Victorian animal health surveillance

All species disease investigations

Victorian animal health data are collected from a number of sources, including targeted surveillance activities, monitoring programs, disease control programs, diagnostic laboratories, livestock producers and field investigations conducted by Agriculture Victoria (AgVic) staff and private veterinary practitioners.

There were 343 disease events investigated in Victoria between 1 December 2018 and 28 Feb 2019 (based on disease investigations reported to Agriculture Victoria). The geographic spread of the investigations (Figure 1) and the most frequently reported diseases in each species are shown below.

There were 155 cattle investigations between 1 December 2018 and 28 February 2019. Approximately 60 per cent of investigations were in dairy cattle.

Table 1 shows 10 of the most frequently observed cattle diseases in each region during the period.

It does not include investigations where no definitive diagnosis was made. Cases of clinical disease where no definitive disease agent was identified were reviewed in the context of the surrounding circumstances, and exotic or emergency diseases were excluded where appropriate.

Salmonella continues to be the most commonly diagnosed disease.

Table 1: Most commonly diagnosed diseases of cattle – 1 December 2018 and 28 February 2019

Sheep disease investigations

There were 75 disease investigations in sheep reported to AgVic between 1 December 2018 and 28 February 2019. Table 2 shows the most frequently observed sheep diseases during the period.

It does not include investigations where no definitive diagnosis was made. Cases of clinical disease where no definitive disease agent was identified were reviewed in the context of the surrounding circumstances, and exotic or emergency diseases were excluded where appropriate.

Table 2: Most commonly diagnosed diseases of sheep – 1 December 2018 and 28 February 2019

Goat disease investigations

There were 10 disease investigations in goats reported to AgVic between 1 December 2018 and 28 February 2019.

Table 3 shows the most frequently observed diseases in goats during the period. It does not include investigations where no definitive diagnosis was made.

Table 3: Diagnosed diseases of goats — 1 December 2018 and 28 February 2019

Horse disease investigations

There were 21 horse disease investigations reported to AgVic between 1 December 2018 and 28 February 2019. The diseases diagnosed are listed in Table 4. It does not include 12 investigations where no definitive diagnosis was made or seven cases that have laboratory tests pending.

Table 4: Diagnosed diseases of horses – 1 December 2018 and 28 February 2019

Poultry

There were 28 disease notifications or investigations of poultry reported to AgVic between 1 December 2018 and 28 February 2019.

The six most commonly reported causes of disease are recorded in Table 5. The table does not include cases where no definitive diagnosis was made.

Cases of clinical disease where no definitive disease agent was identified were reviewed in the context of the surrounding circumstances, and exotic or emergency diseases were excluded, where appropriate.

Table 5: Most commonly diagnosed diseases of poultry – 1 December 2018 and 28 February 2019

Pig disease investigations

There were 11 investigations reported to AgVic between 1 December 2018 and 28 February 2019. The diseases diagnosed are listed in Table 6.

The table does not include three cases where no definitive diagnosis was made. Cases of clinical disease where no definitive disease agent was identified were reviewed in the context of the surrounding circumstances, and exotic or emergency diseases were excluded, where appropriate.

Table 6: Most commonly diagnosed diseases of pigs – 1 December 2018 and 28 February 2019

Suspect emergency animal disease investigations

Early detection of an emergency animal threat is vital to preventing the spread of disease. Agriculture Victoria (AgVic) encourages and assists with the reporting and investigation of suspected emergency animal diseases (EADs).

There were 102 investigations to exclude suspect emergency or exotic diseases undertaken between 1 December 2018 and 28 February 2019 (see Table 7). Note that some investigations exclude more than one EAD (for example, animals tested for foot and mouth disease will generally also be tested for vesicular stomatitis).

The data includes clinical disease investigations by private and AgVic vets, as well as animals tested as part of ongoing AgVic surveillance projects at abattoirs, saleyards and knackeries.

There were no confirmed cases during this period 1 December 2018 to 28 February 2019.

Table 7: EAD exclusion testing undertaken between 1 December 2018 and 28 February 2019