Overview
The Alberta Scrapie Program is a surveillance program for farmed sheep and goats in Alberta for scrapie, a federally reportable transmissible spongiform encephalopathy (TSE). This program provides regional support to the National Scrapie Eradication Program (NSEP), which aims to eliminate scrapie from the Canadian flock and herd.
Scrapie testing is provided to producers at no cost. Participation is voluntary.
Objective
The purpose of this program is to monitor for scrapie in non-suspect sheep and goats in Alberta.
Selection criteria
Alberta sheep and goat producers are eligible to submit samples if the following criteria are met:
- Samples must be from animals that are over one year of age (as verified by dentition) and meet one of the following criteria:
- found dead
- euthanized/culled
- slaughtered on farm
- Sheep and goats must have an approved animal identifier Canadian Sheep Identification Program Tags - Alberta Lamb [Alberta Goat].
- Producers must have a Premises Identification (PID) number. Producers without a PID can apply at time of submission (Premises Identification)
Contact us to learn more about eligibility information.
Sample submission
Samples must be submitted to a pre-approved drop off location. With prior approval, they may be frozen and stored by a producer or veterinarian until submission.
Producers remain responsible for any costs incurred to deliver or ship samples to an approved location. Contact us for a submission form and get directions for pre-approved locations.
Results reporting
- Results will be communicated to the submitting producer and their veterinarian.
- Samples that are positive on initial screening tests (“reactors”) will be reported to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA). The samples will then be sent to the CFIA national reference laboratory for confirmatory testing.
- A summary of program test results is regularly reported to Canada’s National Scrapie Eradication Program.
Disease response
Find out what happens if scrapie is found on your farm, including investigation steps, quarantine, and cleanup requirements.
Learn more about what to expect if scrapie has been detected on your farm.
Contact
Connect with the Office of the Chief Provincial Veterinarian:
Phone: 780-427-3448
Toll free: 310-0000 before the phone number (in Alberta)