Annual Report of the Scientific Network on BSE‐TSE 2018

Abstract

The EFSA Scientific Network on bovine spongiform encephalopathies and other transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (BSE-TSE) held its 13th meeting on 15-16 October 2018 in Parma. The meeting served as an opportunity to exchange scientific information on BSE-TSE related issues among EU Member States, countries from the European Free Trade Association (EFTA), EFSA, the European Commission and ad hoc participants. In this occasion, ad hoc representation included the World Animal Health Organisation (OIE), the Department of Food Safety, Nutrition and Veterinary Public Health of the Istituto Superiore di Sanità (Italy), and the Animal and Plant Health Agency, UK. The topics discussed included: an update on BSE-TSE-related activities at national and international level and results from recent TSE-related research projects and risk assessments in several EU countries. In addition, the Network discussed: updates on the situation of Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) in Norway; state of play of CWD surveillance in six member states; the zoonotic potential of TSEs, ongoing EFSA, OIE and EC activities on this area, the new TSE EURL, the preliminary results of the 2017 EU TSE summary report, and the update on recent published research including came prion disease, analyses of BSE surveillance data and the impact of changes in SRM on BSE infectivity in edible tissues (small ruminants and cattle).