Ministry of Agriculture & Rural Development
Progress Report
Development of an Improved Capability in
support of National Bio-security for the
Surveillance and Control of Foot & Mouth
Disease in Cattle and Pigs.
Date 30/06/2006
Table of Contents
1. Institute Information_____________________________________________ 3
2. Project Abstract ________________________________________________ 4
3. Executive Summary _____________________________________________ 4
4. Introduction & Background _______________________________________ 5
5. Progress to Date________________________________________________ 6
5.1 Implementation Highlights ____________________________________ 6
5.2 Smallholder Benefits_________________________________________ 7
5.3 Capacity Building ___________________________________________ 8
5.4 Publicity ___________________________________________________ 8
5.5 Project Management _________________________________________ 8
6. Report on Cross-Cutting Issues ___________________________________ 8
6.1 Environment _______________________________________________ 8
6.2 Gender and Social Issues_____________________________________ 8
7. Implementation & Sustainability Issues_____________________________ 9
7.1 Issues and Constraints_______________________________________ 9
7.2 Options____________________________________________________ 9
7.3 Sustainability _______________________________________________ 9
8. Next Critical Steps _____________________________________________ 10
9. Conclusion ___________________________________________________ 10
10. Statuatory Declaration ________________________________________ 13
1. Institute Information
Project Name
Vietnamese Institution Regional Animal Health Centre, Ho
Chi Minh City (RAHC-HCMC),
South Vietnam.
Vietnamese Project Team Leader Dr. Dong Manh Hoa
Australian Organisation Australian Animal Health
Laboratory (AAHL), PMB 24,
Geelong, 3213,
Australia
Australian Personnel Mr Chris Morrissy
Date commenced 01/06/2005
Completion date (original) 01/06/2008
Completion date (revised)
Reporting period 31/12/2005 – 30/06/2006
Contact Officer(s)
In Australia: Team Leader
Name: Mr Chris Morrissy Telephone: +61 3 5227 5000
Position: Diagnostic Virologist
Supervisor Mammalian
Virology
Fax: +61 3 5227 5555
Organisation Australian Animal Health
Laboratory (AAHL), PMB
24, Geelong, 3213,
Australia
Email: chris.morrissy@csiro.au
In Australia: Administrative contact
Name: Mr Chris Morrissy Telephone: +61 3 5227 5000
Position: Patents Contracts Officer Fax: +61 3 5227 5555
Organisation Australian Animal Health
Laboratory (AAHL), PMB
24, Geelong, 3213,
Australia
Email: chris.morrissy@csiro.au
In Vietnam
Name: Dr. Dong Manh Hoa Telephone: + 84 8 8568220
Position: Director Fax: + 84 8 8569050
Organisation Regional Animal Health
Centre, Ho Chi Minh City
(RAHC-HCMC), South
Vietnam.
Email: rahchcmc@hcm.vnn.vn
2. Project Abstract
The projects purpose is to determine why there are vaccine failures, and to
investigate what serotypes of FMDV are circulating in Vietnam so that the correct
vaccines can be used for these serotypes. Regional laboratories are setup with the
reagents and methods to allow a diagnostic capability for FMDV diagnosis and
serology. Control strategies for understanding of FMD epidemiology have been
implemented through veterinary and laboratory training workshops and laboratory
testing for both virus typing and serosurveillance has begun. The project has
highlighted the importance of having a laboratory network to identify what is
happening in the field and how to prevent and control disease outbreaks. The pilot
zones are established in provinces near the borders of Vietnam to study serotypes
circulating in Vietnam and to determine their origin. The quality and collection of
samples have increased giving more data on the FMD situation in Vietnam.
Molecular epidemiological studies of the FMDV isolates in these provinces will
provide insights to the effectiveness of border control and the origin of FMDV
circulating in Vietnam each year. A diagnostic capacity for FMD would allow the early
detection and identification of disease enabling better control of disease and help reduce
loss of livestock and so productivity.
3. Executive Summary
The main focus of this reporting period was to commence the project, begin the
training of the field veterinarians in the South, Centre and North of Vietnam and also
the training of laboratory staff. All laboratory equipment was purchased and supplied
to the laboratories in Vietnam. All laboratory consumables and reagents were also
supplied to the laboratories in Vietnam for the first 6 months of the project. AAHL
staff prepared the information necessary for the training of field veterinarians. This
workshop information and the lectures were used to run workshops for the field
veterinarians in the South and Centre of Vietnam and this information was then
transferred to Dr Hoa and the staff at Ho Chi Minh City Regional Laboratory who
gave the third workshop in Hanoi. The field studies were planned and implemented
through the veterinary workshops, the field studies began with the first sero-
surveillance survey in the South and Centre of Vietnam and the collection of
outbreak samples. The Regional Animal Health Centre in Ho Chi Minh City also
visited each province to train the field veterinarians on how to collect samples and
how to collect information necessary for the history of the animals on the villages in
the project. One staff member from the Regional Animal Health laboratory and one
staff member from NAVETCO attended AAHL for training in ELISA technology for
the diagnosis of FMD and standardisation of the reagents to be used in the first year
of the project. Two AAHL staff consultants carried out workshops for the field
veterinarians in the South and Centre of Vietnam. The third veterinary workshop in
North Vietnam was carried out by DAH staff. Two AAHL consultants also carried out
a workshop for 20 participants from each of the laboratories in the project and the
regional laboratories in South Vietnam, in ELISA technologies for diagnosis of FMD
at the Regional Animal Health Centre in Ho Chi Minh City. An important part of the
laboratory training was Quality Assurance in the laboratory to ensure tests will be
run according to a standard protocol and to allow AAHL to audit the results from
each laboratory and give the appropriate data to allow trouble shooting. Avian
Influenza (AI) has extended the sero-surveillance in the first six months.
4. Introduction & Background
Objectives of the project:
1. To establish an effective laboratory network for the diagnosis and control of
FMD by the provision of resources and training of staff in required methods
and quality assurance.
2. To provide accurate data to explain failure of vaccination to control FMDV
and to develop new effective vaccine application strategies.
Completing these objectives will improve the diagnostic capability of the
Veterinary laboratories in Vietnam and the training of DAH veterinarians in
disease investigation and control. This will strengthen the profile of DAH which
will play a vital role in making Vietnam more economically competitive. Improved
animal health will lead to an increase in rural productivity though increased
animal production and indirectly in increased crop production. Healthy animals
will enable small farmers to be more competitive in the local market. Control of
FMD and animal diseases in general will give poor farmers a more stable
income stream and reduce their vulnerability to natural and economic problems.
Establishing a diagnostic network which extends from the North to South
Vietnam, from the laboratory to the farm level, reinforced by training and
education, will give Vietnam a working model on which to base disease control.
This will directly increase the competitiveness and productivity of the national
agricultural system which includes the major areas of concern including the
Mekong Delta and the Central Coast.
Implementation Approach and Strategy
The project approach is thought to be the most appropriate for developing an
understanding of FMD epidemiology in Vietnam. The approach for technology
transfer is well established at AAHL and has been successfully applied in
previous projects in Vietnam, Thailand and Indonesia. The field studies and
epidemiology and serosurveillance approaches have been designed and
planned in conjunction with DAH to provide the maximum necessary information
to demonstrate the FMD situation in Vietnam and the effectiveness of FMD
vaccines. The diagnostic technologies that will be used in this approach are the
standard diagnostic tests in use throughout the world to study FMD as directed
by OIE.
AAHL has a lot of experience with field surveys for prevalence of antibodies, as
in the ACIAR projects in Laos and Thailand on FMD. The Philippines is another
example where OIE standard diagnostic tests are being used to control and
eradicate FMD.