USA, 6-14 Jul 11.
· Brian Meehan conducted training for the Diagnosis of CSF and PRRS under the FAO PRRS/CSF project, Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam, 7-24 Jul 11.
· Greg Smith was invited to attend the US National Academies Workshop on Anticipating Biosecurity Challenges of the Global Expansion of High Containment Biological Laboratories, Istanbul, Turkey, 10-15 Jul 11
· Gemma Carlile and Paul Selleck conducted follow-up meetings and analysis of test results as part of the OIE Twinning Project, Ipoh, Malaysia, 24-29 Jul 11.
· Peter Daniels presented a plenary paper at the Sustainable Animal Agriculture for Developing Countries Conference, Bangkok, Thailand, 24-30 Jul 11.
· Peter Daniels attended the FAO/OIE Regional Laboratory Network Technical Advisory Group Meeting, Bangkok, Thailand 2-6 Aug 11
· Chris Morrissy was invited to attend the FAO LabNet meeting in Bangkok, Thailand, 4-5 Aug 11.
· Greg Smith attended the National Academies Meeting, Washington DC, USA, 4-8 Sept 11.
· Nick Moody visited the CEFAS Laboratory to workshop development of professional networks and diagnostic protocols, UK, 4-9 Sept 11.
· Nick Moody attended the EAFP 15th International Conference on Diseases of Fish and Shellfish, Split, Croatia, 10-17 Sept 11.
· Martyn Jeggo and Nick Lombardi attended the 4th GOHLD meeting of Directors of High Security Bio-containment Facilities, Winnipeg, Canada, 12-16 Sept 11.
· Peter Daniels chaired the OFFLU Steering Committee Meeting and attended the ad hoc Group meeting on Biosafety and Biosecurity in Veterinary Laboratories, Paris, 14-21 Sept 11
· Nick Moody visited the EU Reference Laboratory for Fish Diseases to workshop development of professional networks and diagnostic protocols, Aarhus, Denmark, 18-23 Sept 11.
· John Allen attended the WHO Regional Workshop on Emerging and Dangerous Pathogens Laboratory Network (EDPLN) in Jakarta, Indonesia, 20-22 Sept 11.
· Martyn Jeggo presented at the RELU Conference - Living with uncertainty in animal disease management, London, UK, 20-22 Sept 11.
· Sam McCullough presented an invited paper at the 23rd Malaysian Veterinary Association Annual Meeting, Ipoh, Malaysia, 23-26 Sept 11.
· Nick Moody visited the IFREMER Laboratory to enable development of professional networks and diagnostic protocols, La Tremblade, France, 25-27 Sept 11.
· Martyn Jeggo presented at Hong Kong Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department Workshop - One Health - The Road Ahead - Hong Kong, 26-28 Sept 11