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Animals >
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Scrapie
Scrapie Surveillance
Help Eradicate Scrapie from Canada
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Scrapie is a fatal disease that affects the central nervous system of sheep
and goats. It is what is known as a transmissible spongiform encephalopathy
(TSE). Other TSEs include bovine
spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) in cattle and chronic wasting disease in deer
and elk.
Scrapie was first diagnosed in Canada in 1938 and became a reportable
disease here in 1945. With the majority of countries worldwide working to
eradicate TSEs from their national
herds, the continued presence of scrapie in Canada is preventing access to
international markets, including the United States. With your help, Canada can
take action to eradicate scrapie.
The national scrapie surveillance program
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and several provincial
agricultural ministries have launched a surveillance program to detect scrapie
in the national sheep flock and goat herd. The goal is to identify every
infected animal so that proper steps can be taken to completely eradicate the
disease from our country.
The producer’s role
The surveillance program needs your on-farm mature deadstock.
Eradication will only be accomplished if every source of the
disease is found. Samples representing the entire national
sheep flock and goat herd need to be tested.
Report all sheep and goats aged 12 months and older that die on your farm or
exhibit the following signs or symptoms:
- Unexplained weight loss
- Problems standing or walking
- Changes in behaviour
Call the CFIA at
1 800 442-2342 or your local CFIA office to report an animal and
make arrangements to have a sample taken for testing.
Compensation
Compensation is available for any live animals ordered destroyed by the
CFIA.
Keeping sheep and goats healthy
Manage the risk of scrapie showing up on your farm by either closing your
female flock and testing all mature dead animals or by breeding for genetic
resistance to scrapie. General biosecurity practices associated with farm
visitors and animal husbandry (needles, taggers etc.) are also recommended.
For more information please visit scrapiecanada.ca or call the CFIA at 1 800 442-2342.
Report all sheep and goats aged 12 months and older that die on your
farm or exhibit the following signs or symptoms:
- Unexplained weight loss
- Problems standing or walking
- Changes in behaviour
P0459-06
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