STUDY VISITS
Doctora Laymara Amarán,
Representative of the Cuban National Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory (LNDV), the project's beneficiary entity.
Study visit to the IRTA-CReSA Centre for Research in Animal Health, in Barcelona, to deepen the knowledge on classical swine fever (CSF) diagnostic techniques
Description of the visit:
A representative of the Cuban National Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory (LNDV) has paid a study visit to the IRTA-CReSA Centre for Research in Animal Health, a centre of excellence in classical swine fever (CSF) issues, to receive training in classical swine fever virus isolation and to substitute it through a monolayer immunoperoxidase technique (IPMA) as a test method.
Objectives:
To acquire knowledge in the diagnosis of classical swine fever adapted to the reality of Cuba and which will have a positive impact on the project's objective: food security for the Cuban population.
Institutions visited:
The IRTA-CReSA Centre for Research in Animal Health, which belongs to the Institute for Food and Agricultural Research and Technology (IRTA) of the Catalan Department of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Food. A reference laboratory of the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE).
Main products:
Procedures for performing the IPMA technique
Assessments:
The Ministry of Agriculture (MINAG) and the Cuban authorities identified the need for training in this area. Since Chile's Agricultural and Livestock Service (SAG) does not use this technique for the diagnosis of the CSF, it was decided, jointly and with the support of the ADELANTE Programme, to look for a European centre of reference on the subject. This approach reinforces the importance of Triangular Cooperation promoted by the ADELANTE Programme, in collaboration with Chile, to support Cuba in its process of strengthening the country's food security, in a horizontal dynamic among all actors involved based on the principle of mutual benefit and as a way to jointly address common challenges in animal health. The assessment by all actors has been very positive. In fact, a reverse visit is currently being planned, thanks to which an IRTA-CRreSA professional will visit Cuba to follow-up on this collaboration.
