Legislation within the UK requires that imported animals and animal feed are tested to ensure they are not carrying certain infections that are either not present in the UK or are part of a national disease control programme. In addition, legislation within countries to which the UK exports animals requires certification that animals are free of certain infections prior to leaving the UK.

VLA publishes a diagnostic test price list, a biological reagent brochure and a submission of samples booklet

Following the negative effect of the FMD outbreak on the import and export of farm animals, there was a marked recovery towards the latter part of the year in export testing and a huge increase in the number of post-import tests. The reasons for this were twofold:

VLA offers 550 different diagnostic tests of which 140 are included in the International Trade programme. The turnaround time for these tests is critical for both the import and export trade and 98% of samples tested were reported within the stipulated limits. The quality and reliability of these tests is also vital and the majority are accredited by the United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS) to the internationally recognised ISO17025 quality standard.
In order to maintain this standard, regular inter-laboratory proficiency testing is carried out by the Quality Assurance Unit at VLA Sutton Bonington.
In order to maintain a comprehensive and ever evolving portfolio of tests, VLA’s Biotechnology department undertakes test development and validation. Advice is frequently given to customers on the best tests to use in any given situation and on the advantages of new tests. Defra makes use of this information when choosing post-import tests and when negotiating with other governments on pre-export certification.

Changing patterns of testing and disease
A new test for canine heartworm was validated and introduced to meet new requirements for the export of dogs. Several countries have increased the range of tests required for pre-export certification of cats and dogs in response to the perceived increased risk of UK animals being infected by exotic organisms as a result of ‘holidaying’ in Europe. This has increased the complexity and cost of exporting pets to some countries outside the EU.

In October 2002, VLA Bury St Edmunds isolated Taylorella equigenitalis (the causative agent of contagious equine metritis, a notifiable disease in the UK causing disease and infertility in mares) from a warmblood stallion due to be exported to the USA. Subsequent tracings by Defra have revealed two infected mares that had been covered by the stallion. The last outbreak in the UK was in 1997.

Both VLA and Defra are updating contingency plans for action following the possible introduction of exotic disease. The range of diseases that pose a potential threat is large and it can be difficult to know where resources are best targeted. To help inform this process, a qualitative risk assessment has been undertaken to prioritise the diseases listed by the OIE according to the risk they pose to Great Britain.

Large-scale testing for Brucella

Risk assessments on the importation of animals for restocking following the FMD outbreak, indicated that there was a significant risk of the re-introduction of Brucella abortus, a zoonotic bacteria causing abortion in cattle and persistent flu-like disease in humans.
As the disease has been eradicated from the UK, Defra significantly increased the post-import testing of cattle to mitigate against this risk. In February 2003, the Scottish Agricultural College isolated Brucella from an aborting imported cow. Confirmation of the identity of the organism and follow-up serological testing were carried out at VLA Weybridge.