Scrapie prevalence decreasing

The United States is well on its way to eradicating scrapie by the target date of 2010. According to information provided by USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Services, Veterinary Services (APHIS/VS), the prevalence of scrapie in cull sheep sampled at slaughter has been going down each year since the beginning of slaughter surviellence in 2003.

APHIS/VS measures program success by looking at the number of black-faced cull sheep sampled at slaughter who were found to be scrapie positive. This subgroup is used because it has the highest rate of scrapie infection.

In fiscal year 2003, of all the black-faced cull sheep that were sampled at slaughter, around 1 in 100 of those tested were positive for scrapie. As of May 31, 2007, only 1 in 400 of the black-faced cull sheep that were sampled tested positive; a significant decrease in scrapie prevalence in this group.

Source: Sheep Industry News, August 2007