CAE-RAPID
PROJECT SUMMARY
Caprine arthritis-encephalitis (CAE) is widespread worldwide and due to its considerable negative influence on mobility, welfare and productivity of goats, it is currently considered as one of the main threats to goat production in the European countries.The principal route through which the disease enters and spreads in herd is the introduction an asymptomatically infected goat. Therefore the prevention is crucial for an effective CAE control. The major challenge of CAE diagnostics results from the long time which elapses between the infection and the emergence of first apparent signs. During this time the disease insidiously spreads between goats and when the farmer realizes that something is wrong usually a substantial proportion of goats in the herd is already infected. Currently, the mainstay of CAE diagnostics are serological tests. Even though they are highly accurate, their price including the veterinary service necessary for blood sample collection and its transportation to the laboratory, and the time which it takes to obtain results from laboratory hinder their routine use when a single animal needs to be tested.
The objective of CAE-RAPID is to develop the rapid immunochromatographic diagnostic test (point-of-care test) for CAE – a viral, lifelong and incurable disease of goats caused by small ruminant lentiviruses (SRLV), members of Retroviridae family. To achieve this objective CAE-RAPID team brings together 5 partners (research institutions) in 5 different countries. Additionally, the involvement of a private company as a subcontrator is assumed.
CAE-RAPID aims to improve individual diagnostics of CAE by providing an easily available and convinient tool for reliable exclusion and early detection of the disease. The rapid test for detection of antibodies to SRLV in a drop of milk, serum or whole blood will be intended for use in two basic situations. First, for on-site quick screening of asymptomatic goats which are intended to be purchased or introduced into the herd. Second, for on-site quick screening of goats in which first clinical signs have emerged. The test will be a screening diagnostic method so it will be expected to maximize diagnostic sensitivity and the negative predictive value, so that a goat that tests negative can be safely introduced into or retained in the herd. Positive results will need verification in the laboratory.
To develop a highly reliable, accurate and easy to use in-field test the most prevalent SRLV genotypes and subtypes will be identified in a large scale virological survey carried out in CAE-affected goat herds. Then, the most optimal viral antigen capable of detecting antibodies to as broad spectrum of SRLV as possible will be prepared and evaluated by developing and comparing several immunoenzymatic test in the laboratory (WP1). On the basis of the most optimal antigen the rapid immunochromatographic test will be manufactured (WP2) by a professional company. The biggest part of the project will be dedicated to the CAE-RAPID test validation in laboratory and field conditions. First (WP3), blood and milk samples from 600 SRLV-infected goats (asymptomatic and symptomatic) and 1000 uninfected goats will be collected in Polish goat herds and in Norwegian herds officially recognized as free from CAE, respectively. Truly infected and truly uninfected samples will be used for determination of the rapid test’s sensitivity and specificity, respectively, done on blood and milk samples, with very high confidence (95%) and precision (±2%). Sensitivity will be estimated separately for symptomatic and asymptomatic goats to assess the two expected indications for CAE-RAPID test’s use. Then (WP4), CAE-RAPID test will be performed in roughly 500 goats in field conditions by persons uninvolved in previous stages of the project and unaware of the true health status of tested individuals to verify test’s diagnostic performance and reliability in a blinded study
Steering Committee members and other contact persons
Warsaw University of Life Sciences
dr hab. Michał Czopowicz
Tel.: 0048 22 59 36111
E-mail: michal_czopowicz@sggw.edu.pl
Address: Division of Veterinary Epidemiology and Economics, Institute of Veterinary
Medicine, Nowoursynowska Street 159c, 02-776 Warsaw, Poland
prof. Jarosław Kaba
Tel.: 0048 22 59 36110
E-mail: jaroslaw_kaba@sggw.edu.pl
Address: Division of Veterinary Epidemiology and Economics, Institute of Veterinary
Medicine, Nowoursynowska Street 159c, 02-776 Warsaw, Poland
Norwegian University of Life Sciences
prof. Snorre Stuen
Tel.: 0047 48201929
E-mail: snorre.stuen@nmbu.no
Address: Institute of Production Animal Clinical Sciences, Section of Small Ruminant
Research and Herd Health, Svebostadvein 112, 4325 Sandnes
University of Bern and Institute of Virology and Immunology
prof. Giuseppe Bertoni
Tel.: 0041 78 737 57 60
E-mail: bertoni@vetsuisse.unibe.ch
Address: Institute of Virology and Immunology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern,
Länggass-Str. 122, CH-3012 Bern, Switzerland
dr Carlos Abril Gaona
Tel.: 0041 77 465 99 48
E-mail: carlos.abril-gaona@vetsuisse.unibe.ch
Address: Institute of Virology and Immunology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern,
Länggass-Str. 122, CH-3012 Bern, Switzerland
University of Veterinary Medicine Budapest
prof. László Ózsvári
Tel.: 0036 14784185
E-mail: ozsvari.laszlo@univet.hu
Address: Department of Veterinary Forensics and Economics,
University of Veterinary Medicine Budapest (UVMB), István u. 2., H-1078 Budapest, Hungary
Lithuanian University of Health Sciences
prof. Saulius Petkevičius
Tel.: 00370 37477152
E-mail: saulius.petkevicius@lsmuni.lt
Address: Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, Veterinary Academy, Lithuanian University
of Health Sciences, Tilzes str. 18, LT 47181 Kaunas, Lithuania
CAE-RAPID mid-term grant holders meeting
The XXI Middle-European Buiatrics Congress was held from May 19 to 22 at the Hotel Anders in Stare Jabłonki, north-eastern Poland, near the city of Olsztyn. The European College of Small Ruminant Health Management (ECSRHM) organized the general meeting and held an annual conference as part of this gathering. The special session was dedicated to small ruminant lentivirus infections in goats and sheep. Particular emphasis was given to a project on developing a rapid screening test for on-site serological diagnostics of caprine arthritis-encephalitis using individual milk samples (CAE-RAPID) financed by ERA-NET ICRAD (International Coordination of Research on Infectious Animal Diseases). Prof. Michał Czopowicz from the Warsaw University of Life Sciences-SGGW (Poland) and the CAE-RAPID coordinator presented the project’s basic assumptions and objectives. Mr. Maksym Samoilenko from the University of Bern and the Institute of Virology and Immunology (Switzerland) described some preliminary results regarding virus isolation and the development of test antigens. CAE-RAPID mid-term grant holders meeting was held during the conference.
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Abstracts
International Sheep
Veterinary Congress 2023
Annual Conference of European College of Small Ruminant Health Management
The 10th International Sheep Veterinary Congress 2023 was held from March 6 to 10 in Sevilla, Spain. The European College of Small Ruminant Health Management (ECSRHM) organized the general meeting and held an annual conference as part of this gathering. The special session was dedicated to small ruminant lentivirus infections in goats and sheep. Prof. Michał Czopowicz from the Warsaw University of Life Sciences-SGGW (Poland) and the CAE-RAPID coordinator presented the project’s results regarding characteristics of SRLV genotypes circulating in Polish goat population. Prof. Jarosław Kaba from the Warsaw University of Life Sciences-SGGW (Poland) described the project’s basic assumptions and objectives. Patricia Klibavice represented the Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Kaunas, Lithuania (CAE-RAPID partner) presented the work about the occurrence of SRLV genotypes A and B in Lithuanian goat population.
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Abstracts
Symposium
Caprine arthritis – encephalitis – a challenge for breeders and veterinarians
on-line symposium organized by the Veterinary Medicine Faculty in Warsaw in the cooperation with: Warsaw Chamber of Veterinary Surgeons, College of Small Ruminant Health Management, International Goat Association, Polish Society of Veterinary Sciences
On June 20-22, the Caprine arthritis–encephalitis symposium was held at the Veterinary Medicine Faculty in Warsaw. During the conference, the results of the research and thoughts on the disease were presented by the greatest specialists from all over Europe. The conference was partly dedicated to presentations of the research results carried out by each of the partners in the CAE RAPID project (ICRAD GRANT). CAE RAPID grant holder’s meeting was held during the conference.