Background

       In Vietnam dairy farming is one of the growing industries although most of the farms are still in small-scale. For dairy cows bacterial zoonosis such as brucellosis, leptospirosis and tuberculosis are very important in terms of public health, and infected animals should be treated or culled as early as possible. Reliable serological diagnosis has been well established for brucellosis and leptospirosis while only skin test is readily available for TB diagnosis.
       Once ACIAR carried out a small serosurvey on TB around Hanoi utilizing gamma-interferon kit and found several positive animals, however, the survey could not develope any further.
       In this activity, sampling will take place in 5 provinces around Hanoi, which are the project sites of the dairy project of JICA. Animals are tested by tuberculin skin test and positive animals will be utilized for bacterial isolation and histopathological examination collaborating with the Project.

Purpose

1. To investigate the current situation on bovine tuberculosis around Hanoi
2. To study the isolation and culture of Mycobacterium sp. and pathology of tuberculosis
3. To regain farmer's reliance by providing good animal health service collaborating with the JICA Dairy Project

Methods

1. Sampling
Sites: 5 provinces around Hanoi
       1. Ha Tay Province, Ba Vi County
       2. Vinh Phuc Province, Vinh Tuong County
       3. Hung Yen Province, Khoai Chau County
       4. Son La Province, Moc Chau or Tuyen Quang County
       5. Thang Hoa Province, Tho Xuong County
All the counties are the sites for the Dairy Project except Tuyen Quang County in Son La Province.
Methods: Samplings are carried out with 5 center staff including driver. Two days after the injection of PPD antigen (tuberculin), farms are revisited for the results, therefore, the skin test will complete by 2 visits to the same site.
- For Ha Tay, Vinh Phuc and Hung Yen Provinces, samplings are one-day-trip bases and carried out for 4 times per site (3 sites x 4 times = 12 one-day trips).
- For Son La and Thang Hoa Provinces, samplings are two-day trip bases and carried out for 2 times per site (2 sites x 2 times = 4 two-day trips).

2. Test Methods

Input

1. Japanese expert (long-term expert) for support and arrangement
2. Thai expert on Mycobacterium isolation
3. Necessities for sampling and laboratory examination, daily allowance, accommodation, fuel cost, etc.
4. Equipment for JFY 2005: automatic tissue processor, microscope with monitor and digital camera

Expected Results

1. The disease occurrence in the study areas will be elucidated, which can be utilized for the planning of the future control program.
2. The staff will become experienced on diagnosis and control of the disease.
3. This type of animal health service to the farmers would lead up to restoration of their reliance.

Personnel in Charge