Designated WOAH reference expert
Dr. Waqas Tahir,
Head, Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies (TSEs) Unit
waqas.tahir@inspection.gc.ca
The National Centre for Animal Disease (NCAD) in Lethbridge was designated as a World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) Reference Laboratory for bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) in 2006.
Mandate
To advance science and research on the diagnosis, surveillance and control of BSE and to provide scientific advice, assistance and technical training to WOAH member countries.
Latest updates
- The latest WOAH Annual Reports are available online (once on the page, scroll to "Bovine spongiform encephalopathy")
Activities and services
- Diagnostic testing and confirmation for BSE
- Regulatory research
- Providing expert advice and technical training to WOAH member countries on BSE
Current research interests
- Pathogenesis and agent distribution of the 3 known types of BSE
- Experimental transmission of H- and L-type BSE to susceptible sheep
- Propagation of Swiss atypical BSE isolate in cattle
- Exploring bio-markers for pre-mortem detection of BSE
More information
- Bovine spongiform encephalopathy [woah.org]
- CFIA reference laboratories and collaborating centres
- Reference Laboratories [woah.org]
- Twinning is winning: collaborating for the global management of animal diseases