Mad cow disease in Brazil: what is Argentina doing to avoid a dreadful disease?

The detection in Brazil of an "atypical" case of the disease called "mad cow disease" has alerted countries in the region. While

Brazil

reported that the disease presented to a 17-year-old cow does not pose a risk to her population, she has suspended her exports

China

, today its biggest customer.

Argentina is free of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), as it is called. What is the "mad cow disease" about? According to the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE), it is a "progressive fatal disease of the nervous system of livestock". It is caused by the accumulation of an abnormal protein called "prion" in the nervous tissue.

There are two forms: the most common in cattle because of the ingestion of prions in contaminated food and the "atypical" (detected in Brazil) supposed to appear spontaneously in all cattle populations. Despite the case presented, the IOE has not changed the status of Brazil, which continues with negligible risk. It is considered a zoonotic disease because of a presumed link with the appearance of variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJD-v) in humans.

It was detected for the first time in 1986 in the United Kingdom (with the clbadic form), then expanded to some 25 countries. With various control measures, the cases of the disease have been reduced. Animals with BSE may exhibit symptoms such as nervous or aggressive behavior, lack of coordination and difficulty getting up from the resting position, among others.

What is Argentina doing to stay safe from the disease? Takes steps to prevent them through the National Service for Quality Health and Agribusiness (Senasa), which follows OIE guidelines.

Among them, control measures are highlighted in imports of goods considered risky. Argentina has been conducting epidemiological surveillance for more than 25 years.

In addition, to ensure compliance with the ban on feeding ruminants with animal protein (meat and bone meal can not be provided), the

Senasa

measures established by sampling in establishments that process this type of food.

Surveillance is carried out on animals older than 24 months because BSE is a progressive disease with an average incubation period of four to five years.

The OIE has recognized the country as a negligible risk of BSE. This is ratified each year with the information sent by Senasa. Feeding sources to corral (feedlots) and the refrigeration sector emphasized that controls are being followed.

The country has been subject to external audits, such as the one conducted in April 2014 by the Food Standards Regulatory Agency of Canada.

Australia

and

New Zealand

(FSANZ).

A BSE-related food safety risk badessment conducted by this agency showed that beef and beef products imported from Argentina were safe for consumption. human.

Senasa also provides ongoing training as part of the strategy established by the National Program for the Prevention and Surveillance of Transmissible Spongiform Diseases (TSEs) in Animals.