Quantitative assessment of the risk of disease transmission by bovine embryo transfer

Abstract

[Introduction] The objective of Part I of this publication is the development of a QRA model for disease transmission by ET. Bovine ET was chosen for the discussions because bovine embryos are the most commonly used in international trade. In Part I, Section 1 some of the general aspects of bovine ET procedures are briefly reviewed, while Section 2 contains a general discussion of the risk factors involved. In Section 3 the scenario pathway is show and the general principles of risk quantification are outlined. Practical application of the QRA model is presented in Part II of the paper. This deals with the construction os a specific QRA model for the risk of transmission of FMD by bovine ET from a FMD infected country. Because of the important potential for export of embryos of Zebu cattle breeds from Brazil, particurlarly from the area comprising the model. Part II Section 1 gives some specific details of the epidemiology and conrol od FMD in the area concerned. The status of the ET industry of Brazil and in the selected area is also reviewed. In section 2 a quantification of the risks is proposed. Also, documentation is provided on the evidence and information used for the proposed risk values, followed by the statistical elaboration of the risk estimates, discussion and conclusions.