Foot and mouth disease

OIE Reference Laboratory Reports

Activities in 2011

Name of disease (or topic) for which you are a designated OIE Reference Laboratory: / Foot and mouth disease
Address of laboratory: / Botswana Vaccine Institute
Private Bag 0031
Gaborone, Botswana
Plot 6385/90 Lejara Road
Broadhurst Industrial
BOTSWANA
Tel.: / #267 391 2711
Fax: / #267 395 6798
e-mail address: /
website: /
Name (including Title and Position) of Head of Laboratory (Responsible Official): / Dr Gaolatlhe Thobokwe
Chief Veterinary Officer
Name (including Title and Position) of OIE Reference Expert: / Dr Onkabatse George Matlho
General Manager
Name (including Title and Position) of writer of this report
(if different from above): / Mr Elliot M. Fana and Dr G Thobokwe
OIE Laboratory Supervisor and Chief Vet Officer

Part I:Summary of general activities related to the disease

  1. Test(s) in use/or available for the specified disease/topic at your laboratory

i)Virus isolation on IRP1 and RM cells to detect presence of virus in samples.

ii)Antigen ELISA typing to determine serotype

iii)Antigen titration to determine infectivity titre of the field strain for Cross serum neutralization test (CSN).

iv)Cross Serum Neutralization Test to determine the r1 value of the existing vaccine strains against the circulating field strain.

v)RT-PCR and Sequencing for molecular characterization of the virus.

vi)Liquid Phase Blocking ELISA-screening for FMD antibodies for post vaccine monitoring in vaccinated animals and for FMD surveillance.

Test / For / Specificity / Total
LPBELISA / Antibody / Group / 927
ELISA / Antigen / Group / 350
VN / Antibody / Type / 18

IRP1 and RM cell culture

/ Virus isolation / 409

2.Production and distribution of diagnostic reagents

Type of reagent / Amount supplied nationally
(including for own use) / Amount supplied to other countries
Control positive serum / 3000ml / 1000ml
Inactive Antigens for ELISA tests / 200 ampoules of 1ml for each of SerotypesSAT 1, 2, 3, A and O / 30 ampoules of 2ml for each of Serotypes SAT 1, 2, 3,

Part II:Activities specifically related to the mandate
of OIE Reference Laboratories

3.International harmonisation and standardisation of methods for diagnostic testing or the production and testing of vaccines

a)Establishment and maintenance of a network with other OIE Reference Laboratories designated for the same pathogen or disease and organisation of regular inter-laboratory proficiency testing to ensure comparability of results

  • Participated in Proficiency tests for FMD Reference laboratories network organised by the FMD FAO World Reference laboratory at Pirbright UK.
  • Collected oropharyngeal scrapping samples from buffaloes in SADC countries (Zimbabwe, Zambia, Malawi, Tanzania, and Mozambique) for virus characterisation and vaccine matching in collaboration with SADC-TADS project, OVI and FAO WRL Pirbright.

b)Organisation of inter-laboratory proficiency testing with laboratories other than OIE Reference Laboratories for the same pathogens and diseases to ensure equivalence of results

  • Organised LPBE backstopping missions for the SADC region FMD laboratories visited five laboratories in the region (Zambia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Swaziland, and Namibia) to ensure that they are able to carry out the harmonised LPBE method in their laboratories. Report on these backstopping missions are available at

4.Preparation and supply of international reference standards for diagnostic tests or vaccines

  • Supplied validated SAT 1, 2 and 3 test viruses to Instituto Terramo in Italy
  • Supplied validatedinactivated antigens for SAT 1, 2, 3 to SADC laboratories for post vaccination seromonitoring

5.Research and development of new procedures for diagnosis and control

  • Currently work is in progress to come up with the FMD virus databank of circulating strains in the region. This will aid in phylogentic analysis of strain origin and or relation.
  • Post vaccination antibody titres have been determined for up to 120 days for SAT 1, 2 and 3 from several countries in the SADC region.

6.Collection, analysis and dissemination of epizootiological data relevant to international disease control

  • Virus surveillance carried in buffalo samples. Buffalo probang samples collected from Zimbabwe, Zambia, Tanzania, Mozambique, Angola and Botswana. Virus characterisation and vaccine matching in progress.
  • Responded to outbreak technical assistance request in Botswana and Cameroon. Samples collected, epidemiological assessment done and recommendations on control measures including vaccination regimes were made.

7.Maintenance of a system of quality assurance, biosafety and biosecurity relevant to the pathogen and the disease concerned

  • Maintained compliance against ISO 9001:2008 quality management standard requirements
  • Initiated preparation for implantation of ISO 17025 accreditation
  • Maintained implantation of Health Safety and Environment policies and procedures

8.Provision of consultant expertise to OIE or to OIE Member Countries

  • Responded to outbreak technical assistance request in Botswana and Cameroon. Samples collected, epidemiological assessment done and recommendations on control measures including vaccination regimes were made.
  • Dr G Thobokwe attended the FMD Reference laboratories network meeting in November at WRL Pirbright

9.Provision of scientific and technical training to personnel from other OIE Member Countries

Provision of FMD diagnostic training to Cameroon and Zambia personnel

10.Provision of diagnostic testing facilities to other OIE Member Countries

No. / Diagnosis / OIE Member Country
1 / Primary diagnostic and Confirmatory / Namibia
2 / Primary diagnostic and Confirmatory / Swaziland
3 / Primary diagnostic and Confirmatory / Zambia
4 / Surveillance probang / Namibia
5 / Surveillance probang / Angola
6 / Primary diagnostic and Confirmatory / Angola
7 / Primary diagnostic and Confirmatory / Malawi
8 / Primary diagnostic and Confirmatory / South Africa
9 / Surveillance / Zimbabwe

11.Organisation of international scientific meetings on behalf of OIE or other international bodies

Participated in the organising and hosting of FAO/OIE PCP meeting for the SADC region held in Gaborone March 2011

12.Participation in international scientific collaborative studies

  • Collected field samples from Cameroon for analysis and vaccine matching prior to advising on the vaccination programme

13Publication and dissemination of information relevant to the work of OIE (including list of scientific publications, internet publishing activities, presentations at international conferences)

Presentations at international conferences and meetings

None

______

Annual reports of OIE Reference Laboratories and Collaborating Centres, 20101