Scrapie Study Esimates Prevalence in National Sheep Flock

Veterinary Services

January 16, 2004

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Centers for Epidemiology and Animal Health, a part of the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), is releasing the Phase II: Scrapie: Ovine Slaughter Surveillance Study 2002–2003 (SOSS) report.

The SOSS study was completed by APHIS’ Veterinary Services (VS) program, with the assistance of USDA’s Food Safety Inspection Service (FSIS), the American Sheep Industry Association (ASI), and contract laboratories cooperating with APHIS’ National Veterinary Services Laboratory (NVSL). The objective of SOSS was to estimate the national and regional prevalence of scrapie in mature sheep. The study determined the weighted estimate for the national scrapie prevalence in mature sheep to be 0.20 percent.

In the study, the country was divided into four regions. The regional scrapie prevalence in mature sheep is as follows: Mountain (.14 percent), Central (.21 percent), East (.52 percent), and multi–region (.13 percent). Estimates could not be made in the West because the number of sample submissions was too low.

The SOSS report also details the weighted prevalence estimates by face color and age, and it provides specific information about how the study was designed and conducted.Samples were collected from 12,508 mature sheep from 22 slaughter plants and one livestock market during the study period from April 1, 2002, to March 31, 2003.

APHIS has made a commitment to the sheep industry to eradicate scrapie, and the information obtained in the SOSS study will be valuable in working toward that goal.

Note to Stakeholders: Stakeholder announcements and other APHIS information are available on the Internet. Access the APHIS home page by pointing your Web browser to http:///www.aphis.usda.gov and clicking on the “News” button. For additional information on this topic, contact Suzan Holl(301) 734-6464 or suzan.holl@aphis.usda.gov.

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