EU researchers review the fight against TSEs
Promising progress was reported by researchers involved in 54 EU-funded collaborative projects who met at the end of November to discuss the progress in detection, monitoring and combating of TSEs (transmissible spongiform encephalopathies) such as BSE (bovine spongiform encephalopathy) and CJD (Creuzfeldt-Jakob disease). The review essentially looked at the results of the European action plan (which was initiated in 1996) which has had 50 million euro allocated to it by the EU to identify and fight TSEs. The researchers, drawn from 150 laboratories around Europe, divided their attention into four main areas: transmission of infectious agents; human TSEs; animal TSEs; and how to reduce risks. European research Commissioner Philippe Busquin said of the research: 'The European action plan on TSE is exemplary of the benefits of a strong cooperation and coordination at European level. It demonstrates that Europe is able to rapidly mobilise substantial research resources in response to emergency questions. Such efforts must be encouraged and supported in the framework of a European Research Area (ERA).' In transmission, the research findings confirmed that cases can exist with sub-clinical symptoms, thereby avoiding immediate detection. This supported both the view that some animals may have a longer incubation period, and that stricter detection methods may be necessary. In human TSEs, the researchers recognised the importance of the European-wide surveillance system for CJD - which provides standardised data for all researchers working in the area. This also allows them to distinguish between the classical and new variant varieties of CJD. New developments in the detection of the prions that cause new variant CJD (nvCJD) have also been developed in this plan in addition to magnetic resonance imaging, an improved diagnostic method for all forms of CJD using brain imaging. In animal TSEs, pre-clinical diagnosis is now possible in various breeds of animal. In addition, encouraging results have also been found resulting from genotype studies carried out throughout Europe, which have been performed to breed for resistance to the disease. Detection systems have also been improved and harmonised. In reducing the risk, a considerable amount of research was presented, indicating that contamination of bovine carcasses could be greatly reduced through the use of novel abattoir equipment and industrial processes, which have been both developed and tested. . Ongoing activities within the European Union's Fifth Framework programme (FP5) include key actions one to three in the Quality of life (Qol) programme (dealing with food, nutrition and health; infectious diseases; and the cell factory respectively). Three new projects have also been selected for funding to maintain continuous surveillance of CJD cases, harmonise diagnostic methods and investigate manufacturing processes to reduce risk of contamination in gelatines. The latest call for proposals issued under the QoL programme on November 15 aims to strengthen the European effort to tackle BSE. Selected areas of the call focus on issues such as BSE transmission to blood, BSE transmission to other food animals and decontamination of abattoir waste. In a preventative method, the Commission has also been funding research into developing alternative indigenous protein sources for animal feed. The proposed European food authority will also play a key role in consolidating these efforts. The focus of activities in the future will be to ensure greater cooperation between the Member States, within the context of the European Research Area (ERA), to combat TSEs. Also, the Council has asked the Commission to set up an expert working group to find out and coordinate what all the EU Member States are doing in this field. Member States will nominate relevant experts (which can be more than one per Member State, depending on how many ministries are concerned). Finally, a meeting of the EU's standing scientific committee took place in Brussels on 28 November to examine whether there was any scientific basis for the bans on French beef placed by the European Member States Spain, Austria, Italy and Greece. The committee's findings will be given to a meeting of EU farm ministers on Monday, who will be reviewing anti-BSE measures.