Canada's surveillance program for bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) has evolved since its implementation in the 1990s. The program's development is due to increased knowledge about the disease, the rapid and sustained global decline in the number of cases of classical BSE and the changing international standards set by the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH).
The program that started in 1992 and was enhanced in 2004 successfully allowed Canada to:
- adequately monitor the various feed bans implemented in Canada to prevent recycling of ruminant-derived protein meal into the cattle population
- detect cases of BSE in Canada
- monitor the decrease in the incidence of cases over time
- support the claim for a negligible BSE risk status recognised by the WOAH
On March 21st, 2025, an updated National BSE Surveillance Program was implemented to ensure compliance with revised international standards adopted in May 2023 and to detect any re-emergence of classical BSE in a timely manner.
1.1 History of the National BSE Surveillance Program
- 1990s: Canada initiated an awareness program on BSE in 1990 and the National BSE Surveillance Program started in 1992
Initially, surveillance targeted bovines showing neurological signs such as incoordination and increased nervousness, as well as those submitted for rabies testing with negative results - 2003: after detecting a case of classical BSE in a bovine born and raised in Canada, we revised the surveillance goals to assess disease prevalence and the effectiveness of the 1997 feed ban that prohibited feeding ruminants with proteins sourced from ruminants and other mammals
- 2004: Canada initiated an enhanced surveillance program targeting specific subpopulations of cattle over 30 months old, known as the 4Ds
This included bovines looking sick (diseased), unable to stand or move without help (downers), dying or found dead
We initiated the "National BSE Surveillance Reimbursement Program", which provided payments to producers and veterinarians for a portion of veterinary examination fees and carcass‑disposal costs - 2004 to 2022: more than 654,000 bovines were tested
- 2023: the WOAH published new BSE standards in May 2023
Canada initiated the redesign of its surveillance program to align with updated requirements and improve surveillance quality - 2024: Canada implemented an interim modification to the surveillance program to reduce the amount of animals sampled at deadstock collection centers
- 2025: Canada launched a new redesigned surveillance program
1.2 History of Compliance with WOAH Standards
- 1990s to 2023: Canada maintained an awareness program and a disease response plan as per WOAH standards.
Surveillance strategies included testing from multiple subpopulations and achieving target surveillance numbers - 2007 to 2021: Canada held a controlled BSE risk status granted by the WOAH
- 2021 to date: Canada holds a negligible BSE risk status granted by the WOAH
- 2025: Canada aligned its surveillance activities to the new WOAH standards
1.3 History of Laboratory Diagnosis of BSE
- 2001: the National Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathy (TSE) Laboratory Network was formalized, comprised of CFIA, provincial and university laboratories
- CFIA Lethbridge Laboratory: designated as the National and WOAH Reference Laboratory, this laboratory leads quality assurance and confirmatory testing
- Network laboratories: all the network laboratories use proper protocols to effectively diagnose BSE in cattle: rapid test for screening (Bio-Rad TeSeE), and Western Blot (SAF Immunoblot) or immunohistochemistry methods for confirming a positive diagnosis