Control and Eradication Programs for Six Cattle Diseases in the Netherlands

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Epidemiology
• Animal Health Management
• Public Health

Background:

• European Union's Animal Health Law categorizes infectious cattle diseases, but lacks strict regulations for control, disease freedom, and surveillance of diseases outside categories A and B.
• EU member states independently implement varying disease control strategies due to the absence of harmonized regulations for specific cattle diseases.
• The Netherlands faces challenges with high cattle density, frequent animal movements, and export dependence, necessitating robust disease management programs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide a comprehensive overview of control and eradication programs (CPs) for six endemic cattle diseases in the Netherlands from 2009 to 2019.
• To highlight unique characteristics of Dutch CPs, considering the national context of high cattle density, animal movement, and export reliance.
• To offer insights and inspiration for other countries developing cost-effective CPs for diseases not yet regulated at the EU level.

Main Methods:

• Review of existing control and eradication programs (CPs) for six specific cattle diseases: bovine viral diarrhea, infectious bovine rhinotracheitis, salmonellosis, paratuberculosis, leptospirosis, and neosporosis.
• Analysis of the Dutch approach, emphasizing the role of a high-quality data infrastructure for managing herd status, animal movements, and risk factors.
• Description of the typical CP phases: initial assessment of within-herd prevalence, control phase for infection elimination, and surveillance phase for status substantiation.

Main Results:

• The Netherlands has implemented tailored CPs for six endemic cattle diseases, integrating them into a system suited to its high cattle density and movement rates.
• A robust, centrally registered data infrastructure significantly aids in minimizing administrative burdens for farmers and enables automated risk detection.
• Routine sample collection and automated status requests are key components of the surveillance strategy within these CPs.

Conclusions:

• The Dutch model demonstrates that effective, cost-efficient control programs for non-EU-regulated endemic cattle diseases can be developed by leveraging advanced data infrastructure.
• The integrated approach, combining initial assessment, control, and surveillance phases, effectively manages herd infection status and substantiates disease freedom.
• The Dutch experience offers a valuable blueprint for other nations seeking to establish or improve their national disease control strategies for cattle.