The EURL for Listeria monocytogenes  (Lm) together with the Italian, the Hungarian NRLs and the Dutch associated NRL have developed a PCR test for the rapid and inexpensive (10€ reagent cost) identification of 30 Lm strains Multi locus sequence typing clonal complexes (CC). It has already been used in Greece, Italy, the Netherlands and Hungary to investigate the origin of human cases of listeriosis.  The project was conducted by a working group of 11 NRLs (BE, CH, CY, DE, IT, NL (RIVM and WFSR), PT, SK, SE, SI) that shaped the method to fit with their needs.  This is a significant step forward compared with the method normally used, multilocus sequencing typing (MLST), which requires three to five days of analysis and costs €150 per strain tested.    Already four training sessions were organised on the method for the NRLs CY, GR, HU, MK, PT, XK. The EURL Lm re-conducts every year the budget to finance their organisation.    Identify the 30 most common strain groups "The test we have developed can identify the 30 Listeria monocytogenes CC, known as clonal complexes, most commonly found in food in Europe" explains Benjamin Félix, project leader of the EURL for Lm. "Our method is very useful for countries that don't have the financial resources to carry out routine sequencing of whole genomes, or when a large number of samples need to be analysed, as it can be used to quickly make an initial selection."  This new method was published in the journal Microbiology Spectrum in May - link. An example of its use: fish-based products responsible for listeriosis in the Netherlands Reference laboratories in several European countries have already been trained in this new method, showing its value in real-life situations. For example, the Dutch food safety authority used the test to determine the source of listeriosis cases that have been reported in the last few years. Two manufacturers of fish-based products were suspected of being behind the contamination. Samples were taken from areas of the plants most at risk of contamination, such as cutting machines, trays and conveyor belts. Thanks to the speed and low cost of the PCR test, it was possible to run 200 analyses in order to select six strains for priority sequencing. This then identified the plant responsible for the contamination.  

In order to assist Food Business Operators (FBOs) producing RTE foods to comply with (EC) Regulation No 2073/2005, former DG SANCO developed and made available in 2008 a Guidance Document on Lm shelf-life studies for RTE foods, designated as “draft”. This document may also be used by Competent Authorities to verify the correct implementation of shelf-life studies by FBOs. Since then, Regulation 2073/2005 has been modified, a new standard on challenge test has been published (EN ISO 20976-1, 2019) and new or revised EURL Lm guidance documents have been released. It is therefore necessary to update this guidance document and to adopt it formally by PAFF Committee. DG SANTE requested EURL Lm to conduct this revision. A WG created in 2022 and led by EURL Lm, composed of 16 participants from Competent Authorities, NRLs from 7 EU Member States and Norway is responsible for drafting the new guidance document. It is planned, during its drafting, to keep the Food Business Operators informed of the progress of the document and to collect their opinions to better meet their expectations. Last week took place the 4th meeting of the working group in Maisons-Alfort.

The 2023 session of the Inter laboratory test (ILT) for rabies diagnosis is about to begin. The shipping of sample panels is scheduled for the 15th of May. Thirty-four panels will be sent to participating laboratories among the EURL network. Laboratories, which have not totally complied with documentation requirements, must ensure compliance before May 14th 2023. Submission of the results will have to made through a digital survey on a dedicated server.

 During two half days, the beautiful city of Ljubljana will welcome the participants of the annual meeting organized by the EURL for rabies on 21 and 22 June 2023. Dedicated to the current situation of rabies control and surveillance in EU, as well as progress on laboratory techniques and feedback on previous ILT sessions, the fourteen edition of the Workshop for rabies will be an exiting event allowing more than 60 scientist from the entire EURL network to meet and interact all together. See you soon in Slovenia!    

AlimOmic co-organisait avec Dr. Stephane Bayen, Dr. Gaud Dervilly et Dr. Christophe Cordella un colloque sur les techniques modernes d'analyse des aliments dans le cadre de l'ACFAS. Julien Parinet était conférencier invité, ce qui lui a permis de présenter les travaux réalisés via AlimOmic

Please have a look at this webinar scheduled for June 6th, 2023, 13:00-17:00 CEST The free webinars are planned to deal with the concept of NTMs (terminology, possible approaches, data processing etc...) and how such methods can be validated to give reliable results.  

The first physical Centre management meeting of the year was held in Denmark in Vejle from 12 to 14 April 2023. Thirteen members of the Centre met in order to prepare the third 3 EURCAWs-NRCs/SBs meeting, the fourth CAs meeting (save the date: online meeting, 2*0.5 days during the last week of October 2023) and work together on the 2023 various tasks.    

Organized by EURCAW-Poultry-SFA. The webinar was held via Teams. Target audience: Official inspectors from the Competent Authorities of the EU MSs Attendance through invitation only.   The PDF of the presentation is available here. The webinar recording is available here.    Description: Council Regulation (EC) No 1099/2009 of 24 September 2009 on the protection of animals at the time of killing requires assessing the state of consciousness of the animals in order to identify whether the stunning and killing have been properly performed. This webinar aims to guide the official veterinarian on what behavioural indicators should be assessed in broiler chickens during the stunning procedure by means of carbon dioxide in two phases and mixtures of carbon dioxide associated to inert gases. It pretends to elucidate what behaviours are related to aversion to gas, what are the indicators of loss of consciousness and death as well as to differentiate behaviours that broiler chickens may perform when unconscious and thus, behaviours that are not a welfare issue. It will also offer the opportunity for discussion and doubts resolution.   The aim of the webinar was to: Review the main welfare aspects of stunning broiler chickens by exposure to controlled atmosphere Discuss the main results of the EURCAW-Poultry-SFA study on the assessment of welfare during the exposure to alternative mixtures to carbon dioxide in two phases in broiler chickens, evaluated in experimental conditions. Recommend ABIs and their methods of assessment (where and how to do the assessment, during how much time, how to do the sampling), providing video examples.   The webinar was attended by 86 people (102 registered), from 20 EU Member States: Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Lithuania, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, Portugal, Romania, Spain, and Sweden.   Schedule: 10:00-10:10: Introduction EURCAW – A. Velarde 10:10-10:18: Review Stunning of broiler chickens by Controlled Atmosphere Stunning – A. Contreras 10:18-10:38: Technical study Controlled Atmosphere Stunning – S. Rucinque 10:38-10:50: Recommendations – A. Varvaró 10:50-11:00: Sampling – V. Michel 11:00-11:10: Virtual coffee break 11:10-12:00: Discussion   This webinar has been organized within the sub-activity 4.2: Development of course material for specific topics, of the working program 2023-2024.