DNC: Why do France and Italy apply the total slaughter of confirmed homes?

Since the start of the contagious nodular dermatosis epizootic (DNC). Nevertheless, voices have been up against the total slaughter of animal lots, at least one individual is detected positive for the disease. In addition, Among them. Moreover, the peasant confederation and the rural coordination require the suspension of this measure, which they would replace with a selective slaughter, affecting only sick animals.

To support this request. For example, the Confédération Paysanne relies on a 2016 EFSA opinion⁽¹⁾which considers that once the vaccination is well committed, the strategies of total felling of the foci of infection and partial slaughter would have the same efficiency.

However, the results of this study are those of a mathematical prediction model. Moreover, His conclusions specify that this data should be checked in real conditions. Furthermore, “With the density of cattle farms in France. However, it is taking the risk of seeing dnc: why do france italy it spread very quickly”estimates Kristel Gache, veterinarian and director of GDS France.

95 % risk of infection within 4.5 km surrounding – Dnc: why do france italy

Indeed, the DNC is a vector disease, transmitted by stomoxes and stacks. In addition, Its incubation period is on average 4 to 14 days, but can go Up to 28 days. Meanwhile, Thus, in the same batch, there may be animals with clinical signs, animals during incubation periods, but also asymptomatic animals.

“Some animals do not react to tests because it is difficult to detect infected animals during incubation or subclinical. Keeping these animals is to keep a virus tankthat the stomoxes and the tapes can spread. During the activity of these insects, the probability of an infection within a radius of 4.5 km around an infected establishment is greater than 95% ”specifies Kristel Gache.

A high risk, for a Disease classified category Ato immediate eradication. « European regulations require the total dnc: why do france italy slaughterby article 12 of regulation 2020/687. Derogations do not concern our types of breeding. For example. there is an exemption for animals in closed buildings, but these are hermetic buildings to the vectors, and we do not have one ”, explains the veterinarian.

Without hermetic buildings, animal confinement cannot be an effective measure for vector disease. Indeed, vectors insects can enter and get out of buildings, and thus continue to spread the disease.

Same management in France and Italy

Another controversy about the disease: its management by other affected countries. On social networks, posts claim that Italy would not apply the total slaughter strategy.

On this point. the Ministry of Agriculture is formal: “Faced with the disease, Italy and France apply the same management strategy, based on the same scientific and regulatory motivations: depopulation of all the animals of the confirmed homes, vaccination fast and massive (from July 18 in France) in the dnc: why do france italy affected area, rTransport iscraft animals within the regulated area. Because of the island character of Sardinia, Italy has chosen to vaccinate all the cattle present throughout the Sardinian territory. The objective, in France as in Italy, is the rapid and total eradication of the disease. Switzerland, in its border area with Haute-Savoie, has established a vaccination policy for all cattle. »»

About the DNC episode in 2015 in the Balkans. the director of GDS France remains measured: “It is difficult to compare the situations between them. It seems to be emerging despite everything that Bulgaria. which applied the triptych total slaughter, vaccination and restriction to the most strictly movements, in accordance with European regulations, is the country which has eradicated the fastest disease. ”

More than 80 % of animals in the regulated area vaccinated

The fact remains that for breeders victims of the disease. and who see all or part of dnc: why do france italy their slaughtered herd, it is a tragedy, because it will be necessary to replace animals sometimes selected for several generations to meet breeding conditions and specific objectives. “For affected breeders. It’s a dramathere is no debate on it, says the director of the GDS, But it would be a drama for the whole community of breeders if we let the disease spread and settle in the territory. The affected animals suffer, many die. You can’t live with this disease. She poses too many issues of Animal well-being, production losses, market losses ”.

Thanks to the vaccination campaign. very rapid despite the constraints linked to a living, fragile vaccine and whose stocks were in South Africa, the veterinarian hopes that the disease will soon be circumscribed. More than 80 % of animals in the regulated areaare now vaccinated. “We will probably have households until the end of August, but the incidence should dnc: why do france italy decrease quickly”indicates Kristel Gache.