BSE: Active and passive control system. Data comparison in the district of Lodi

摘要

The Ministerial Decree, dated 7 January 2000, initiated a system of epidemiological control on bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) and planned a system of precautionary measures and control in two stages: a stage of passive control on live animals in farms and a stage of active control in slaughterhouses and on dead animals, through the execution of quick tests on a portion of the animal's encephalic trunk (obex). Since the veterinary services have been much criticized by the European Union, the aim of this study was to collect all the necessary statistical data on passive control in Lombardia, especially in the district of Lodi, so that it will be possible to evaluate the actual condition of the system and its operative effectiveness. Following the abovementioned aim, we have undertaken a comparison between the number of reports of BSE 'suspected animals' in farms and the number of animals belonging to the 'categories at risk', that have been verified in the slaughterhouse.