ECDC and EFSA have published on 25/10/2018 a Rapid Outbreak Assessment. Please find the links on EFSA website: the news, the report.

Note prepared by the EU RL for Honeybee Health (Laboratory of  Anses Sophia Antipolis) Updated news (11th. December 2018) To see the details of the outbreaks observed in 2017, please click here. 

Alexandra CAUQUIL & Noémie VINGADASSALON organised a training session held in Cyprus on 27-28 September. This training session was dedicated to the detection of se genes in CPS strains by real-time PCR for 2 Cyprus NLRs : LCFAO of Cyprus (Marios Evangelou, Christina Kamilari, Elli Karavi, Christos Kourtis, Katiana Neophytou and Georgios Papageorgiou) SGL of Cyprus (Costas Arsenoglou and Maria Emmanouil)

On the 4th and 5th of October, a group of 5 participants from the European network of reference laboratories for Brucellosis were welcomed at ANSES, Animal Health Laboratory for a 2-day training session in bacteriology. Representatives from Croatia, Norway, Portugal, Slovenia and Spain were trained to working conditions in the Biosafety level 3 laboratory and to phenotypical typing techniques. Each participant had the opportunity to practice preparation of samples (lymph nodes) and performed main bacteriological tests to identify a panel of 5 different Brucella strains. The EURL team prepared different culture isolates in order to demonstrate growth characteristics, culture on dyes and phage lyses profiles. The administrative and logistical aspects were ensured by Marie-France Devaux. The technical demonstrations and practical work were done by Ludivine Perrot and Benoît Taunay, assisted by Luca Freddi and Claire Ponsart. As with each training session of the EURL for Brucellosis, a guided tour of the Fragonard Museum was organized at the end of the first day to raise awareness of the veterinary heritage of the Alfort Vet Campus.

The EURL for Honeybee Health held its 8th. annual workshop on 02nd. October 2018. The main activities conducted by the EURL in 2018 were presented. The agenda focused on the transfer of multiresidue methods to the GC-MS/MS, the enhancement of diagnostic tools in parasitology, virology and bacteriology, the feedback on an interlaboratory proficiency test (ILPT) organised in 2017 on Nosema spores counting by microscopy and the ILPTs to come in 2019. Besides the presentation of the main actions and activities conducted by the EURL, participants had the pleasure to listen to presentations from various NRL representatives. In addition, Dr. Richard Thiéry was invited to present an overview and lessons learnt from the EU-funded project “SmartBees” about interactions between deformed wing virus, honeybees and V. destructor. Dr. Kalinka Gurgulova, head of the Bulgarian NRL, gave a talk on their activities and the honey bee health status in their country. Dr. Anna Granato, from the Italian NRL presented a state of play of the occurrence and surveillance of the small hive beetle in Southern Italy. The EURL presented the actions set up following the suspicion of introduction of the small hive beetle in France in April 2018 through queen imports from Argentina. Surveillance measures set up as well as and laboratory analyses conducted by the French NRL were presented. We thank all the speakers for their interesting presentations and to all contributors of this fruitful workshop. Presentations are available for members of the network on the website. Participants to the 8th. EURL annual workshop held at Anses Sophia Antipolis

A suspicion of introduction of the small hive beetle (SHB) (Aethina tumida) through honey bee queen imports from Argentina was notified in France in April 2018. Following laboratory analyses, (see the Commission Regulation EU 206/2010) eggs suspected to be of A. tumida were indeed detected in the cages. Cages, accompanying attendants and packages were sent to the French National Reference Laboratory (NRL) at Anses Sophia Antipolis for identification. Identification of SHB species being not feasible on eggs, molecular analyses were conducted. Results for identification of A. tumida and A. mellifera were not conclusive due to the low quantity of genetic material available. Given the uncertainty of this suspicion and in order to prevent any risk, surveillance measures were put in place by the Directorate General for Food (DGAL), in the apiaries where queens were introduced and in the apiaries at the importer premises (23 apiaries in total); even though the expert opinion concluded to a nil to nearly nil probability of establishment of SHB in a French apiary (see in the references below the memorandum from the DGAL 07 May 2018 and ANSES scientific opinion of 3 May 2018). In all, 25 inspections were conducted on 916 colonies. Awareness campaigns were conducted intended for beekeeping organisations on the risk of introduction of SHB from risk areas and on the importance of queen cages and accompanying attendants’ control. It has to be noted that the importer had respected the Commission Regulation for import of bee queens from Third Countries. Indeed queens were transferred to new cages with new accompanying attendants before being introduced in new colonies. These actions had enabled to greatly reduce the risk of introduction. The French authorities took charge of this suspicion as soon as it was notified. The alert system set up in France showed its efficiency. The conclusions of all the inspections conducted in the apiaries where queens were introduced were satisfactory, meaning no clinical signs of SHB infestation. Subsequently, further analyses were conducted by the NRL to conclude on the nature of the eggs that were detected. A new molecular tool was used to amplify a mitochondrial gene (the cytochrome oxidase I (COI) gene). DNA was then sequenced. The results showed 99 % of identity of the sequences of the suspect sample with the sequence of the COI gene of Apis mellifera. The eggs found in queen cages were Apis mellifera’s eggs. Following this new information as well as the satisfactory results of the inspections, the surveillance measures set up by the DGAl were lifted at the end of July 2018. References: Memorandum from the DGAl n° DGAL/SDSPA/2018-373 of 07 May 2018 on the management of a suspicion of Aethina tumida following the inspection of honey bee queen cages imported from Argentina (in french) Opinion of ANSES n° 2018-SA-0107 of 3 May 2018 on the « risk of introduction and spread of Aethina tumida on the national territory following the discovery of suspect elements during the inspection of 1000 honey bee queen cages imported from Argentina » (in french) The World Animal Health Information Database (WAHIS) interface from the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE). http://www.oie.int/wahis_2/public/wahid.php/Wahidhome/Home. Webpage visited on October 04th. 2018.  

The 11th Workshop was held in Maisons-Alfort on 20 et 21st of September. A total of 28 countries including France were represented. Two invited speakers contributed to 2 major topics during the workshop: 1) Alexandre Fediaevsky (DG SANTE, Brussels) highlighted main steps on Animal Health Law implementation and consequences on Brucellosis surveillance and control in Europe ; 2) Sascha Al Dahouk (BfR, Berlin) presented updates on atypical Brucella and especially recent data relative to Amphibian isolates. Six National Reference Laboratories (NRLs) including France presented oral communications on brucellosis serological diagnosis in swine, Brucellosis in frogs and the Bulgarian representative described the Brucellosis situation and associated reference activities from his country. Many thanks to all contributors and participants! Many perspectives were discussed during both days to prepare the 2019-2020 Workprogramme, including reagents and standarisation of Brucella ovis diagnostic, new kits available for porcine brucellosis diagnostic, implementation of genomic tools and changes related to the future Anmal Health Law. Reports and presentations will be soon available on the website. Looking forward to working further together on these topics of comon interest ! The EURL team

We hope your summer period is going on nicely, with some time to rest! We are pleased to inform you that Marie-Christine SALVI is back to Anses since mid-July, with now a long-term contract.  She is in particular back in the EURL CPS & Lm teams, in charge of administrative and financial aspects. She is doing her best to proceed as soon as possible with the reimbursement of eligible participants to the 2018 workshops and training courses.

We hope your summer period is going on nicely, with some time to rest! We are pleased to inform you that Marie-Christine SALVI is back to Anses since mid-July, with now a long-term contract.  She is in particular back in the EURL CPS & Lm teams, in charge of administrative and financial aspects. She is doing her best to proceed as soon as possible with the reimbursement of eligible participants to the 2018 workshops and training courses.

We are pleased to inform you that the revision of EURL Lm Guidance document on the competence of laboratories implementing shelf-life studies (Version 2 – 7 May 2018) has been adopted by EC Standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed (PAFF Committee) at its meeting of 3 May 2018. This document is now available on our homepage or link hereafter.