Surveillance of infectious diseases in animals and humans 2022

Sammanfattning

Surveillance of infectious diseases in animals and humans 2022 is the annual report describing the surveillance activities carried out in Sweden during the year. The report covers surveillance for important animal diseases and zoonotic agents in humans, food, feed and animals, carried out and compiled by experts from several Swedish governmental agencies, university and the private industry with surveillance mandates along the entire food chain — from farm to fork.

This year’s report features a new chapter on infectious diseases in dogs and cats which describes a number of important diseases, both species-specific and zoonotic diseases (see page 135). None of the notifiable infections (e.g., canine leishmaniasis, canine babesiosis, feline immunosuppressive virus) presented in this chapter are considered endemic in Sweden. The increase in imported pets during the last two decades is of concern, as this imposes a risk of import of non-endemic or rarely occurring infections into the country. As a result of the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the European Commission urged the Member States to make exceptions of the entry requirements for pets entering the EU with refugees from Ukraine. Samples from 384 pets were analysed at SVA during 2022 to assess the vaccination status for rabies (see more at page 78). In summary, from an infectious disease perspective Swedish dogs and cats are in good health in an international viewpoint.

The epidemic of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) that started in November 2020 has continued, with outbreak events among wild birds and poultry all through 2022 with an increased global spread. Sweden reported only one outbreak of HPAI H5N1 in domestic backyard poultry, but many wild birds were affected by the disease. Mass mortality was observed in various colonies of seabirds during the summer of 2022. A harbour porpoise which presented neurological signs before drowning tested positive for HPAI, the first reported case of that species.

The front cover of this year’s report shows the growth of Salmonella bacteria on an agar plate. In December 2022, Salmonella Enteritidis was detected in laying hens at the largest egg producing facility in Sweden. Although S. Enteritidis is the most common cause of food-borne human salmonellosis in Europe, in Sweden the serovar had been detected in commercial laying hens only three times since 2003. The food-borne outbreak has caused more than 80 human cases (mainly during 2023). The source of the outbreak in the laying flock has yet to be identified. This is further described in the “In focus” section within the chapter on salmonellosis (see more at page 80).

In addition to the salmonellosis chapter, three other important food-borne zoonotic diseases have “In focus” sections this year. These describe outbreaks, how the prevalence in animals can be used to predict outbreaks in humans and also how whole genome typing data can be used in source tracking.

The information generated by animal disease surveillance is of key importance for the declaration of the good health and welfare status of Swedish animals. Some benefits of surveillance activities are inherent, such as the prevention of animal disease and promotion of public health. However, many surveillance activities are in place primarily to ensure safe trade and movement of animals, thereby facilitating trade and giving access to foreign markets. The restrictions put in place to maintain trust between trading partners are also where the major costs appear in case of outbreaks of regulated diseases. To reinstate a favourable status, it is necessary to provide evidence in the form of highquality surveillance data that disease is once again absent from the country, region or sector, or at least under control.

A lot of the information in this report is of key importance to demonstrate the good health and welfare of Swedish animals to the benefit of safe trade and access to foreign markets. As an EU member state, Sweden shares the implications and consequences of exotic disease introduction with many other European countries. We are part of a panEuropean surveillance system, where our efforts contribute, directly and indirectly, to the understanding of risks that emerging diseases pose to other EU countries. Openness, transparency and early action through preparedness are key for effective early warning and control. These are also vital factors to maintain trust and for joint European preparedness to which we actively contribute. In line with this, our understanding of the Swedish disease situation in 2022 is provided in this report.

Publicerad i

SVA:s rapportserie
2023, nummer: 89
Titel: Surveillance of infectious diseases in animals and humans in Sweden 2022
Utgivare: National Veterinary Institute (SVA)

SLU författare

• Nilsson, Anna

  • Institutionen för ekologi, Sveriges lantbruksuniversitet
    

UKÄ forskningsämne

Klinisk vetenskap

Permanent länk till denna sida (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/132666