In Finland, paratuberculosis has been detected in five beef herds in 1992 – 2000. In order to plan how the spread of paratuberculosis both at the national and farm level could be prevented, a qualitative risk assessment was made. The main focus was laid on the domestic spread of the disease. The assessment was done in accordance with the risk assessment code of the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE). Suckler herds were the primary target and data from 2001 was used. The assessment focused on paratuberculosis as an animal disease, the possible role as a zoonosis was not taken into account.The risk of paratuberculosis spreading into Finland is dependent on the number of imported cattle, prevalence in the herd of origin and importing country as well as the monitoring methods of respective countries. It was estimated that the risk associated with importing has reduced since 1995 because the prevalence of paratuberculosis in the herds of origin has been reasonably well known. The current risk was considered to be moderate. The choice of the country and the herd of origin are crucial in reducing this risk. The interaction between Finnish suckler herds, e.g. animal sales, was considered to pose a moderate risk for the spread of paratuberculosis between the herds. The infection may also spread to dairy farms. The most effective ways to prevent the spread into individual herds are embryo transfers, abandoning the practice of sharing grazing, water sources, machinery and transport vehicles, and closed herds. When paratuberculosis has been detected on a farm the best methods to prevent the spread are the monitoring for symptoms, testing all animals and the removal of infected animals. One of the conclusions was also that the benefits of statutory or voluntary national control program should be evaluated.

Sponsorship

Attendance to this Congress was sponsored by the EU-funded project SSPE-CT-2004-501903