Written question asked by Alan W Williams (Labour), in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 29 January 1997. It was answered by Baroness Browning (Conservative) on Wednesday, 29 January 1997 on behalf of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food.

Ministry of Agriculture Fisheries and Food

Question: If he will comment on progress towards developing a test for BSE in live animals.

Answer: Mr. Williams: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on progress towards developing a test for BSE in live animals. [12770] Mrs. Browning: MAFF has put considerable resources into the development of a test to detect BSE in the live animal, but so far no test suitable for use in the field has been developed. At present, BSE can only be suspected in the live animal on the basis of observations of the clinical signs exhibited; confirmation of the clinical opinion is dependent on laboratory examination of brain tissue after death. The development of a live test is particularly difficult with the transmissible spongiform encephalopathies because the specific infectious agent has not been isolated and there is no detectable immune response--normally two prerequisites for developing diagnostic tests. Additional resources are being invested into the development of a BSE diagnostic test and to stimulate research in this area MAFF recently launched an open competition for independent scientists to develop other novel approaches. MAFF is also working in collaboration with French, Dutch and American researchers in the development of tests. Although lines of investigation using urine, blood and cerebrospinal fluid show some promise on clinically affected animals, they are unlikely to be of value in diagnosing sub-clinically infected cattle.

Secondary information