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Mange and myiasis of livestock

Objectif

1. Background

1.1. Current state of research in the field

At present in the area of ectoparasitic disease, research work is focusing on methods of diagnosis, control and immunology.

There is major concern over the extreme suffering caused by these diseases, particularly mange and myiasis, both of which cause not only death but pain, suffering and sometimes pruritis to such a degree as to bring about convulsions. There is also grave unease over the potential and actual damage to the environment caused by the current use of toxic chemicals to control these diseases. This unease is further heightened by the growing evidence of human health problems occurring due to contact with some of these chemicals. The economic losses are also of great concern.

With these problems in mind, many of the scientists working on these diseases are searching for methods of control which will be easily and safely applied and which will be effective in curing the disease and eliminating suffering to the animals. Work is also proceeding to discover diagnostic techniques which will detect these diseases at an early stage before damage and pain commence.

Novel control systems are being sought which will help eliminate the use of environmentally toxic chemicals. Among these are vaccines, biological control and parasite metabolic interference systems.

The research involved has practical and applied significance and if coordinated and directed will be of major value to the livestock industry and the environment. These diseases and the problems associated with them have world-wide significance and are of particular importance in the east European countries, some of which will be involved in the proposed programme of work.

1.2. Why this cooperative work should be carried out within the COST context

The need for a structured programme to allow collaboration on the proposed research proceed in a streamlined and directional manner became apparent during the work of COST Action 811, which included many of the scientists working in the area of proposed cooperative research. The need to avoid duplication of much of the work and lay out tasks was further highlighted and agreed at the session on myiasis at the European multicoloquium on Parasitology in Parma, Italy, 2-6 September 1996. This session was attended by many of the workers involved in mange and myiasis.

It was agreed that, in order to achieve the maximum benefit from the proposed work, a combination of scientific resources, experience and expertise would be required. This would be best coordinated within the framework of COST and so give maximum benefit and make the most efficient use of resources.

2. Objectives of the Action

This Action will have three main objectives:

- to develop accurate means of diagnosis of mange and myiasis of livestock and so prevent suffering and improve animal welfare;

- to develop effective and environmentally sensitive methods of treatment and control of these diseases and so increase economic performance and decrease pressure on the environment;

- to increase the epidemiological knowledge of these diseases in order to facilitate control and eradication programmes.

3. Scientific content

The Action will cover three main areas.

3.1. Immunological studies and diagnostic systems

The variable disease response of animals to ectoparasites makes current diagnosis unreliable and spread of disease subversive and often undetectable. The nature of the immune response will be studied and, emanating from this, improved diagnostic procedures which will detect early and all forms of covert disease and directions to be taken in pursuit of possible vaccines. Different strains of mites with varying virulences have been detected and profiles of these will be made. Immunomodulation in hypodermosis has been noted and this phenomenon will be studied to ascertain its effect on disease detection.

3.2. Search for environmentally safe treatment systems

At present, ectoparasitic control is largely based on dips and topical applications of chemicals such as organophosphates and pyrethroids. These chemicals are toxic to the environment, particularly affecting invertebrates. Products which can be applied in small quantities and which do not involve large toxic residues, such as avermectins and milbemyins, are currently being evaluated. Other novel products will be sought as biological control systems, involving possible predators, vaccines and insect growth regulators. Genetic resistance to these diseases by some breeds will be studied and disease prevalence forecasting will be examined to reduce random treatment. The success of all treatments will be monitored and the nature of parasiticide resistance, which is a world-wide problem, how accurately to detect and measure it and, if possible, how to combat it, will be examined.

3.3. Epidemiological studies

The prevalence in Europe and elsewhere of some of the parasites under study is not accurately known. Knowledge thereof is vital before efforts to control them can be taken, therefore epidemiological mapping will be made where necessary. This will be carried out by clinical assessments and serological monitoring. With the accumulation of this knowledge, decisions on action to be taken will be made. Likewise, areas which have been cleared of certain diseases or have extremely low incidence may be threatened and the necessary epidemiological information will be sought, followed by agreement on prophylactic procedures.

The exact pathology, pathogenesis specificity and spread of some of the parasites under study are not clear and these matters will be actively dealt with under the proposed programme.

4. Timetable

The timetable required to pursue the scientific projects will be five years. Assessment of the progress of the Action will be by annual meetings and at workshops.

The first meeting will be held in the autumn of 1997 with yearly meetings and workshops. A final meeting will be held in the winter of 2002 to evaluate the achievements of the Action and publish the results.

5. Organization and management

The Action will be divided into two working groups, each under a chairperson or coordinator.

WG 1. Mange of livestock. This working group will be involved in the work of the programme as it relates to all manges, psoroptic, sarcoptic, demodectic, chorioptic etc.

WG 2. Myiasis of livestock. This working group will be involved in the work programme as it relates to all myiasis, blowfly, hypodermosis, oestrosis, gastrophilosis etc.

There will be much interaction and shared work between the two groups, and the group coordinators, working with the chairperson of the Action, will ensure close liaison and meet regularly. The Management Committee will decide who will be the chairperson of the Action and the working group coordinators.

Annual evaluation workshops (see Timetable) will be held:

- to review the results achieved and will include officials from the EU Commission and from other appropriate organizations;

- to promote cooperation within the participating institutes;

- to evaluate progress achieved in the programmes;

- to arrange publications of results as they become available;

- to receive information from experts, outside the group.

The Management Committee will meet twice a year, once in conjunction with the annual workshops.

The final evaluation is specified in Section "4. Timetable".

6. Economic dimension of the action

The following COST countries have actively participated in the preparation of the Action or otherwise indicated their interest: Belgium, Denmark, France, Greece, Germany, Ireland, Italy, The Netherlands, Spain, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.

On the basis of national estimates provided by the representatives of these countries and taking into account the coordination costs to be covered over the COST budget of the European Commission, the overall cost of the activities to be carried out under the Action has been estimated in 1997 prices as follow:

Scientific staff: 80 man-years x ECU 60,000 = ECU 4,80 million
Technical staff: 30 man-years x ECU 40,000 = ECU 1,20 million
Doctoral students staff: 20 man-years x ECU 25,000 = ECU 0,50 million
Total staff: 130 man-yearsECU 6,50 million
Laboratory equipment and consumablesECU 3,00 million
Coordination expenses including the financial support by the European Commission ECU 1,00 million
Total estimated cost over five yearsECU 10,50 million.

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Irlande

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