CFIA investigate why an Ontario dairy goat farm ended up with scrapie

Thursday, February 20, 2014

by SUSAN MANN

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency is tracing movements of goats on and off an undisclosed Ontario farm in connection with an outbreak of scrapie, a fatal degenerative disease that affects the central nervous system of sheep and goats.

Jennifer Haley, Ontario Goat executive director, says the disease was detected on the commercial dairy goat farm in December through regular health monitoring with the farm’s veterinarian.

The euthanization of the 482-goat herd was completed by the end of January.

Haley says it’s very rare to find scrapie in goats in Canada. “Previous cases of scrapie in goats have been linked back to connections with sheep flocks,” she explains. The fact that they haven’t heard of any new cases developing in Ontario is good news, she adds, noting scrapie is still a low prevalence disease in goats in Canada.

But Ontario Goat is waiting to see what final conclusions CFIA reaches once it completes its investigation. “If this is an isolated goat scrapie case, that is unique,” Haley says.

One of the challenges with the CFIA investigation is the lack of animal identification and record keeping within the goat industry, Haley says, noting there are some farmers who keep records but it isn’t mandatory or standardized within the industry. “That has kind of hampered the investigation process.”

Haley says she doesn’t know how many of the animals on the farm had the disease but all goats had to be euthanized so they can be tested. There isn’t a way to confirm scrapie by testing living goats for the disease. “The only way to absolutely confirm scrapie (in goats) is post mortem.”

The farmer has been very cooperative with the investigation process and understands the importance of disease eradication, she says.

All suspected cases must be reported to CFIA, which must notify the World Organization for Animal Health when cases are confirmed. Scrapie is internationally recognized as a serious disease.

In Canada industry and government have instituted a scrapie eradication program since 2005.

Rachael Burdman, Canadian Food Inspection Agency spokesperson, says by email that the farm remains under quarantine.

She would not say where the farm is located.

CFIA recognizes these situations are difficult and “does its utmost to respect the privacy of those involved,” states Burdman in the email. “Therefore we do not release any specific information about any actions taken on premises, other than to confirm CFIA is acting under the authority of the Health of Animals Act to prevent the spread of serious animal disease in Canada.”

Haley says Ontario Goat is continuing to provide moral support and help with biosecurity options for the farmer involved.

While the goat producers’ organization isn’t providing financial support to the farmer, it is helping by liaising with government “in terms of the funding they are able to access,” she says.

Government provides compensation in cases where it orders animals to be destroyed, she notes. BF