Research and analysis

Annual report to Parliament on the monitoring programme for transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs) – years 2021 and 2022

Published 6 September 2023

Applies to England, Scotland and Wales

Introduction

Regulation (EC) No 999/2001, as retained at exit from the European Union (EU), lays down rules for the prevention, control and eradication of transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs) in livestock. These consist of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) (‘mad cow disease’), scrapie which affects sheep and goats, and chronic wasting disease (CWD), which affects cervids.

Article 6 of retained Regulation (EC) No 999/2001 sets out the requirement for an annual monitoring programme for TSEs based on active and passive surveillance. The surveillance programme monitors the level of BSE, in particular, over time and thereby checks the continued effectiveness of the BSE controls. Article 6 also requires that the appropriate authority must, where possible, submit to their relevant Parliament an annual report for each calendar year on this monitoring programme.

Prior to EU exit the regulation required the annual report to be submitted to the European Commission to contribute to a consolidated European Union report. This provision was amended at EU exit by the Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies and Animal By-Products (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (SI 2019/170). The report therefore covers data for Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) in 2021 and 2022.

The information required is set out in Annex III, Chapter B, Part I (Reporting and recording requirements: requirements on appropriate authorities) of the retained regulation (as amended). Most of the data, from 2007 onwards, is available on the ‘Active disease surveillance: TSE statistics’ page.

This data is updated monthly.

Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) in cattle

Under our robust surveillance programme, approximately 100,000 BSE tests are undertaken annually. Bovine animals are tested for BSE if they are born in the UK or in an EU country other than Romania or Bulgaria and:

  • the animal is aged over 48 months and showed signs of sickness when examined by a veterinarian before death
  • the animal is aged over 48 months and has been sent for emergency slaughter (for example, casualty animals which do not appear to be unwell, but have broken a leg or suffered some other injury)
  • the animal is aged over 48 months and is fallen stock, that is, their death was not due to being slaughtered for human consumption
  • the animal is older than 30 months and killed for the farmer’s private consumption: ‘home kill’

In addition, our surveillance programme requires:

  • BSE testing of bovine animals slaughtered for human consumption at abattoir if they were born in Romania, Bulgaria, or any non-EU country and they were older than 30 months and healthy at the time of slaughter
  • BSE testing of bovine animals that are fallen stock, were sent for emergency slaughter or showed signs of sickness when examined by a veterinarian before death that were born in Romania, Bulgaria or any non-EU country and were older than 24 months at the time of death

The data for the calendar years 2021 and 2022 is in annexes 1 and 2.

The data includes a small number of bovine animals that were aged below 48 months, as tests are sometimes performed before the age of the animal can be verified. There are also a small number of bovine animals of unknown age due to their birth pre-dating the introduction of passports or failure by keepers to record them. All these animals were ‘fallen stock’ which do not enter the food chain.

During the period covered by these reports, there was 1 confirmed BSE case in 2021 in Somerset of 1 cow which was tested as fallen stock aged over 48 months. The youngest 2 offspring of this animal were placed under official restrictions and were culled, sampled, and tested for BSE, as required by legislation, both with negative results.

A total of 68 ‘cohort’ animals were identified. Cohort animals are those born in the same herd as the affected bovine animal within 12 months preceding or following the date of birth of that animal, and animals which at any time during the first year of their lives were reared together with the affected bovine animal during the first year of its life. As required by legislation, all the cohort animals were placed under official restrictions and were culled, sampled, and tested for BSE, all with negative results.

These animals are captured within the 2021 data under ‘BSE culling’.

Scrapie in sheep and goats

We monitor the level of scrapie in the national sheep flock and the national goat herd with a programme of active surveillance in line with legislative requirements. This programme monitors the continued effectiveness of our scrapie controls. It consists of the annual testing for TSE of 20,000 healthy and fallen sheep aged over 18 months, of which at least 5,000 are healthy animals slaughtered for human consumption, and 500 fallen stock goats.

Holdings under scrapie control and eradication measures are also monitored under the Compulsory Scrapie Flock Scheme (CSFS) which applies where cases of classical or atypical scrapie are confirmed. Unlike classical scrapie which affects younger animals and is highly contagious, atypical scrapie usually affects individual animals older than 5 and is believed to be spontaneous.

Under the CSFS there are strict testing requirements. Animals aged over 18 months going for slaughter must be sent to designated abattoirs, where they are sampled and tested for scrapie. Animals aged over 18 months which die or are killed on the farm must also be sampled and tested.

The data for the calendar years 2021 and 2022 is in annexes 3 and 4 which sets out the numbers of sheep and goats tested under both our national surveillance programme and the CSFS.

The data shows a small number of confirmed cases of atypical scrapie along with the additional information required by the legislation for each individual case. There were no confirmed cases of classical scrapie.

Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) in cervids

Retained Regulation (EC) No 999/2001 also applies to CWD, but we are not required by the legislation to have an active surveillance programme. Like BSE and scrapie, the disease is notifiable, meaning that it must reported to the competent authority on suspicion: tests will be carried out on any suspect cases. We are required to include information on the number of samples tested and confirmed cases in the annual report. In 2021 there was one case of a roe deer showing clinical signs compatible with TSE, which was tested in order to rule out TSE. The test was negative. There have been no confirmed cases of CWD in the UK to date.

Annex 1: BSE testing of cattle 2021

England

BSE survey Age class by month Number of animals tested Result of test
Signs of sickness at ante-mortem 36-47 1 negative
Signs of sickness at ante-mortem 48-59 42 negative
Signs of sickness at ante-mortem 60-71 35 negative
Signs of sickness at ante-mortem 72-83 35 negative
Signs of sickness at ante-mortem 84-95 23 negative
Signs of sickness at ante-mortem 96-107 26 negative
Signs of sickness at ante-mortem 108-119 11 negative
Signs of sickness at ante-mortem 120-131 14 negative
Signs of sickness at ante-mortem 132-143 7 negative
Signs of sickness at ante-mortem 144-155 5 negative
Signs of sickness at ante-mortem >=156 12 negative
Emergency slaughter 24-35 1 negative
Emergency slaughter 36-47 5 negative
Emergency slaughter 48-59 1165 negative
Emergency slaughter 60-71 930 negative
Emergency slaughter 72-83 692 negative
Emergency slaughter 84-95 468 negative
Emergency slaughter 96-107 296 negative
Emergency slaughter 108-119 219 negative
Emergency slaughter 120-131 142 negative
Emergency slaughter 132-143 88 negative
Emergency slaughter 144-155 56 negative
Emergency slaughter >=156 106 negative
BSE culling <24 1 negative
BSE culling 24-35 1 negative
BSE culling 60-71 15 negative
BSE culling 72-83 30 negative
BSE culling 84-95 22 negative
Fallen stock <24 1 negative
Fallen stock 24-35 238 negative
Fallen stock 36-47 735 negative
Fallen stock 48-59 12016 negative
Fallen stock 60-71 12677 negative
Fallen stock 72-83 10932 negative
Fallen stock 72-83 1 positive
Fallen stock 84-95 8276 negative
Fallen stock 96-107 6309 negative
Fallen stock 108-119 4879 negative
Fallen stock 120-131 3336 negative
Fallen stock 132-143 2304 negative
Fallen stock 144-155 1762 negative
Fallen stock >=156 4712 negative
Fallen stock unknown 435 negative
Home kill 48-59 2 negative
Home Kill 60-71 3 negative

Wales

BSE survey Age class by month Number of animals tested Result of test
Signs of sickness at ante-mortem 48-59 5 negative
Signs of sickness at ante-mortem 60-71 3 negative
Signs of sickness at ante-mortem 72-83 4 negative
Signs of sickness at ante-mortem 84-95 2 negative
Signs of sickness at ante-mortem 96-107 2 negative
Signs of sickness at ante-mortem 120-131 1 negative
Signs of sickness at ante-mortem 132-143 1 negative
Signs of sickness at ante-mortem 144-155 2 negative
Emergency slaughter 48-59 78 negative
Emergency slaughter 60-71 68 negative
Emergency slaughter 72-83 36 negative
Emergency slaughter 84-95 35 negative
Emergency slaughter 96-107 19 negative
Emergency slaughter 108-119 12 negative
Emergency slaughter 120-131 10 negative
Emergency slaughter 132-143 5 negative
Emergency slaughter 144-155 2 negative
Emergency slaughter >=156 8 negative
BSE culling 72-83 1 negative
Fallen stock <24 1 negative
Fallen stock 24-35 61 negative
Fallen stock 36-47 154 negative
Fallen stock 48-59 2627 negative
Fallen stock 60-71 2831 negative
Fallen stock 72-83 2527 negative
Fallen stock 84-95 2006 negative
Fallen stock 96-107 1620 negative
Fallen stock 108-119 1312 negative
Fallen stock 120-131 848 negative
Fallen stock 132-143 648 negative
Fallen stock 144-155 464 negative
Fallen stock >=156 1137 negative
Fallen stock unknown 60 negative
Home kill 60-71 2 negative

Scotland

BSE survey Age class by month Number of animals tested Result of test
Signs of sickness at ante-mortem 48-59 14 negative
Signs of sickness at ante-mortem 60-71 10 negative
Signs of sickness at ante-mortem 72-83 6 negative
Signs of sickness at ante-mortem 84-95 9 negative
Signs of sickness at ante-mortem 96-107 3 negative
Signs of sickness at ante-mortem 108-119 4 negative
Signs of sickness at ante-mortem 120-131 2 negative
Signs of sickness at ante-mortem 132-143 2 negative
Signs of sickness at ante-mortem 144-155 2 negative
Signs of sickness at ante-mortem >=156 6 negative
Emergency slaughter 48-59 47 negative
Emergency slaughter 60-71 47 negative
Emergency slaughter 72-83 35 negative
Emergency slaughter 84-95 18 negative
Emergency slaughter 96-107 25 negative
Emergency slaughter 108-119 11 negative
Emergency slaughter 120-131 6 negative
Emergency slaughter 132-143 6 negative
Emergency slaughter 144-155 1 negative
Emergency slaughter >=156 8 negative
Fallen stock 24-35 16 negative
Fallen stock 36-47 65 negative
Fallen stock 48-59 3177 negative
Fallen stock 60-71 3127 negative
Fallen stock 72-83 2775 negative
Fallen stock 84-95 2077 negative
Fallen stock 96-107 1690 negative
Fallen stock 108-119 1365 negative
Fallen stock 120-131 1198 negative
Fallen stock 132-143 882 negative
Fallen stock 144-155 740 negative
Fallen stock >=156 1860 negative
Fallen stock unknown 89 negative

Unknown location

BSE survey Age class by month Number of animals tested Result of test
Signs of sickness at ante-mortem unknown 1 negative
Emergency slaughter 120-131 1 negative
Emergency slaughter 48-59 1 negative
Emergency slaughter 60-71 1 negative
Emergency slaughter 72-83 1 negative
Fallen stock >=156 2 negative
Fallen stock 120-131 1 negative
Fallen stock 144-155 1 negative
Fallen stock 60-71 2 negative
Fallen stock 72-83 2 negative
Fallen stock 96-107 1 negative
Fallen stock unknown 32 negative

Annex 2: BSE testing of cattle 2022

England

BSE survey Age class by month Number of animals tested Result of test
Signs of sickness at ante-mortem 24-35 1 negative
Signs of sickness at ante-mortem 48-59 44 negative
Signs of sickness at ante-mortem 60-71 43 negative
Signs of sickness at ante-mortem 72-83 31 negative
Signs of sickness at ante-mortem 84-95 31 negative
Signs of sickness at ante-mortem 96-107 23 negative
Signs of sickness at ante-mortem 108-119 15 negative
Signs of sickness at ante-mortem 120-131 13 negative
Signs of sickness at ante-mortem 132-143 6 negative
Signs of sickness at ante-mortem >=156 5 negative
Emergency slaughter 24-35 2 negative
Emergency slaughter 36-47 4 negative
Emergency slaughter 48-59 1369 negative
Emergency slaughter 60-71 1120 negative
Emergency slaughter 72-83 871 negative
Emergency slaughter 84-95 564 negative
Emergency slaughter 96-107 358 negative
Emergency slaughter 108-119 193 negative
Emergency slaughter 120-131 157 negative
Emergency slaughter 132-143 93 negative
Emergency slaughter 144-155 60 negative
Emergency slaughter >=156 101 negative
Fallen stock <24 3 negative
Fallen stock 24-35 282 negative
Fallen stock 36-47 858 negative
Fallen stock 48-59 11381 negative
Fallen stock 60-71 11565 negative
Fallen stock 72-83 10298 negative
Fallen stock 84-95 7998 negative
Fallen stock 96-107 5790 negative
Fallen stock 108-119 4059 negative
Fallen stock 120-131 3272 negative
Fallen stock 132-143 2352 negative
Fallen stock 144-155 1738 negative
Fallen stock >=156 4670 negative
Fallen stock unknown 361 negative
Home kill 48-59 1 negative

Wales

BSE survey Age class by month Number of animals tested Result of test
Signs of sickness at ante-mortem 48-59 5 negative
Signs of sickness at ante-mortem 60-71 2 negative
Signs of sickness at ante-mortem 72-83 4 negative
Signs of sickness at ante-mortem 84-95 1 negative
Signs of sickness at ante-mortem 96-107 3 negative
Signs of sickness at ante-mortem 108-119 1 negative
Signs of sickness at ante-mortem 120-131 3 negative
Signs of sickness at ante-mortem >=156 4 negative
Emergency slaughter 36-47 1 negative
Emergency slaughter 48-59 74 negative
Emergency slaughter 60-71 56 negative
Emergency slaughter 72-83 44 negative
Emergency slaughter 84-95 33 negative
Emergency slaughter 96-107 11 negative
Emergency slaughter 108-119 11 negative
Emergency slaughter 120-131 12 negative
Emergency slaughter 132-143 2 negative
Emergency slaughter 144-155 5 negative
Emergency slaughter >=156 5 negative
Fallen stock <24 2 negative
Fallen stock 24-35 59 negative
Fallen stock 36-47 145 negative
Fallen stock 48-59 2545 negative
Fallen stock 60-71 2538 negative
Fallen stock 72-83 2376 negative
Fallen stock 84-95 1924 negative
Fallen stock 96-107 1396 negative
Fallen stock 108-119 1067 negative
Fallen stock 120-131 793 negative
Fallen stock 132-143 619 negative
Fallen stock 144-155 433 negative
Fallen stock >=156 1071 negative
Fallen stock unknown 59 negative
Home kill 72-83 1 negative
Home kill 96-107 1 negative

Scotland

BSE survey Age class by month Number of animals tested Result of test
Signs of sickness at ante-mortem 24-35 1 negative
Signs of sickness at ante-mortem 48-59 6 negative
Signs of sickness at ante-mortem 60-71 18 negative
Signs of sickness at ante-mortem 72-83 7 negative
Signs of sickness at ante-mortem 84-95 11 negative
Signs of sickness at ante-mortem 96-107 6 negative
Signs of sickness at ante-mortem 108-119 2 negative
Signs of sickness at ante-mortem 120-131 2 negative
Signs of sickness at ante-mortem 144-155 1 negative
Signs of sickness at ante-mortem >=156 1 negative
Emergency slaughter 36-47 3 negative
Emergency slaughter 48-59 68 negative
Emergency slaughter 60-71 68 negative
Emergency slaughter 72-83 43 negative
Emergency slaughter 84-95 39 negative
Emergency slaughter 96-107 16 negative
Emergency slaughter 108-119 12 negative
Emergency slaughter 120-131 11 negative
Emergency slaughter 132-143 5 negative
Emergency slaughter 144-155 2 negative
Emergency slaughter >=156 11 negative
Fallen stock 24-35 21 negative
Fallen stock 36-47 41 negative
Fallen stock 48-59 3035 negative
Fallen stock 60-71 3017 negative
Fallen stock 72-83 2615 negative
Fallen stock 84-95 2089 negative
Fallen stock 96-107 1578 negative
Fallen stock 108-119 1198 negative
Fallen stock 120-131 1074 negative
Fallen stock 132-143 873 negative
Fallen stock 144-155 667 negative
Fallen stock >=156 1748 negative
Fallen stock unknown 132 negative

Unknown location

BSE survey Age class by month Number of animals tested Result of test
Emergency slaughter 48-59 1 negative
Emergency slaughter 72-83 1 negative
Emergency slaughter 120-131 1 negative
Fallen stock >=156 1 negative
Fallen stock 108-119 1 negative
Fallen stock 120-131 1 negative
Fallen stock 36-47 1 negative
Fallen stock 60-71 3 negative
Fallen stock 84-95 1 negative
Fallen stock 96-107 1 negative
Fallen stock unknown 44 negative

Table 1

Year Scrapie Survey Number of animals tested Number of animals tested with an atypical result Number of animals tested in which scrapie is not confirmed Number of animals tested in which scrapie is confirmed
2021 Sheep abattoir survey 5509 4 5505 0
2021 Sheep fallen stock survey 13651 6 13645 0
2021 Goat fallen stock survey 499 0 499 0
2021 Total sheep tested 19160 10 19150 0
2021 Total goats tested 499 0 499 0

Table 2

Year Compulsory Scrapie Flock Scheme (sheep & goats) Number of animals tested Number of animals tested with an atypical result Number of animals tested in which scrapie is not confirmed Number of animals tested in which scrapie is confirmed
2021 CSFS Sheep Fallen Stock Survey 458 1 457 0
2021 CSFS Sheep Initial Cull Survey 0 0 0 0
2021 CSFS Sheep Annual Cull Survey 0 0 0 0
2021 CSFS Sheep Dead in Transit Survey 0 0 0 0
2021 CSFS Goat Fallen Stock Survey 302 0 302 0
2021 CSFS Goat Initial Cull Survey 0 0 0 0
2021 CSFS Goat Annual Cull Survey 237 0 237 0
2021 CSFS Goat Dead in Transit Survey 0 0 0 0
2021 Total sheep tested 458 1 457 0
2021 Total goats tested 539 0 539 0

Annex 3a: Scrapie - positive results - date of birth, location, breed, genotype 2021

Information on positive results

Reference Date reported Sex Species Breed Date of birth Age in years Location Result summary Final result
21/00001 18 Jan 2021 Female Sheep unknown unknown unknown Somerset Biorad positive 20/01/2021, Genotype ALRQ/AFRQ 29/01/2021, Modified Western Blot positive 01/02/2021, Sheep MicroSatellite Identification MATCH 02/02/2021 Atypical Scrapie
21/00002 26 Jan 2021 Female Sheep unknown 26 Jan 2014 7 West Sussex Biorad positive 26/01/2021, Genotype ALHQ/ALRR 03/02/2021, Modified Western Blot positive 01/02/2021, Sheep MicroSatellite Identification MATCH 03/02/2021 Atypical Scrapie
21/00003 11 Feb 2021 Female Sheep unknown 11 Feb 2007 14 Lincolnshire Biorad positive 15/02/2021, Genotype ALHQ/ALHQ 26/02/2021, Modified Western Blot positive 02/03/2021, Sheep MicroSatellite Identification MATCH 02/03/2021 Atypical Scrapie
21/00004 14 Apr 2021 Female Sheep unknown unknown unknown West Sussex Biorad positive 14/04/2021, Genotype ALRR/ALHQ 29/04/2021, IHC Cerebellum positive 28/06/2021, Modified Western Blot positive 26/04/2021 Atypical Scrapie
21/00005 23 Apr 2021 Female Sheep unknown unknown unknown Devon Biorad positive 22/04/2021, Genotype ALHQ/AFRQ 06/05/2021, Modified Western Blot positive 05/05/2021, Sheep MicroSatellite Identification MATCH 11/05/2021 Atypical Scrapie
21/00007 4 Aug 2021 Female Sheep HERD 4 Aug 2007 14 North Yorkshire Biorad positive 04/08/2021, Genotype unsuitable 19/08/2021, Modified Western Blot positive 16/08/2021, Sheep MicroSatellite Identification unsuitable 19/08/2021 Atypical Scrapie
21/00009 15 Nov 2021 Female Sheep BALW 15 Nov 2015 6 Scottish Borders Biorad positive 16/11/2021, Genotype ALHQ/ALHQ 02/12/2021, IHC Cerebellum Atypical 01/12/2021, IHC Obex Atypical 01/12/2021, Modified Western Blot positive 24/11/2021 Atypical Scrapie
21/00010 15 Nov 2021 Female Sheep unknown unknown unknown Cumbria Biorad positive 16/11/2021, Genotype ALRR/ALHQ 02/12/2021, IHC Cerebellum Atypical 01/12/2021, IHC Obex Atypical 01/12/2021, Modified Western Blot positive 24/11/2021 Atypical Scrapie
21/00011 3 Dec 2021 Female Sheep WEMO 3 Dec 2014 7 Cardiganshire Biorad positive 02/12/2021, Genotype ALRR/AFRQ 22/12/2021, Modified Western Blot positive 17/12/2021, Sheep MicroSatellite Identification MATCH 20/12/2021 Atypical Scrapie
21/00012 7 Dec 2021 Female Sheep WEMO 7 Dec 2016 5 Powys Biorad positive 07/12/2021, Genotype ALRR/ALHQ 22/12/2021, Modified Western Blot positive 17/12/2021 Atypical Scrapie
21/00013 17 Dec 2021 Female Sheep unknown unknown unknown Scottish Borders Biorad positive 17/12/2021, Genotype AFRQ/AFRQ 31/12/2021, Modified Western Blot positive 24/12/2021, Sheep MicroSatellite Identification MATCH 24/12/2021 Atypical Scrapie

Annex 3b: Scrapie - suspect cases - flocks 2021

Number of suspected cases placed under official movement restrictions

Sheep Goats
2 0

Number of flocks where suspected cases in ovine and caprine animals have been reported and investigated

Goats Mixed Sheep SHC
0 0 >3
  • SHC: slaughtered for human consumption
  • ’>’: indicates a minimum number where there are significant numbers submitted without location recorded

Number of ovine and caprine flocks tested

Sheep FS Sheep EM Goats SHC Goats FS Goats EM
>5100 44 0 >245 1

Table 1

Year Scrapie Survey Number of animals tested Number of animals tested with an atypical result Number of animals tested in which scrapie is not confirmed Number of animals tested in which scrapie is confirmed
2022 Sheep abattoir survey 7603 2 7601 0
2022 Sheep fallen stock survey 12005 8 11997 0
2022 Suspect case reported by farmer 3 1 2 0
2022 Goat fallen stock survey 504 0 504 0
2022 Total sheep tested 19611 11 19600 0
2022 Total goats tested 504 0 504 0

Table 2

Year  Compulsory Scrapie Flock Scheme (sheep & goats) Number of animals tested Number of animals tested with an atypical result Number of animals tested in which scrapie is not confirmed Number of animals tested in which scrapie is confirmed
2022 CSFS Sheep Fallen Stock Survey 284 0 284 0
2022 CSFS Sheep Initial Cull Survey 0 0 0 0
2022 CSFS Sheep Annual Cull Survey 0 0 0 0
2022 CSFS Sheep Dead in Transit Survey 0 0 0 0
2022 CSFS Goat Fallen Stock Survey 277 0 277 0
2022 CSFS Goat Initial Cull Survey 0 0 0 0
2022 CSFS Goat Annual Cull Survey 158 0 158 0
2022 CSFS Goat Dead in Transit Survey 0 0 0 0
2022 Total Sheep tested 284 0 284 0
2022 Total Goats tested 435 0 435 0

Annex 3a: Scrapie - positive results - date of birth, location, breed, genotype 2021

Information on positive results

Reference Date reported Sex Species Breed Date of birth Age in years Location Result summary Final result
21/00001 18 Jan 2021 Female Sheep unknown unknown unknown Somerset Biorad positive 20/01/2021, Genotype ALRQ/AFRQ 29/01/2021, Modified Western Blot positive 01/02/2021, Sheep MicroSatellite Identification MATCH 02/02/2021 Atypical Scrapie
21/00002 26 Jan 2021 Female Sheep unknown 26 Jan 2014 7 West Sussex Biorad positive 26/01/2021, Genotype ALHQ/ALRR 03/02/2021, Modified Western Blot positive 01/02/2021, Sheep MicroSatellite Identification MATCH 03/02/2021 Atypical Scrapie
21/00003 11 Feb 2021 Female Sheep unknown 11 Feb 2007 14 Lincolnshire Biorad positive 15/02/2021, Genotype ALHQ/ALHQ 26/02/2021, Modified Western Blot positive 02/03/2021, Sheep MicroSatellite Identification MATCH 02/03/2021 Atypical Scrapie
21/00004 14 Apr 2021 Female Sheep unknown unknown unknown West Sussex Biorad positive 14/04/2021, Genotype ALRR/ALHQ 29/04/2021, IHC Cerebellum positive 28/06/2021, Modified Western Blot positive 26/04/2021 Atypical Scrapie
21/00005 23 Apr 2021 Female Sheep unknown unknown unknown Devon Biorad positive 22/04/2021, Genotype ALHQ/AFRQ 06/05/2021, Modified Western Blot positive 05/05/2021, Sheep MicroSatellite Identification MATCH 11/05/2021 Atypical Scrapie
21/00007 4 Aug 2021 Female Sheep HERD 4 Aug 2007 14 North Yorkshire Biorad positive 04/08/2021, Genotype unsuitable 19/08/2021, Modified Western Blot positive 16/08/2021, Sheep MicroSatellite Identification unsuitable 19/08/2021 Atypical Scrapie
21/00009 15 Nov 2021 Female Sheep BALW 15 Nov 2015 6 Scottish Borders Biorad positive 16/11/2021, Genotype ALHQ/ALHQ 02/12/2021, IHC Cerebellum Atypical 01/12/2021, IHC Obex Atypical 01/12/2021, Modified Western Blot positive 24/11/2021 Atypical Scrapie
21/00010 15 Nov 2021 Female Sheep unknown unknown unknown Cumbria Biorad positive 16/11/2021, Genotype ALRR/ALHQ 02/12/2021, IHC Cerebellum Atypical 01/12/2021, IHC Obex Atypical 01/12/2021, Modified Western Blot positive 24/11/2021 Atypical Scrapie
21/00011 3 Dec 2021 Female Sheep WEMO 3 Dec 2014 7 Cardiganshire Biorad positive 02/12/2021, Genotype ALRR/AFRQ 22/12/2021, Modified Western Blot positive 17/12/2021, Sheep MicroSatellite Identification MATCH 20/12/2021 Atypical Scrapie
21/00012 7 Dec 2021 Female Sheep WEMO 7 Dec 2016 5 Powys Biorad positive 07/12/2021, Genotype ALRR/ALHQ 22/12/2021,Modified Western Blot positive 17/12/2021 Atypical Scrapie
21/00013 17 Dec 2021 Female Sheep unknown unknown unknown Scottish Borders Biorad positive 17/12/2021, Genotype AFRQ/AFRQ 31/12/2021, Modified Western Blot positive 24/12/2021, Sheep MicroSatellite Identification MATCH 24/12/2021 Atypical Scrapie

Annex 3b: Scrapie - suspect cases - flocks 2021

Number of suspected cases placed under official movement restrictions

Sheep Goats
2 0

Number of flocks where suspected cases in ovine and caprine animals have been reported and investigated

Goats Mixed Sheep SHC
0 0 >3
  • SHC: slaughtered for human consumption
  • ’>’: indicates a minimum number where there are significant numbers submitted without location recorded

Number of ovine and caprine flocks tested

Sheep FS Sheep EM Goats SHC Goats FS Goats EM
>5100 44 0 >245 1
  • FS: fallen stock
  • EM: emergency slaughter

Table 1

Year Scrapie Survey Number of animals tested Number of animals tested with an atypical result Number of animals tested in which scrapie is not confirmed Number of animals tested in which scrapie is confirmed
2022 Sheep abattoir survey 7603 2 7601 0
2022 Sheep fallen stock survey 12005 8 11997 0
2022 Suspect case reported by farmer 3 1 2 0
2022 Goat fallen stock survey 504 0 504 0
2022 Total sheep tested 19611 11 19600 0
2022 Total goats tested 504 0 504 0

Table 2

Year  Compulsory Scrapie Flock Scheme (sheep & goats) Number of animals tested Number of animals tested with an atypical result Number of animals tested in which scrapie is not confirmed Number of animals tested in which scrapie is confirmed
2022 CSFS Sheep Fallen Stock Survey 284 0 284 0
2022 CSFS Sheep Initial Cull Survey 0 0 0 0
2022 CSFS Sheep Annual Cull Survey 0 0 0 0
2022 CSFS Sheep Dead in Transit Survey 0 0 0 0
2022 CSFS Goat Fallen Stock Survey 277 0 277 0
2022 CSFS Goat Initial Cull Survey 0 0 0 0
2022 CSFS Goat Annual Cull Survey 158 0 158 0
2022 CSFS Goat Dead in Transit Survey 0 0 0 0
2022 Total Sheep tested 284 0 284 0
2022 Total Goats tested 435 0 435 0

Annex 4a: Scrapie - positive results - date of birth, location, breed, genotype 2022

Information on positive results

Reference Date reported Sex Species Breed Date of birth Age in years Location Result summary Final result
22/00001 31 Jan 2022 Female Sheep MULE X unknown 31 Jan 2014 8 Lancashire Biorad positive 31/01/2022, Genotype ALRR/ALHQ 15/02/2022, Modified Western Blot positive 08/02/2022, Sheep MicroSatellite Identification MATCH 17/02/2022 Atypical Scrapie
22/00002 01 Feb 2022 Female Sheep unknown 01 Feb 2016 6 Denbighshire Biorad positive 01/02/2022, Genotype ALHQ/AFRQ 15/02/2022, Modified Western Blot positive 08/02/2022 Atypical Scrapie
22/00004 14 Mar 2022 Female Sheep unknown 01 Jan 2015 unknown Flintshire  unknown Atypical Scrapie
22/00005 30 Mar 2022 Female Sheep HERD 30 Mar 2014 7 Dumfriesshire Genotype ALRR/ALHQ 11/09/2022, IHC Obex Atypical 05/04/2022 Atypical Scrapie
22/00006 13 Apr 2022 Female Sheep SWAL 13 Apr 2014 8 Lancashire Biorad positive 22/04/2022, Genotype ALRR/ALHQ 24/11/2022, Modified Western Blot positive 05/05/2022, Sheep MicroSatellite Identification unsuitable 13/05/2022 Atypical Scrapie
22/00007 19 Apr 2022 Female Sheep LLEY 19 Apr 2013 9 West Sussex Biorad positive 26/04/2022, Genotype ALRR/ALHQ 11/05/2022, Modified Western Blot positive 05/05/2022, Sheep MicroSatellite Identification MATCH 12/05/2022 Atypical Scrapie
22/00008 06 May 2022 Female Sheep unknown unknown unknown Dorset Biorad positive 06/05/2022, Genotype ALRR/ALHQ 13/05/2022, Modified Western Blot positive 16/05/2022, Sheep MicroSatellite Identification MATCH 13/05/2022 Atypical Scrapie
22/00009 11 May 2022 Female Sheep unknown unknown unknown West Sussex Biorad positive 18/05/2022, Genotype AFRQ/AFRQ 30/05/2022, Modified Western Blot positive 26/05/2022, Sheep MicroSatellite Identification MATCH 08/06/2022 Atypical Scrapie
22/00010 07 June 2022 Female Sheep unknown unknown unknown Surrey Biorad positive 07/06/2022, Genotype ALRR/ALRR 23/06/2022, Modified Western Blot positive 15/06/2022, Sheep MicroSatellite Identification MATCH 21/06/2022, Atypical Scrapie
22/00011 23 Aug 2022 Female Sheep unknown unknown unknown Scottish Borders Biorad positive 23/08/2022, Genotype ALRR/AFRQ 07/09/2022, Modified Western Blot positive 05/09/2022, Sheep MicroSatellite Identification MATCH 08/09/2022 Atypical Scrapie
22/00012 06 Oct 2022 Female Sheep SWAL  unknown unknown North Yorkshire Biorad positive 06/10/2022, Genotype ALRR/ALHQ 24/10/2022, Modified Western Blot positive 12/10/2022 Atypical Scrapie

Annex 4b: Scrapie - suspect cases - flocks 2022

Number of suspected cases placed under official movement restrictions

Sheep Goats
3 0

Number of flocks where suspected cases in ovine and caprine animals have been reported and investigated

Goats Mixed Sheep SHC
0 0 >3
  • SHC: slaughtered for human consumption
  • ’>’: indicates a minimum number where there are significant numbers submitted without location recorded

Number of ovine and caprine flocks tested

Sheep FS Sheep EM Goats SHC Goats FS Goats EM
>4691 >66 0 >245 0
  • FS: fallen stock
  • EM: emergency slaughter