Support to Increase Sustainable Livestock Production
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- Published on Tuesday, 06 September 2011 06:23
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Project Duration: 3 Years (Jan 2011 – Jan 2014)
Project Background:
Government of Pakistan identified Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) as the priority livestock disease for the control at Trilateral Meeting in January 2010 in Doha. A trilateral seminar (Afghanistan, Pakistan, USA) was held in Islamabad on 16-17 February 2010 which in the framework of a strategic dialogue of USA – Pakistan, recommended formulation of an FMD control project. A USDA Mission visited Pakistan from 25 June to 22 July 2010 consisting of Drs D. Ashford and S. Williams and developed a concept note based on mission findings. A program agreement was signed in September 2010 between USDA and FAO “Support to FAO to increase sustainable livestock productions” which includes this project (GCP/PAK/123/USA).
Project Outputs and Activities
Output 1: Capacity to diagnose FMD at disease, serotype and genotype level enhanced at districts, provincial and reference laboratories in Pakistan
Activity 1. Strengthening of Lab capacity for FMD diagnosis: Pakistan has three tier lab set-up consisting of District, Provincial and National diagnostic laboratories. District Labs will be provided on-spot diagnosis kits of FMD and material, training and expenditure for sample collection and despatch. Provincial Labs will have ELISA facilities for diagnosis and serotyping of FMD virus and SP & NSP antibody testing facilities. The project will facilitate in ELISA set up (missing items), kits, expendables, training, technical backstopping and related expenditure. Provincial labs will send positive samples to NVL. NVL will have facilities for virus isolation and molecular diagnostics. Project will provide training and technical backstopping. NVL will send selected samples to WRL, Pirbright.
Activity 2. Capacity building of field and laboratory staff: Two persons from each District Lab (150) will be provided training in lateral flow test and sample collection and dispatch. 15 training sessions of 20 persons each will be conducted. Two persons from each Provincial Lab will be provided extensive training in antigen and antibody ELISA. NVL and possibly leading provincial lab staff will be provided training in virus isolation and molecular diagnostics by international experts.
Activity 3. Proficiency testing of diagnostic labs: This activity is aimed at improving and harmonizing the standard of FMD diagnosis and laboratory working. A laboratory proficiency testing protocol for all provincial laboratories will be established and operated by NVL. Technical assistance of International lab / experts will be hired for establishment of the testing protocol.
Activity 4. Development of a harmonized (central and provincial) Laboratory Information and Management System: Laboratory Information and Management System will be developed and installed at NVL and Provincial Labs. A Local IT Service Provider will be contracted to develop the required software and provide training to the relevant staff.
Output 2: Surveillance of and response to FMD outbreaks in the country improved
Activity 1. Awareness of livestock farmers: Farmer’s community would be educated to deal with the threat of FMD through posters, leaflets/brochures and print and electronic media/videos. Awareness seminars and workshops will be held by Provincial Livestock and Dairy Development Departments in different areas of the country. Approximately 100 farmers meetings will be held in the project duration.
Activity 2. Capacity building of field staff and policy makers: For field staff (Vets and paravets) trainings (40 sessions; 20 participants each; 2-3 days each) would be provided in clinical recognition and differential diagnosis of FMD, movement restriction / segregation of animals as control measure, samples collection, storage and shipment, application of therapeutics remedies on animals showing clinical disease, vaccines and vaccination and disposal of carcases. Briefs and other print material will be developed for senior professional managers and policy makers and national workshops will be held to seek their input. A visit will be arranged for senior professional managers and policy makers to a developing country with good FMD surveillance and control systems in place.
Activity 3. Outbreak reporting, epidemiological investigation and submission of samples: Field staff (vet / paravet) is expected to report suspected FMD outbreak (even a single case) to DLO, ADIO and provincial TAD officer. ADIO will be provided sampling kits and expenditure to attend the outbreaks will be covered. ADIO will collect the relevant samples and initial epidemiological information of the outbreak. Project Field Officer from core staff will be deputed when possible to visit outbreaks for monitoring epidemiological data collection, etc.
Activity 4. Sero-monitoring for determining the level of virus circulation in different farming systems: To determine the level of FMD virus circulation, blood samples will be collected on yearly basis from 6-18 months old animals in different production systems (subsistence farming, rural market oriented, rural commercial, peri-urban/urban dairying, desert farming). Around 200 villages (unvaccinated) will be selected and 16 samples will be collected from each village from cattle and buffaloes aged 6-18 months. Similar sampling will be done from villages with vaccination program for comparison.
Activity 5. Creation of a rapid response mechanism for FMD outbreaks: Response to the occurrence of FMD clinical outbreaks is essential for effective reporting and minimizing spread of infection to surrounding areas. A rapid response mechanism will be developed in collaboration with provincial / regional livestock departments to control spread of FMD outbreaks. Rapid response teams would be constituted (under the supervision of DLOs) to implement measures to contain the infection and production losses by segregation of infected animals, movement restriction, vaccination in village/herd (except in dairy colonies) and treatment for healing and to avoid secondary infections. Vaccine storage will be facilitated at NVL, Lahore, Sargodha, Multan, Hyderabad, Karachi, Sukkur, Quetta, Sibi, Peshawar, Muzaffarabad, Gilgit and Skardu.
Activity 6. Creation of a National FMD Epidemiology and Information System: Federal government will establish the node under the supervision of DG NVL and AHC. Scientists from NVL are expected to be given the responsibility to run this node. The node will retrieve the data from the Laboratory Information and Management System and prepare monthly reports on the current status of FMD in the country. Reports will be shared with the provincial livestock departments and field staff. Office equipment and necessary training, if required, would be provided by the Project.
Activity 7. Strengthening of FMD monitoring program in Landhi Dairy Colony Karachi: Landhi, the biggest buffalo dairy colony with > 300,000 animals is a hot-spot for FMD virus. A diagnostic facility (same as in provinces) would be established at Landhi Diagnostic Laboratory. Treatment facilities will be provided to animals during FMD outbreaks at Landhi without vaccination.
Output 3: Benefits of early and consistent immunization practices demonstrated for effective control of FMD
Activity 1. Identification of appropriate vaccine for field use: Potent and relevant vaccine is a pre-requisite for effective control of FMD. An Experts Committee will be constituted including Project staff, NVL, FAO Technical staff, FMDRC staff, Other national experts and WRL, Pirbright via teleconference. On the bases of the available information about the prevalent serotypes/subtypes in Pakistan, it would recommend annually the constitution of vaccine to be used in the project activities.
2. Strengthening NVL capacity for evaluation of FMD vaccines: Quality assurance is one of the responsibilities of the NVL. An international expert will be recruited to train the NVL staff for developing proper SOP for analyzing the quality of vaccine. The required facilities will also be strengthened.
3. Effective vaccination in dairy colony production system: One dairy colony (about 10,000 animals) will be selected each in Punjab, Sindh, Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Animals entering into the colony will be tagged and vaccinated. Booster dose after one month following first vaccination will be ensured. After about 8 months, all animals in the colony would be vaccinated (sero-monitoring-immunity level > 80%). Continuous sero-monitoring will be undertaken. Samples from slaughtered animals including oral swabs (pre slaughter) and pharyngeal swab (post slaughter) for virus detection will be collected along with blood samples.
4. Early immunization in market oriented rural dairy production system: Benefits of early and consistent Immunization against FMD will be demonstrated in farming systems where breeding is carried out. 10 – 15 villages (total 20,000 heads of cattle and buffaloes) / rural commercial or breeder farms will be included in each province / region. Animals of about 4 months of age will be vaccinated with FMD vaccine followed by a booster dose. Regular vaccination will be carried out after every 6 months and sero-monitoring will be undertaken to assess the level of immune population. Number of FMD outbreaks should be significantly less as compared to non-vaccinated areas.
5. Evaluation of FMD vaccination effects on productivity in different dairy production systems: Production parameters at selective farms in dairy colonies would be studied pre and post vaccination. Similar studies would be undertaken at market oriented farming system in villages.
Project Management and Execution
FAO will be the lead agency for the project and will hire a small team of local professionals. All project activities to be implemented by the Provincial/Regional Livestock and Dairy Development Departments with assistance from project team.
Project Outcomes
The project is expected to provide a framework within which progressive control of FMD in Pakistan can be effectively implemented. The improvement of on-farm livestock health care system will include:
– improved capacity to diagnose FMD;
– improved FMD surveillance and response to the outbreaks; and
– development of effective vaccination strategy for disease control.
Based upon findings of the project, the Islamic Republic of Pakistan will be able to further progress in the control of FMD and to move to higher stages (stage 2) of the progressive control pathway by the end of the project.
