A Scientific Basis for International Animal Health Regulation: Bluetongue Epidemiology

ABSTRACT

The work which will be reviewed is the product of collaboration between researchers at the University of Wisconsin, the University of Florida, the Organismo Internacional Regional de Sanidad Agropecuaria (Central American Plant and Animal Health Organization), the Interamerican Institute for Cooperation in Agriculture, the USDA Agricultural Research Service Arthropod-borne Animal Disease Laboratory and the Regional Bluetongue Team comprising veterinarians and animal scientists of each of the Ministries of Agriculture of each of the participating countries. Support for this work was provided by the USDA Office of International Cooperation and. Development. A paper published in the American Journal of Veterinary Research will discuss the detailed data (1). Genetic improvement of livestock is enhanced by the free and open international movement of germplasm. Restriction of such movement is sometimes necessary to prevent the introduction of exotic disease. When such restrictions are applied, they should be on a sound scientific basis..As new technologies for germplasm exchange are developed, the adequacy of quarantine measures must be reviewed.