Download Turkey rhinotracheitis virus in turkey hatching eggs from the United Kingdom sourced from TRT-vaccinated flocks - Import risk analysis (February 2004)

This document is an analysis of the risk of introducing turkey rhinotracheitis (TRT) virus into New Zealand from the United Kingdom in imported turkey hatching eggs obtained from parent stock vaccinated against that disease.

The need for this risk analysis arose due to the fact that vaccination for TRT, with both live and killed vaccines, is now common practice in all countries from which the New Zealand turkey industry can obtain the hatching eggs that form the basis of their breeding stock. The introduction of TRT virus into New Zealand would result in a severe short-term disruption to the turkey industry due to respiratory disease and deaths of young turkeys, as well as a drop in egg production in laying birds.

The risk analysis concludes that TRT virus does pose a hazard in turkey hatching eggs, but vaccines used to protect parent stock, be they attenuated or killed, do not pose a hazard. In view of the current pre-export requirements for fumigation and disinfection of hatching eggs prior to export it is considered that the likelihood of introduction of TRT virus into New Zealand in the commodity is very low. Further, in view of existing post-arrival quarantine requirements, likelihood risk of exposure is considered to be negligible. Specific safeguards are recommended for the investigation of outbreaks of clinical respiratory disease in post-arrival quarantine and the ruling out of TRT as the cause.