D4478.PDF

65 SG/12/CS2 A
Original: English
September 1996
REPORT OF THE MEETING OF THE OIE STANDARDS COMMISSION
Paris, 10-13 September 1996
_______
The OIE Standards Commission met at the OIE headquarters from 10 to 13 September 1996. Dr J. Blancou,
Director General of the OIE, welcomed the members of the Commission and the other participants. He
emphasised the importance placed by the International Committee on the programme of standardisation, and
also the usefulness of the network of Reference Laboratories and Collaborating Centres. Dr Blancou mentioned
that the information sheets on List A diseases had also been well received by Member Countries.
Prof. M. Truszczynski, President of the Standards Commission, thanked Dr Blancou for his welcome. The
Agenda and List of Participants are given in Appendices I and II, respectively.
1. OIE Reference Laboratories
a) New applications for Reference Laboratory and Collaborating Centre status
The Commission reviewed the documentation supporting the following applications for OIE
Reference Laboratory status, and recommended that they should be added to the list of Reference
Laboratories:
Dourine: Federal Institute for Consumers Health Protection and Veterinary
Medicine, Berlin, Germany.
Name of expert: Dr C. Staak.
Enzootic bovine leukosis: National Veterinary Institute, Department of Virology, Uppsala, Sweden.
Name of expert: Dr K. Klintevall.
Infectious bursal disease: Food Animal Health Research Program, Ohio Agriculture Research and
Development Center, Ohio State University, Wooster, Ohio, United
States of America (USA).
Name of expert: Dr Y.M. Saif.
The Standards Commission noted the recommendation from the 3rd Conference of the OIE Regional
Commission for the Middle East that a Reference Laboratory should be designated in the region for
peste des petits ruminants (PPR). It was remarked that there are already three OIE Reference
Laboratories for PPR. The Standards Commission emphasised that the activities of OIE Reference
Laboratories are not limited to particular regions. Nevertheless, any new applications would be
carefully considered.

2 Standards Commission/September 96
Other proposals were discussed, and receipt of formal applications and supporting documents are
awaited.
b) Updating the list of Reference Laboratories
The following changes to named experts at OIE Reference Laboratories have been notified to the
OIE. The Commission recommends their acceptance:
Foot and mouth disease: Dr S. Dudnikov to replace Dr Z. Antonovich at the All-Russian
Research Institute for Animal Health, Vladimir, Russia.
Vesicular stomatitis: Dr B. Schmitt to replace Dr M. Frey at NVSL1, Ames, USA.
Bluetongue: Dr D. Alstad to replace Dr J. Pearson at the NVSL, Ames, USA.
African swine fever: Dr L.A. Thomas to replace Dr C. Mebus at the NVSL, Plum
Island, USA.
Classical swine fever: Dr R.A. Heckert to replace Dr G. Dulac at the Animal Diseases
Research Institute, Nepean, Canada.
Aujeszky’s disease: Dr B. Schmitt to replace Dr M. Frey at the NVSL, Ames, USA.
Dr A.T.J. Bianchi to replace Dr T.G. Kimman at the Institute for
Animal Science and Health (ID-DLO), Lelystad, The
Netherlands.
Leptospirosis: Dr D. Miller to replace Dr L.A. Thomas at the NVSL, Ames,
USA.
Contagious equine metritis: Dr D. Miller to replace Dr L.A. Thomas at the NVSL, Ames,
USA.
Equine encephalomyelitis: Dr D. Alstad to replace Dr J. Pearson at the NVSL, Ames, USA.
(Eastern/western & Venezuelan)
Dr R.L.Witter had asked that the Avian Disease and Oncology Laboratory, East Lansing, Michigan,
USA, be removed from the list as OIE Reference Laboratory for Marek’s disease, although he would
remain available for ad hoc queries from Member Countries.
c) Update on annual reports from the Reference Laboratories
The Commission noted explanations received from several Reference Laboratories as to why annual
reports had not been sent to the OIE, generally due to changes in personnel or lack of relevant
activities.
1 NVSL: National Veterinary Services Laboratories

Standards Commission/September 96 3
2. International standardisation of diagnostic tests and vaccines
a) Progress on standardisation of diagnostic tests
LIST A DISEASES
i) Foot and mouth disease (serology) - Coordinator Dr A. Donaldson
Although it was understood that the standardisation programme was progressing, no recent
report had been received from the programme co-ordinator. It was reported from the OIE
Collaborating Centre at Seibersdorf that some local variations in standard test protocol had
been agreed following regionalisation of production of test kits. An external quality assurance
programme had been initiated among laboratories participating in the FAO/IAEA2 programme.
ii) Peste des petits ruminants - Coordinator Dr P.C. Lefèvre
Dr P.C. Lefèvre (OIE Reference Laboratory − CIRAD-EMVT3) reported that the candidate
standard sera had been sent to other Reference Laboratories for validation, but results had not
been returned.
iii) Contagious bovine pleuropneumonia - Coordinator (a) Dr R. Geiger (b) Dr J.L. Martel
(a) A preliminary report on the evaluation of the monoclonal antibody-based enzyme-
linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit had been submitted by Dr R. Geiger, Joint
FAO/IAEA Division, Vienna. The Commission looked forward with interest to
receiving the final report.
(b) No update had been received on the preparation of OIE Standard Sera.
iv) Bluetongue - Coordinator Dr J. Pearson
No further progress to report.
v) African horse sickness - Coordinator Dr J.M. Sánchez-Vizcaíno
No further progress to report.
vi) Classical swine fever - Coordinator Dr S. Edwards
Dr S. Edwards reported that candidate standard sera had been prepared, irradiated and freeze-
dried. These would be distributed to other Reference Laboratories during the next few weeks
for further evaluation. He also drew the Commission’s attention to a long-standing WHO4
standard serum - 'Anti-swine fever serum, 1st Standard 1963'. Although this is over 30 years
old, it is still available from the FAO/WHO International Laboratory for Biological Standards,
Weybridge, United Kingdom (UK). It was noted that this was originally prepared principally
for standardisation of vaccine preparations. It has a very high neutralisation titre and is
therefore probably not particularly useful as a standard serum for diagnostic serological tests.
The Commission saw little merit in perpetuating the arbitrary term 'International Units' which
is quoted by WHO, but is not in common usage.
2 FAO/IAEA: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations/International Atomic Energy Agency
3 CIRAD-EMVT: Centre de coopération internationale en recherche agronomique pour le développement/Département
d'élevage et de médecine vétérinaire des pays tropicaux
4 WHO: World Health Organization

4 Standards Commission/September 96
LIST B DISEASES
vii) Rabies - Coordinator Dr M. Aubert
An update was received from the OIE Reference Laboratory at CNEVA5, Nancy, France. The
candidate canine standard serum had been freeze-dried, and aliquots had been distributed to
27 laboratories. These had participated in training courses for the fluorescent antibody virus
neutralisation (FAVN) test held at the Reference Laboratory. The results so far were in
agreement, but not all had yet been received. It appeared that the FAVN results were more
reproducible than those given by the rapid fluroescent focus inhibition test (RFFIT) procedure.
It was anticipated that a report would be available towards the end of 1996.
viii) Brucellosis - Coordinator Mr A. MacMillan
A preliminary report on the evaluation of the candidate standard sera for the ELISA had been
submitted by Mr A.P. MacMillan. The Commission looked forward with interest to receiving
the final report.
ix) Enzootic bovine leukosis - Coordinator Mr M. Dawson
Mr M. Dawson reported that suitable sera and milk had been obtained from bovine spongiform
encephalopathy-free countries, and had been irradiated. Evaluation of test aliquots following
freeze-drying and reconstitution was in progress.
x) Equine influenza - Coordinator Dr J. Mumford
Dr J. Mumford reported that post-infection antisera to A/equine/2/Newmarket/1/93 (H3N8)
and A/equine/2/Newmarket/2/93 had been prepared and were being freeze-dried by the
European Pharmacopoeia. Samples would be sent to other Reference Laboratories for
evaluation.
xi) Equine viral arteritis - Coordinator Dr P. Timoney
Dr P. Timoney reported that candidate standard sera had been prepared and were in the
process of distribution to other Reference Laboratories for evaluation.
A letter had been received from the European Federation of Thoroughbred Breeders’
Associations expressing the Federation’s concern over the lack of international standardisation
for equine viral arteritis serological and virus isolation tests. The Commission is well aware of
the importance of these topics, and a reply was drafted outlining the current programme of
standardisation being undertaken by the OIE Reference Laboratories.
b) Guidelines for laboratory proficiency testing
The Commission finalised the text of the guidelines for laboratory proficiency testing (Standards
Commission report for February 1996) taking into account comments received from Member
Countries. The guidelines are shown in Appendix III and will be incorporated in due course into a
booklet of guidelines relating to standardisation of procedures and evaluation of laboratories.
5 CNEVA: Centre national d'études vétérinaires et alimentaires

Standards Commission/September 96 5
c) Report of the expert surveillance panel on equine influenza vaccine strain selection
The expert surveillance panel had met in May 1996 to review new information on epidemiology,
vaccine performance in the field, and antigenic and genetic characterisation of new equine influenza
isolates. It was concluded that the previous recommendations for vaccine strains were still valid. The
Commission suggested that the report should be published in the OIE Bulletin, as recommended in the
report of the Standards Commission for September 1995.
3. Finalisation of the OIE Manual (third edition)
For this session, the Commission was joined by the Consultant Editor, Dr G.A. Cullen.
The Manual will be published in a new format − A4 size with double column text. This will facilitate
handling of the volume which has considerable additional text since the previous edition.
Only three remaining disease chapters were awaiting modifications following Member Country comments.
These were expected within the next few weeks. Most of the remaining chapters have now completed the
finalisation process; this includes a final check by the authors, editorial proof-reading and perfecting the
layout. The Commission spent a considerable time discussing detailed points of clarification on individual
disease chapters, which will be dealt with by the editorial team.
A Foreword was drafted for the new edition of the Manual, and the glossary and list of abbreviations were
checked. The final drafts of the introductory chapters were reviewed.
Concerning the table of prescribed tests, it was agreed that the column headed 'other tests' has little value
because the primary purpose of this table is to identify tests prescribed for use in international trade, as
required by the International Animal Health Code, with some possible alternative tests which could be
used by bilateral agreement. Many other tests are described in the Manual which have applications in
diagnosis and surveillance, but are not required for international trade. Accordingly, the category of 'other
tests' will not be included in the summary table in future. For clarity, diseases for which there are no
prescribed or alternative tests will be listed in the table with a blank entry.
The Commission discussed the definition of fowl cholera (avian pasteurellosis) which poses some
problems due to the widespread occurrence of low virulence strains of the organism. This may have
implications for both Manual and Code, and could not be resolved in time for the third edition. It will be
addressed by the Commission on a future occasion.
4. Liaison with the Animal Health Code Commission
a) Avian chlamydiosis
Following advice from an expert in this area, the Standards Commission advised the Code
Commission that the current diagnostic tests for avian chlamydiosis had certain limitations. An
extension of the coverage of the Code chapter on avian chlamydiosis to other avian species would
create difficulties for regulatory authorities, and it was agreed that for the present, the chapter should
remain confined to psittacines. The Standards Commission agreed to monitor the development of
improved diagnostic tests, and to keep the Code Commission informed.
b) Risk analysis for veterinary biologicals
The Commissions discussed the draft Code chapter on this topic, together with comments received
from Member Countries. It was agreed that this is a difficult subject on which to reach a consensus
view, but that its importance merited the effort necessary to achieve one. It was agreed that a revised
text should be produced with a specific focus on vaccines.