Serology Capacity

195 The Hon. N.J. CENTOFANTI (Leader of the Opposition) ().30 November 2022). Can the minister advise:

1. Is local testing capability for lumpy skin disease available? If not, when is it expected to be available?

2. Does South Australia have the serology capacity to screen for multiple emergency animal diseases including foot-and-mouth disease?

3. What capacity does South Australia have to undertake surveillance testing in the event of a detection?

4. Is local foot-and-mouth disease PCR capability available? If not, when is it expected to be available?

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN (Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development, Minister for Forest Industries): I have been advised:

1. All lumpy skin disease (LSD) testing for SA is performed at the Australian Centre of Disease Preparedness (ACDP) in Geelong, Vic.

Molecular (PCR) and serological tests for lumpy skin disease will be implemented at Gribbles VETLAB, PIRSA Glenside once the tests become available through the national Laboratories for Emergency Animal Disease Diagnosis and Response (LEADDR) network proficiency testing (PT) program.

PIRSA expects to have the LSD PCR test available and validated for diagnostic screening of cases in the second half of 2023.

Lumpy skin disease serology test development by ACDP for the LEADDR network is on track to be completed by mid-2024.

2. SA has serological testing capability for the following emergency animal diseases: foot-and-mouth disease, Influenza A (avian, equine, swine), classical swine fever and African swine fever.

3. Gribbles VETLAB can perform up to 300 PCR and 300 serology (ELISA) tests per shift. During periods of demand such as an emergency response extra shifts can be initiated in consultation with the contracted provider of veterinary diagnostic services for Biosecurity SA at (current contractor: Gribbles Veterinary Pathology/Australian Clinical Labs, operating from VETLAB, PIRSA Glenside).

SA may request assistance from other jurisdictional laboratories in the national LEADDR network for additional testing capacity.

4. Foot-and-mouth disease PCR testing is available at Gribbles VETLAB, PIRSA Glenside to screen suspected cases.

All cases screened for FMD by PCR in SA are also sent to ACDP for confirmatory FMD PCR testing.