National Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathy Surveillance Program (NTSESP)

This program gathers surveillance information from all over Australia for two transmissible spongiform encephalopathy (TSE) diseases:

• Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) orMad Cow Disease which affects cattle
• Scrapie which affects sheep and goats

TSEs are brain diseases which cause microscopic holes to develop in brains of affected animals.

Surveillance has shown that neither BSE or scrapie is present in Australia. Freedom from these diseases is required to satisfy international trading partners and maintain market access. Australia's target is to examine 400 cattle and 450 sheep brains per year. The NT target is 23 cattle.

Cattle showing nervous signs may be eligible to participate in the program.

Cattle must be over 30 months of age showing any of the following nervous signs:

• Increased nervousness
• Uncordinated or staggery gait
• Muscle tremor
• Paralysis
• Head pressing
• Circling

Autopsies are performed by departmental veterinarians and livestock biosecurity officers to determine the cause of the nervous signs. Pathologists at Berrimah Veterinary Laboratory examine the brain for spongiform changes to exclude BSE.

Incentive payments to producers and veterinarians

There is a compensation program available for owners and private veterinarians submitting eligible cattle correctly under the NTSESP.

Producers who report cattle showing nervous signs that are autopsied for the program are eligible to claim $300.

Private veterinarians who investigate nervous signs in cattle for TSE exclusion are eligible to claim $200.

Further Information

• www.animalhealthaustralia.com.au.
• BSE Agnote
• National Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathy Surveillance Program (NTSESP)