Animals > Animal Diseases > Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy > Safeguards  

BSE Enhanced Surveillance Program

Canada implemented a national bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) surveillance program in 1992. In 2003, the Government announced that the number of annual BSE samples tested through this program would be increased. The level and design of BSE testing in Canada has always been, and continues to be, in full accordance with the guidelines recommended by the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE).

Surveillance is one of many BSE-related actions Canada has implemented to manage BSE. The program tests a sample of animals from the national cattle herd and focuses on higher-risk animals that are most likely to be affected by the disease. The surveillance program’s objectives are to determine and monitor the level of BSE present in Canada and to confirm the effectiveness of the suite of measures Canada has implemented to protect human and animal health from the disease.

In 2004, Canada surpassed its target of 8,000 and collected a total of 23,550 samples. In 2005, the minimum target of 30,000 was surpassed in early June. This illustrates the effectiveness of the national BSE surveillance program and the high level of commitment from all levels of government, producers, private veterinarians and industry stakeholders to finding the disease.

The following tables charts the progress of Canada’s surveillance program. You can click on the various table headings for information about each category. As well, you can visit the following links for information about testing methods, testing levels , sample collection and submitting samples.

Sample Status and Testing Results

Updated weekly. Last updated 2006-12-08

2006

2005

2004

Samples collected

"Samples collected" indicates the number of samples submitted or being submitted to provincial or federal laboratories. Each sample represents one animal.

Monthly values represent only the number of samples obtained in that month. "Year to date" values represent cumulative samples. This information is updated weekly.

• Additional information about how samples are collected.

Samples Pending

Pending samples are those for which final results are unavailable. This may be because they have yet to be tested, or testing is ongoing.

Monthly values represent only the number of samples pending in that month. "Year to date" values represent cumulative pending samples. This information is updated weekly.

• Additional information about how samples are tested.

Negative

Negative samples have been determined negative based on screening results or confirmatory testing.

Monthly values represent only the number of samples testing negative in that month. "Year to date" values represent cumulative negative samples. This information is updated weekly, each Wednesday.

• Additional information about how samples are tested.

Positive

Positive samples are those that have been confirmed as positive by immunohistochemistry (IHC), or in the case of poor quality samples and IHC negative suspect tests, the SAP immunoblot, both internationally recognized confirmatory tests for BSE.

Monthly values represent only the number of samples testing positive in that month. "Year to date" values represent cumulative positive samples. Positive results are reported upon confirmation.

• Additional information about how samples are tested.