Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael)
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Question 98: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the reason agricultural laboratories are not available for bovine viral diarrhoea, infectious bovine rhinotracheitis and Johne's disease testing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3763/10]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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Bovine Viral Diarrhoea (BVD) virus and Infectious Bovine Rhinotracheitis (IBR) virus are two viral agents that have been recognised as being endemic and causing disease in animals in Ireland for decades. Johne's disease is an infectious disease of cattle, sheep and goats associated with infections by a bacterium (Mycobacterium paratuberculosis). It causes wasting in all the above species and is associated with chronic diarrhea in cattle.

DAFF's Veterinary Laboratory Service has been at the forefront of developing and providing a diagnostic service and control measures for theses diseases in Ireland. A broad range of tests for these particular diseases is available at the Veterinary Laboratory Service. The Regional Veterinary Laboratory Service provides a post mortem diagnostic service for farm animals that have died for any reason including as a result of infections with BVD, IBR or as a result of Johne's disease.

Large numbers of samples from both live and dead animals are being tested annually in the Veterinary Laboratory Service. For instance, using various test methods, approximately 63,000 samples from animals were assayed for evidence of BVD infection last year. Similarly over 20,000 samples were tested for evidence of IBR infection and approximately 16,000 samples were tested for evidence of Johne's disease in 2009.

The performance of such tests is based on a variety of requests. These may range from differential diagnosis for exotic diseases, diagnostic purposes, to aid herd health schemes or to comply with Ireland's requirements to demonstrate that bulls entering AI stations are not carriers of IBR virus or BVD virus or infected with Johnes disease.

Statutory requirements for testing for exotic animal diseases will remain the highest priority for the DAFF Veterinary Laboratory Service. However due to the need to differentiate endemic or common diseases from exotic diseases, the cost of common diseases to the national herd and the need to reduce the incidence of such diseases in Ireland and promote Ireland the Food Island, DAFF laboratories provide a comprehensive range of diagnostic facilities for such diseases. Also, where possible, new tests are developed to facilitate more rapid accurate identification of disease causing agents.

It is continually necessary to review laboratory tests that are being provided on a routine basis in order to make best use of laboratory resources. A review of tests for viral agents took place at the end of 2009. In carrying out the review, the value of each test in terms of animal health, its relevance to diagnosis/disease control and efficient use of staff resources were assessed. Due to resource implications it was decided that a labour intensive test for BVD virus in pooled milk samples, which was newly developed at the Veterinary Laboratory Service, would not be offered on a routine basis. However in the event of disease investigation which warrants this particular testing system, arrangements for such testing can be made by contacting the local Regional Veterinary Laboratory and making prior arrangements to submit samples.

I am satisfied that a range of tests are available in the Veterinary Laboratory Service to accurately facilitate the diagnosis and control of BVD, IBR and Johne's disease in Irish cattle herds.