Surveillance plan proposal for early detection of zoonotic pathogens in Equidae (horses, donkeys)
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Abstract
The preparatory work of research and the elaboration of a surveillance plan proposals for early detection of priority zoonotic pathogens presented in this report was conducted between October and the second half of December 2022 according to the European Commission (EC) scientific question Art. 31 mandate M‐2022‐00084 ‐ where the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has been asked to recommend sustainable surveillance options to prevent zoonosis spread through Member States. The pre‐selected list of 45 pathogens provided to EFSA by the MSs for scientifical support, with the aim of subsequently apply for funds that could improve their epidemiological surveillance, was analysed. EFSA with its Animal Health Team (AH), supported by external experts, were asked to prioritize diseases according to the severity and frequency with which each disease can occur in MSs and peripheral countries. The first part of this report is related to the analyses focussing on Equidae. The list of zoonosis was first analysed and a ranking of priority diseases for which Equidae could be the target of early detection surveillance activities was proposed. After this first prioritization, the list was further reduced to 10 diseases according to the indications provided among all species. For each of these diseases, a Disease card and one or more Surveillance Component Cards were developed by contractors. This report presents the preliminary research and the proposal of disease and surveillance components’ cards for West Nile fever (Equidae), Lyme borreliosis and Tick‐Borne Encephalitis (other species). The disease card and the surveillance components proposed in this report were reviewed and further developed by EFSA and its Working Group to be presented to Member States competent authorities as guidance for their applications.