DIAGNOSTIC APPROACHES
Australia has a sophisticated animal health diagnostics network with capability in all states and territories, with the exception of the AAT. Participating laboratories are accredited to relevant international standards through the National Association of Testing Authorities and participate in the Australian National Quality Assurance Program and the Laboratories EAD Diagnosis and Response Network.
These focus on national and international inter-laboratory proficiency testing, ensuring that tests used to exclude several targeted EADs are current, aligned and repeatable. This network includes the high- security diagnostic and containment facility, ACDP.Private, university and zoo-based laboratories complement the system, which include several reference laboratories, and a registry specialising in diseases of Australian wildlife (the ARWH, Taronga Conservation Society Australia). Human health diagnostic facilities provide additional layers of capability around zoonotic, arboviral and many other diseases.
Detections of all nationally notifiable animal diseases in wildlife must be reported to the relevant state or territory government agency. Sample submission to the relevant state or territory government may be required for confirmation within the state or territory government laboratory and/or at ACDP.
Guidance for sample collection and processing are provided elsewhere in this volume and in Vogelnest and Woods (2008), Vogelnest and Portas (2019) and on the WHA website. Advice can also be obtained from the laboratory, prior to collecting or submitting any samples, to ensure the most appropriate samples are submitted and stored appropriately during transport. However, for the purpose of this chapter, it is important for the submitting veterinarian to know there are several routes for undertaking wildlife diagnostics, with the majority of samples moving through a private, university or governmentbased diagnostic pathway. As with domestic and production animal samples, the pathway selected is largely dependent on outcomes the practitioner is planning for the animal and what aetiology is suspected.
In cases where there is a genuine suspicion of a notifiable or exotic animal disease, the submission must be through the state or territory government laboratory or the pathway approved by the state or territory’s CVO. Other samples may also require specific permission from the state or territory’s CVO before sending to another jurisdiction for testing.It is also important to remember that samples must not be sent to overseas laboratories for testing without the permission of the state or territory’s CVO, who will liaise with the ACVO as required. The policy for the transfer of biological specimens to overseas laboratories for infectious and parasitic disease testing (endorsed by the AHC; AHC 2010) exists because there is a real possibility that inappropriate or unvalidated tests overseas may suggest the presence of a disease or parasite agent not previously considered to be in Australia, which could in turn have serious socioeconomic impacts. If in doubt, contact your local department of primary industries or WHA Coordinator for more information.
If necessary, samples collected from the AAT are processed on site at each station’s human health laboratory. Some limited testing is available, but in general (and subject to appropriate permitting), any samples requiring further investigation are sent to Australia for testing.
It is worthwhile also noting that many native species are recognised within CITES, which aims to protect and conserve wildlife by regulating international trade. CITES requires you to determine if a permit is required (and the type) for export of specimens overseas. There may be import requirements for the receiving country. Contact your local government laboratory or DCCEEW for more information (see section 9.2).
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