- Adherence to the Department’s Policy on cost-sharing in the conduct of disease control and related activities (DA-LGU cost sharing)
- Principles of the CURED & SIGN will be followed by all regions under which a Regional Surra Epidemiology Team (RSET) will be organized
- Selective treatment on cattle, carabao and horses shall be carried out in control areas; however mass treatment of all potential reservoir host shall be undertaken in areas considered as “hotspots” (20% susceptible population are infected)
- Treatment Options:
- Mass treatment – history of mortality, showing Surra clinical signs,
CATT positive result –20%, at least one isolate -Selective treatment – CATT positive – 20%, clinical signs
- No treatment/caution (surveillance) – positive CATT, no clinical
signs; Suggested action-deworming, vitamin supplementation and
vaccination (e.g. hemosep)
- Animals coming from the stock farms/multiplier farms and animals at DA’s disposal shall be administered with prophylactic drugs before deliveries or dispersal
- Prophylactic treatment shall be administered once every four months after the initial medication
- Disease surveillance and epidemiological investigations shall be carried out in all regions, of which 10% (or as many as possible) of susceptible suspected animal population will be considered for testing, henceforth these samples shall be utilized in the conduct and trials for the development of a highly specific and highly sensitive diagnostic tool for Surra
- MUSCA Command Post is set up at DA-Region XI-Livestock Division, whereby it shall serve as distribution point for all logistics and paraphernalia. Funds, likewise shall be funneled to the Command Post
- MUSCA Coordinator shall call meetings, consultations and conferences wherever necessary shall report regularly to the central office through the Bureau of Animal Industry and the Livestock Development Council. Likewise, all Regional MUSCA Coordinators shall submit regular monthly reports to the MUSCA Coordinator
- The Command Post in coordination with regional MUSCA Coordinator shall conduct continuing education and appropriate training to field personnel and other stakeholder to ensure success of the program.
- Command Post shall have at all times buffer stock ready for deployment
-All regional MUSCA Coordinator shall withdraw their logistics and other paraphernalia from the MUSCA Command Post.
BY: RAFAEL T. MERCADO, D.V.M. – Mindanao Coordinator I wish to share with you the learning experience that we have gained in Region XI in the implementation of the Mindanao Unified Surra Control Program (MUSCA). We hope that whatever we may share today may become our humble contribution to future disease control programs. Several factors and strategies can lead to the control of Surra (that is, at least in bringing down the rate of clinical cases in the field). These are presented as follows:
Recognizing and Understanding the Problem
More often than not, many people are not easily convinced as to whether a certain disease incidence is important or not, especially at its initial stage - not until it reaches epidemic proportions. Take for example the first few case of Surra occurrence in 1991; perhaps the disease was merely ignored then. It was treated as an ordinary problem in the field, confined at the farmer level and let for him to solve. However, the outbreak in 1994 needed government’s intervention. At this time, we must:
· Let people appreciate and understand the problem · Make them aware of the disease’s economic implication · Conduct investigative work to gather more information about the disease problem · Give further information to the public. · And more importantly policymakers must be well informed and kept posted of developments.
Prompt reporting and early diagnosis
The importance of early detection and reporting cannot be overemphasized. And accurate diagnosis is very crucial in any case. It should be noted that Surra is not merely blood protozoan parasite, as we know it to be. Based on a workshop that we had attended at Balitvet, the agent, T. evansi is an immuno-compromising agent. Surra maybe described as Immune Systems Infection (ISI), Campbell, 1999. The agent invades organ tissues such that of the spleen, lymph nodes, kidneys, heart, intestines and even the brain. In other words, T. evansi can produce lesions associated with both intra and extra vascular tissues. Surra has similarity but could be differentiated with other infectious diseases such as Jembrana disease and malignant catarrh (MCF).
It is important that laboratory results are relayed to the field veterinarians and technicians at the earliest possible time. Several diagnostic techniques such CATT, MHCT, MIT, SLAT, Elisa, PCR, etc. could be used in varying degrees of specificity and sensitivity. Except for PCR and Elisa, we employ all the above-mentioned diagnostic procedures. However, we are technologically capable of developing the ELISA test kit given the proper logistics.
Planning What To Be Done
Based on the results of field investigations and laboratory diagnosis, we now can plan on what moves to do. An equally important factor in planning is determining our strengths and weaknesses, availability of needed resources and personnel complements.
Legislative support from LGU’s is vital for a plan to materialize and be effective. It is a fact that animal disease control is not a priority concern of many LGU executives. It is of paramount importance however to get them to be involved in the control program. Legislative support is an integral part to making this kind of program successful.
One of the factors to the early and prompt control of the incidence in Gen. Santos City last September of 2000 was the intervention of the city council. Mortality then was recorded at 178 goats and 40 sheep during the outbreak. Through a City Council Resolution they were able to allocate an initial amount of PHP 1M for the control of the outbreak.
Consulting people
The outbreak at Gen. Santos in September 2000 was another acid test for us. It required a very close working relationship between industry stakeholders the local government (up to the barangay), the NGOs represented by the SOCOSPA and the Matutum Cattle Raisers and Breeders Cooperative, and the Department of Agriculture. Members of the City Council were also invited during the forum. That particular meeting also served as a venue for capability building for the legislators as regards understanding the possible consequences of the disease problem if left unattended.
With the encouragement of the local officials a plan for staging control activities were immediately formulated. These were consequently approved and adopted favorably by the city council and industry stakeholders. We realized then that all that was needed was just to rationalize things and let them understand every step that we make. As mentioned earlier, the support of the LGUs is very critical in disease control; though we have to make them realize that it is a concern that must be addressed in the local government level for them to act and support the program. Making representations during Sessions at the Sanggunian are good venues for them to be consulted; we highly recommend that we must attend these sessions during deliberations of our proposals.
Collaborating and consolidating resources
An old adage says, “Many heads are better than one”. In Region XI, collaborating with the Provincial Veterinarians is not at all difficult. Since most of them, especially the technicians were our colleagues in the Department of Agriculture even before devolution, we were able to maintain and foster the spirit of camaraderie and bayanihan.
To maintain our ties with the devolved personnel we established the Regional Livestock Development Coordinating Council. The Mindanao Unified Surra Control Program (MUSCA) is a manifestation of this spirit of unity. Our co-workers in the livestock sector did not have second thoughts on the idea of having a unified effort in the control of Surra in Mindanao.
The series of outbreaks in Regions XI, IX, Caraga and XII prompted us to formalize this effort. More over, our regional directors are very supportive of this program. The Universities of Southern and Central Mindanao have extended their support as well. Likewise, we are grateful for the concern of LDC, BAI and PCARRD for initiating a nationwide conference and formulating a national control program. We are elated of their consideration in having the MUSCA as the blue print for the national Surra control program.
The contribution of the ACIAR is very much appreciated, especially their support to the research component of the program and for organizing a workshop in Indonesia. These are contributory to the success of MUSCA. Noteworthy is the effort of Region XIII during the launching of MUSCA on May 22 to 23, 2002, where we had an info and techno caravan at the boundaries of Agusan del Sur and Comval Province, specifically the municipalities of Laak, Loreto and Veruela. It is our aim to create Surra buffer zones within these boundaries and to expand in other areas of Mindanao.
Networking and exchanging information with other workers
It is making the difference in the exchange of information and experiences. Take for instance the outbreak in Negros Occidental. The provincial veterinarian was able to reach us in Region XI thru mobile phone, and promptly we were able to respond accordingly. Maintaining contacts with other workers, in the field or in the academe have kept us abreast the developments in other Regions. Having a sound network for exchange of information and ideas has made this program more dynamic.
Choosing a relatively safe and effective drug
Secure the needed materials and have it available in time of need. Maintaining a buffer stock is as practical as having them for tactical reasons. However, the efficacy and safety of the drug or drugs should be our primary concern. We cannot compromise the success of a control program by using products of questionable quality, much more, we cannot compromise the integrity and safety of our field workers for letting them use products with questionable quality and overwhelming side effects. Their lives may even be endangered if something untoward happens to the animals they have administered with unsafe drugs.
Our bad experiences with unsafe drugs taught us to be cautious in securing them. Farmers’ acceptance is a criterion in choosing the right drug. The biology and characteristic of the disease is another consideration. It is a known fact that the causative agent has also direct effect with the haemophoeitic system. It must be noted that the pathogenesis is divided into tissue damage and pronounced anemia. The severity of anemia in trypanosomosis could be acute or chronic.
Likewise because of its immuno-compromising characteristic, it is likely that other diseases could compound the problem and may be in synergy in causing damages to the host (i.e. fasciolosis in anemia.) Product recommendations should be followed, and is a must. In treating, we consider the cut-off-value. It is when more animals are correctly identified and treatment is recommended. Animals that are candidates for treatment are classified as diseased. The therapeutic method may be adjusted with results of new findings.
Training and retooling field veterinarians and technicians
One component of MUSCA is the provision of training and reorientation programs for our veterinarians and field technicians. The series of trainings lined up for them will help in their updating on the proper implementation of the project. This kind of continuing education will therefore enhance their skills, gain the confidence of their clients, and ensure uniformity in the implementation of MUSCA. Vector Control Considering the varied species of possible insect vectors for T. evansi, control is quite difficult or maybe impossible at the moment. Chemical control is supposedly the most practical approach to this particular problem. However, we should be very cautious with its use. Ethical standards should be observed and utmost environmental consciousness must be done.
The outbreak in Gen. Santos in 2001 taught us several lessons. At that time aerial spraying was an option but faced resistance from the environmentalist group. Fogging was another alternative, a more subtle way. It helped us to some extent, and this could be considered in extreme cases as in when the population of insect vectors is quite unmanageable. Pyrethroid based chemical could be used. These are approved by the FPA for domestic and agricultural use. In the future we hope to have a biological control to most of the Surra insect vectors.
Implementing Guidelines for MUSCA
In order to be constantly directed, an Implementing Guideline for this 5-year program was developed. All Regional Coordinators have been furnished a copy of the guidelines and are observed in the carrying out of the program.
