Using an epidemiological framework and bovine spongiform encephalopathy investigation questionnaire to investigate suspect bovine spongiform encephalopathy cases: an example from a bovine spongiform encephalopathy case in Ireland in 2015

O’Connor, Jarlath T; Byrne, Justin P; More, Simon J; Blake, Martin; McGrath, Guy; Tratalos, Jamie A; Mcelroy, Maire C; Kiernan, Paul; Canty, Mary J; O’Brien-Lynch, Chris; Griffin, John M

The investigation of BSE cases, including BARB cases, can be particularly difficult due to the time lag between exposure to the BSE agent and the onset of clinical signs, and the small number of cases, thereby making attribution of source difficult. Furthermore, the relevant data required to investigate BARB cases are sometimes unavailable, due to the passage of time, the loss of paper records and changes in farm management. 11 Epidemiological studies of BSE have mainly been conducted using quantitative methods based on national data sets. Such studies seek to address a range of objectives, including an improved understanding of disease epidemiology 11 36 and the spatiotemporal distribution of cases. 37 38 There has been limited information on fieldbased epidemiological methods to investigate suspect cases of BSE, in contrast to other diseases such as foot and mouth disease where applied (field-based) epidemiological methods are available. 39 This last concern has been further highlighted in a recent scientific opinion from the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), which recommended the creation of a predefined set of epidemiological data to be collected across the EU for the investigation of future BSE cattle suspects and new confirmed BSE cases. 40 This approach would also be of potential value to countries with no previous BSE experience, when faced with a first or single case of BSE.