Ministry of Agriculture & Rural Development
Progress Report

Development of an Improved Capability in
support of National Bio-security for the
Surveillance and Control of Foot & Mouth
Disease in Cattle and Pigs. Date 30/06/2006

Table of Contents

1. Institute Information_____________________________________________ 3
2. Project Abstract ________________________________________________ 4
3. Executive Summary _____________________________________________4
4. Introduction & Background_______________________________________5
5. Progress to Date________________________________________________ 6
5.1 Implementation Highlights ____________________________________ 6
5.2 Smallholder Benefits_________________________________________ 7
5.3 Capacity Building ___________________________________________ 8
5.4 Publicity ___________________________________________________ 8

Date commenced
01/06/2005
Completion date (original)
01/06/2008
Completion date (revised)

Reporting period
31/12/2005 – 30/06/2006

Contact Officer(s)
In Australia: Team Leader
Name:
Mr Chris Morrissy
Telephone:
+61 3 5227 5000
Position:
Diagnostic Virologist
Supervisor Mammalian
Virology
Fax:
+61 3 5227 5555
Organisation
Australian Animal Health
Laboratory (AAHL), PMB
24, Geelong, 3213,
Australia
Email:


In Australia: Administrative contact

2. Project Abstract
The projects purpose is to determine why there are vaccine failures, and to
investigate what serotypes of FMDV are circulating in Vietnam so that the correct
vaccines can be used for these serotypes. Regional laboratories are setup with the
reagents and methods to allow a diagnostic capability for FMDV diagnosis and
serology. Control strategies for understanding of FMD epidemiology have been
implemented through veterinary and laboratory training workshops and laboratory
testing for both virus typing and serosurveillance has begun. The project has
highlighted the importance of having a laboratory network to identify what is
happening in the field and how to prevent and control disease outbreaks. The pilot
zones are established in provinces near the borders of Vietnam to study serotypes
circulating in Vietnam and to determine their origin. The quality and collection of
samples have increased giving more data on the FMD situation in Vietnam.
Molecular epidemiological studies of the FMDV isolates in these provinces will
provide insights to the effectiveness of border control and the origin of FMDV
circulating in Vietnam each year. A diagnostic capacity for FMD would allow the early
detection and identification of disease enabling better control of disease and help reduce
loss of livestock and so productivity.

3. Executive Summary
The main focus of this reporting period was to commence the project, begin the
training of the field veterinarians in the South, Centre and North of Vietnam and also
the training of laboratory staff. All laboratory equipment was purchased and supplied
to the laboratories in Vietnam. All laboratory consumables and reagents were also
supplied to the laboratories in Vietnam for the first 6 months of the project. AAHL
staff prepared the information necessary for the training of field veterinarians. This
workshop information and the lectures were used to run workshops for the field


Completing these objectives will improve the diagnostic capability of the
Veterinary laboratories in Vietnam and the training of DAH veterinarians in
disease investigation and control. This will strengthen the profile of DAH which
will play a vital role in making Vietnam more economically competitive. Improved
animal health will lead to an increase in rural productivity though increased
animal production and indirectly in increased crop production. Healthy animals
will enable small farmers to be more competitive in the local market. Control of
FMD and animal diseases in general will give poor farmers a more stable
income stream and reduce their vulnerability to natural and economic problems.
Establishing a diagnostic network which extends from the North to South
Vietnam, from the laboratory to the farm level, reinforced by training and
education, will give Vietnam a working model on which to base disease control.
This will directly increase the competitiveness and productivity of the national
agricultural system which includes the major areas of concern including the
Mekong Delta and the Central Coast.

Implementation Approach and Strategy
The project approach is thought to be the most appropriate for developing an
understanding of FMD epidemiology in Vietnam. The approach for technology
transfer is well established at AAHL and has been successfully applied in
previous projects in Vietnam, Thailand and Indonesia. The field studies and
epidemiology and serosurveillance approaches have been designed and
planned in conjunction with DAH to provide the maximum necessary information
to demonstrate the FMD situation in Vietnam and the effectiveness of FMD
vaccines. The diagnostic technologies that will be used in this approach are the
standard diagnostic tests in use throughout the world to study FMD as directed
by OIE.
AAHL has a lot of experience with field surveys for prevalence of antibodies, as
in the ACIAR projects in Laos and Thailand on FMD. The Philippines is another

ELISA technology to each laboratory and to supply the ELISA reagents.
Implementation of a Quality Assurance system into the laboratory and the
testing of sera in each laboratory was discussed. Training of staf at RAHC-
HCMC in the use of molecular techniques for the detection of FMD and the
sequencing of FMD isolates. Training of RAHC-HCMC staff in FMD serology
using cell culture to carry out the Virus Neutralisation Test (VNT)

• Sampling for second phase of sera collection completed for each province for
epidemiological studies and serosurveillance. The collection of tissue samples
from outbreaks continued to increase giving valuable information on the
serotypes circulating in Vietnam

• ELISA technology in use at collaborating laboratories in HCMC, Hanoi and Can
Tho, for serotyping of FMD tissue samples from the field. Sera from first round
of serosurveillance tested at RAHC-HCMC.

• Virus isolation in use at RAHC-HCMC. Molecular technology and serology by
VNT using cell culture has began to be used.

• Supply of consumables and further reagents for testing of samples by FMD
ELISA, molecular technology and cell culture. Report from Vietnam:

Activities from Jan 1
st

ELISA )
2. Operation under a Quality
Assurance system
3. Reagent standardisation
Mr. Chris Morrissy
Ms. Linda
5 participants
from 4 partner
laboratories
(NVDC, RAHC-
HCMC, CAN
THO , DA
NANG ) and
Sub-DAH-
HCMC.
2. Field activities

2.1 Visit 8 provinces in the project (Middle and South Vietnam), March 2006.

- Transfer the equipment and documents (form and questionnaire) for
sample collection.

- Transfer money for sample collection.

- Feed back the results from first testing round and share the experience
on sample collection with the field veterinary staff to increase the quality
of collected samples.


2.2. Collect sera samples from 10 provinces for the second round of surveillance,
120 cattle sera and 120 pig sera from each province.

- NVDC-Ha Noi: 2 provinces (Quang Ninh and Lang Son), total 480 sera

- RAHC-Da Nang: 2 provinces (Kontum and Quang Nam), total 480 sera

- RAHC-Can Tho: 2 provinces (An Giang, Kien Giang ), total 480 sera

- RAHC-HCMC: 4 provinces (Binh Phuoc, Tay Ninh, Long An, Dong
Thap), total 960 sera

2.3 Collection of tissue samples from outbreaks for FMDV serotyping

- NVDC-Hanoi: 208 tissue samples from North Vietnam

- RAHC-Can Tho: 34 tissue samples from Mekong Delta.

- RAHC-HCMC : 390 tissue samples from the South Vietnam .

3. Laboratory Activities

3.1 National Vaterinary Diagnostic Center- Ha Noi (NVDC-Hanoi):

- Testing on tissue samples for FMDV serotyping: 208 samples, 7 of
them are serotype Asia 1 and 201 of them are Serotype O.

- Testing on sera for FMDV antibody detection: 480 sera, on going .


• Virus titration for serotype O and A , two viruses for each
serotype
• VNT applied using the serum from vaccine trial on cattle

- RT-PCR application (testing phase to setup molecular technology at
RAHC-HCMC, May, 2006)

• Extract RNA from virus serotype O, A and Asia 1, two viruses
for each serotype
• Make cDNA from these RNA
• RT-PCR carried out using primers to detect serotype O and A
• Sent cDNA and amplicons to AAHL for sequencing

Reporter: Ngo Thanh Long

Note: Further detail on activities for reporting period in log frame.

5.2 Smallholder Benefits
All pig and cattle and producers are potential beneficiaries. Those that take up the
advice and use vaccine according to recommendations will benefit financially
through reduced losses due to death and disease in their cattle and pigs. The
benefits of a more profitable farming operation flow to all family members. Farmers
and district veterinarians will have improved knowledge and skill in disease
prevention, knowledge on the selection of the right vaccine and improving the
efficacy of vaccination 5.3 Capacity Building
Training and education of field veterinarians in disease prevention, disease
investigation and sample collection has been carried out in the North, Centre and

6.2 Gender and Social Issues
Application of new diagnostic tests will improve the ability of regional and provincial
diagnostic units to quickly and accurately assess FMD outbreaks, enabling rapid and
appropriate measures to be applied to control disease. These benefits will begin
during the project and continue to accrue with continued application. The
beneficiaries of this project will be both large and small farms and particularly
smallholder farmers whose animals and incomes will be protected by better disease
diagnosis, management and control. Since women at the village level are the
primary animal handlers and managers, they will be major beneficiaries of the final
outcome of better diagnosis and control of animal diseases. 7. Implementation & Sustainability Issues
7.1 Issues and Constraints
DAH has been very busy controlling the AI outbreaks in Vietnam and this has made
there workload increase dramatically, this have meant some delays and
rescheduling of training field veterinarians, eg training in the North Vietnam
rescheduled. Sampling has also been spread out over a longer time period as well
but this has had no effect with all samples still being collected. The collection of
samples was made more difficult by the need to train all veterinarians in each
province in data collection, on how to collect samples, collection of blood and how to
restrain cattle. This increased training need has highlighted the need for further
training of field veterinarians throughout Vietnam in disease investigation techniques
with a focus on sample collection and data collection. There is a need for further
input in this area, large scale training of field veterinarians to ensure better
knowledge and control of disease in Vietnam. This could be achieved though better
collaboration of aid agencies in Vietnam especially those supplying training for AI.
7.2 Options
The government of Vietnam is looking at increasing the support to DAH and has
increased funding for AI diagnosis and is looking to do the same for FMD diagnosis.


by AAHL is conducting training courses and technology transfer to other labs in
Vietnam.
8. Next Critical Steps
In the next 6 months a meeting will be held at AAHL to review the project outputs
and to examine the information collected so far in the project, The meeting will
decide if the data collected from the field is giving DAH the necessary information to
make discisions on FMD control. An AAHL empidemilogist will be involved in
collating the data from the first 2 phases od serosurveillance and epipdemlogical
data collection and begin exposing DAH staff to data analysis techniques. The third
phase of the sero-surveillance for the collection of the samples will be implemented
with any changes necessary. In the next 6 months we will finalise all of the testing of
the samples collected and evaluate each laboratories capabilities. In the second 6
months of the project it was decided to bring forward the training of the staff from
each laboratory to be held at AAHL. This training will be carried out at AAHL for 1
representative from each laboratory for training in ELISA techniques.
A consultant from AAHL will complete training of the HCMC-RAHC in cell culture
techniques and establish this technology there to be used to grow FMD isolates from
the field. The growth of FMD isolates from the field is important to allow further
analysis of these isolates by PCR and sequencing.
9. Conclusion
The project activities are on schedule. The DAH laboratories are running the field
trials on time, even though they have had increased workload with avian influenza
outbreaks. It is expected that the second sero-surveillance survey will be much
easier than the first. The first took a lot longer to do due to commitments with avian
influenza and also understanding the problems associated with collecting samples in
areas where samples had not been collected before. Field veterinarians needed to
be trained in the collection of tissue samples from infected animals as well as
bleeding animals. The staff at Regional Animal Health Centre, Ho Chi Min City have
performed a excellent job in getting everything to run on schedule in this first six

We the undersigned hereby declare that during the period 01/06/2005 to 31/12/2005
we have delivered the following inputs to assist in implementation of the above
project.

1. PERSONNEL INPUTS

Australian Personnel
Provided (Name)
Days in
Vietnam
Days in
Australia
Trips to
Vietnam
Chris Morrissy (also
replaced Laurie Gleeson’s
time in project)
28 10 2
Peter Daniels 14 1
Lynda Wright (replaced
Brenda Van Der Heide in
project )
14 1
Greer Meehan 10
Axel Colling 5
Catherine Williams 15
Total 56 40 4 Vietnamese Personnel

Nguyen Van Hung, Bc 20
2. EQUIPMENT AND OTHER SERVICES


OBJECTIVES
1.
To establish an effective
laboratory network for the
diagnosis and control of FMD by
the provision of resources and
training of staff in required
methods and quality assurance.
(Objective 1.2.2, 2.1.1 & Strategy
1) Samples collected and
submitted to laboratory.
Data produced and results
feedback to field veterinary
staff and farms.

Technology will be
taken up by
laboratories.
Accurate data
collected from farms.
Little risk.

Little risk

Training carried out in the North, Centre and
South of Vietnam for veterinary field and
laboratory staff.

1.2

Establish ELISA technology from
AAHL to collaborating
laboratories
Diagnostics test in use. QA
controls meet. internal
quality control sheets for
examination, correct results
in external proficiency
testing organized by AAHL.
Results generated. Technology will be
taken up by
laboratories. Little
risk

ELISA training and reagents delivered.
Laboratories have began to use the ELISA
technology to test samples.
strains of FMD circulating

Sequence data produced.

Technology will be
taken up by
laboratories. Little
risk

FMD samples collected

1.5

Introduce cell culture to NVDC-
Hanoi for FMD diagnosis

Cell culture in use at
NVDC-Hanoi

Technology will be
taken up by
laboratories. Little
risk


DAH and AusAID.
Feedback meetings held in
provinces.

Project objectives
meet. Little risk.

FMD samples collected

Narrative Information Required Performance Measures Assumptions Information Required

2.1
2.2 2.3
field staff and farmers.

Determine the efficacy of the
FMD vaccine in protecting
against FMD isolates circulating
in Vietnam. Samples collected from
field and submitted to
laboratory. Sample and
farm records presented with
samples. Samples collected from
field and submitted to
laboratory. Sample and
farm records presented with
samples.

Results on laboratory
comparisons and EQA
send back to each
laboratory.

Results maintained at field
veterinary office

Comparison of FMD
Training carried out in the North, Centre and
South of Vietnam for veterinary field and
laboratory staff. Further information to farmers
to be delivered later in project
Pilot zones established. First round of
serosurveillance completed.

Activity later in project

Activity later in project Activity later in project. Samples collected.
• Field veterinarians that are
skilled in on farm diagnosis
and sample collection.
• Education of farmers to allow
better understanding of the
benefits of diagnostic
technologies.
Technology will be
taken up by
laboratories.
Accurate data
collected from farms.
Little risk.


Establishment of an effective laboratory
network for the diagnosis and control of FMD
began with training given, method
established, QA introduced and resource
supplied.

Pilot zones established. First round of
serosurveillance completed.

Process began.

Activity later in project

technologies to disease
control.
• Setup farms/villages in each
province for seroservalance

• Transfer of ELISA technology
to collaborating laboratories
Samples collected from
field and submitted to Accurate data
collected from farms.
Little risk
DAH is able to have
farmers agree to
project. Little risk

DAH is able to have
farmers agree to
project. Little risk
Technology will be
taken up by
laboratories. Little
risk Expected outcome at end of project

Establishment of an effective laboratory
network for the diagnosis and control of FMD
began with training given, method
established, QA introduced and resource
• ELISA established in each
laboratory and EQA carried
out in each laboratory • Transfer cell culture capability
to RAHC-HCMC • Cell culture used to grow
FMDV from field isolates • Transfer molecular
techniques for FMDV RT-
PCR to RAHC-HCMC

• Train RAHC-HCMC staff in
sequence analysis of
sequenced FMD isolates
Sequence data produced.
Trainee at AAHL from
NVDC-Hanoi Results maintained at field
veterinary offices Comparison of FMD
genotypes to vaccine. Technology will be
taken up by
laboratories. Little
risk

Cell cultures can be
maintained at RAHC-
HCMC. Little risk. Training at AAHL carried out and cells
transferred to RAHC-HCMC. FMD samples collected

Activity later in project

Activity later in project
Activity later in project
Activity later in project



Final reports written.

FMD Isolates
collected. Little risk.

Reagents available.
Little risk
Project will achieve
objectives. Little risk. Project will achieve
objectives. Little risk.
Activity later in project Activity later in project

Activity later in project


methods and quality assurance.

To provide accurate data to
explain failure of vaccination to
control FMDV and to develop new
effective vaccine application
strategies.
.

Major activity/objective of
the project, to be
completed over the 3
years of the project Pilot zones established. First round of
serosurveillance completed.

• Order and purchase
equipment

• Supply laboratory


First month year 1 First 3 months year 1 First 3 months year 1 First 3 months year 1 First 3 months year 1 First 3 months year 1 First 3-6 months year 1 established and
operational.

Workshop &
meetings held
Equipment in place at laboratories Consumables supplied to laboratories Completed. Information supplied and used in
workshops

Training carried out in the North, Centre and
South of Vietnam for veterinary field and
laboratory staff.
Consumables and budget supplied

requirement • Costs of sampling negotiated
with farmers and field
veterinary staff

• Serosurveillance carried in
each province • Samples collected from field
and tested in each laboratory

• Scientists from RAHC-HCMC
laboratories to be trained in

First 3-6 months year 1
First month year 1 Document produced
for sampling
schedule Document for project
field studies
circulated to filed
veterinarians and
farmers

Payment details
completed Samples collected
and send to
laboratories

Results generated
Scientists trained at
AAHL


Completed

FMD diagnostics, ELISAs and
cell culture at AAHL.

• Follow up training by AAHL to
establish ELISA and cell
culture techniques at RAHC-
HCMC.

• Cell cultures and
consumables supplied to
RAHC-HCMC

• Cell cultures grown and
stored at RAHC-HCMC

• Cell cultures used for virus
isolation and serology • AAHL to run ELISA workshop
at RAHC-HCMC

• Follow training by RAHC-
HCMC staff to each

First 6 months year 1
First 3 - 6 months year 1 First 6-9 months year 1

Twice a year for 3 years First 6-9 months year 1
Visit by AAHL
consultant to RAHC-
HCMC Cell cultures &
consumables
delivered

Cell cultures in use


Completed
Completed Activity later in project
Completed
Completed Activity later in project

Activity later in project Activity later in project