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We present a summary of the main findings of the latest report of the European Food Safety Authority and European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control on zoonoses, zoonotic agents and food-borne outbreaks in the European Union (EU), based on data from 2009. Zoonoses are prevalent and widely distributed across several countries in the EU. The most important highlight of this report was the continuous decrease of human salmonellosis since 2005, probably due to effective control programmes in livestock.

We present a summary of the main findings of the latest report of the European Food Safety Authority and European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control on zoonoses, zoonotic agents and food-borne outbreaks in the European Union (EU), based on data from 2009. Zoonoses are prevalent and widely distributed across several countries in the EU. The most important highlight of this report was the continuous decrease of human salmonellosis since 2005, probably due to effective control programmes in livestock.

A cohort study was conducted in dairy/beef mixed herds (DBMH) to assess the efficacy of hyperimmunisation for the control of bovine herpesvirus 1 (IBR). Two protocols using repeated administrations of vaccine were compared to a positive control group (PCG). Only the primovaccination was different in the hyperimmunised herds : in group 1, live attenuated vaccine was given firstly intra-nasally then by intramuscular route, in group 2 an inactivated vaccine was twice given subcutaneously. Boosters were identical in both groups: inactivated vaccines given subcutaneously about every 6 months. In the PCG, yearly vaccination of a part of the animals was the general rule. The efficacy of the protocols was studied by survival analysis considering times to seroconversion towards the gE glycoprotein. In cattle of group 2, a significantly larger proportion of animals remained seronegative compared to group 1 and to PCG. The probabilities of seroconversion were different among groups considering gender and birth cohorts. Although a reduction of gE seroprevalence was observed in group 1, only group 2 showed a significant advantage for the control of IBR in DBMH compared to PCG.

A cohort study was conducted in dairy/beef mixed herds (DBMH) to assess the efficacy of hyperimmunisation for the control of bovine herpesvirus 1 (IBR). Two protocols using repeated administrations of vaccine were compared to a positive control group (PCG). Only the primovaccination was different in the hyperimmunised herds : in group 1, live attenuated vaccine was given firstly intra-nasally then by intramuscular route, in group 2 an inactivated vaccine was twice given subcutaneously. Boosters were identical in both groups: inactivated vaccines given subcutaneously about every 6 months. In the PCG, yearly vaccination of a part of the animals was the general rule. The efficacy of the protocols was studied by survival analysis considering times to seroconversion towards the gE glycoprotein. In cattle of group 2, a significantly larger proportion of animals remained seronegative compared to group 1 and to PCG. The probabilities of seroconversion were different among groups considering gender and birth cohorts. Although a reduction of gE seroprevalence was observed in group 1, only group 2 showed a significant advantage for the control of IBR in DBMH compared to PCG.

This paper reports the investigation of risk factors for bovine herpesvirus-1-seropositivity, based on a cluster-sample survey of the Belgian cattle population. This serosurvey was carried out in 1998 in 309 randomly selected unvaccinated herds of all types (dairy, mixed and beef) were all bovids (N = 11,284) were sampled. Older and male cattle had higher seroprevalence. Origin (homebred or purchased) and herd size interacted; for smaller herds (< 50 cattle on the premises), purchase status and larger herd size were risk factors, whereas these effects were not observed for larger herds. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

This paper critically assesses the design implications for the analysis of surveys of infections. It indicates the danger of not accounting for the study design in the statistical investigation of risk factors. A stratified design often implies an increased precision while clustering of infection results in a decreased precision. Through pseudo-likelihood estimation and linearisation of the variance estimator, the design effects can be taken into account in the analysis. The intra-cluster-correlation can be investigated through a logistic random effect model and a generalised estimating equation (GEE), allowing the investigation of the extent of spread of infections in a herd (cluster). The advantage of using adaptive Gaussian quadrature in a logistic random effect model is discussed. Applicable software is briefly reviewed. The methods are illustrated with data from a bovine herpesvirus I (BHV-1) serosurvey of Belgian cattle.

The methodology used to detect a polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB)/dioxin contamination in a Belgian cattle population that was not exposed to the PCB/dioxin incident in 1999 is presented. This population is directly or indirectly destined for human consumption. The methodology consisted in the systematic sampling of all calf-fattening stations and groups of cattle destined for export, and in the random sampling of slaughter cattle. This approach is compared to the method described in directive 96/23/CE from the European Council. When PCB concentrations exceeded the tolerance level of 0.2 micro g/g body fat (seven congeners with numbers 28, 52, 101, 118, 138, 153, and 180), dioxins (seventeen 2,3,7,8-substituted congeners of PCDD and PCDF) were also determined. The prevalence of Belgian slaughter cattle with PCB concentrations above this cutoff was 0.3% (95% confidence interval: 0.01-1.50%). Results indicate that the incidence of contamination was minimal, with environmental origin and common in all industrial countries. The maximal potential exposure of an adult human consumer to dioxins through diet of bovine origin is estimated in two worst-case scenarios. The first one corresponds to the consumption of contaminated food products by a small number of consumers during a long period (local consumption) and the second simulates the consumption of contaminated products by a large number of consumers during a short period (supermarket purchase). The theoretical maximum daily intake of dioxins in adults was respectively 374 and 123 pg TEQ/d. The estimated maximum increase of dioxin body burden corresponds to 7 pg TEQ/g fat in the local consumption scheme and 0.07 pg TEQ/g fat in the supermarket consumption scheme.