8-University Consortium on Livestock Disease Control｜University of Miyazaki Center for Animal Disease Control

What is the 8-University Consortium on Livestock Disease Control

In response to outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease and highly pathogenic avian influenza, research institutes for livestock infectious diseases have been established at each veterinary university. In 2018, the University of Miyazaki took the lead in organizing the Livestock Epidemic Control Consortium with the aim of building a joint research and education system for important livestock infectious diseases. The consortium aims to develop novel technologies essential for livestock quarantine and research that contribute to sustainable livestock resources on an All-Japan basis. 　

Introduction of 8 institutions

Center for Animal Disease Control,Miyazaki University Avian Zoonosis Research Center,Tottori University Center for infectious Disease Epidemiology and Prevention Research,Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology Transboundary Animal Diseases Research Center,Kagoshima University Laboratory of Parasitology, Department of Disease Control, Graduate School of Infectious Disease, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine,Hokkaido University Department of Large Animal Clinic,Azabu University Education and Research Center for Food Animal Health,Gifu University WOAH Collaborating Centre for Food Safety,Rakuno Gakuen University

Objectives and activities

Mission of the consortium

Promoting collaborative research by organically linking the unique features of each institution
Establishing a national livestock epidemic prevention database
Information sharing and dissemination based on research data
Cultivating next-generation experts

History of the consortium

Feb. 2017.	Proposal for the establishment of an organic linkage building on the characteristics of the research center on livestock disease control in Tokyo-U of Agriculture and Technology, Tottori-U, U of Miyazaki and Kagoshima-U
Dec. 2018.	Consortium of four universities launched
Aug. 2019.	Participation of Hokkaido-U, Azabu-U, and Gifu-U.
Aug. 2020.	Participation of Rakuno Gakuen-U →Launched as 8-university consortium for livestock disease control

Activity

Collaboration research: development of diagnostic system and national survey

New virus hunting in swine faeces using NGS ⇒ Discovery of new Bastrovirus
Online training on BLV resistance gene testing methods ⇒ National surveys
Early alert for livestock infectious diseases ⇒ Detection of migratory bird-derived viruses in lake water.

Symposium for information sharing and dissemination

Educational activities: science camps/international student exchange programes

2024-25「 Building an early alert network for livestock disease detection through 8-university consortium for livestock disease control」
（PU: University of Miyazaki）

Objective

Establishment of an early alert system in 8-university consortium using the HPAI controls as a model.

To rapidly detect HPAI viruses carried by migratory birds, a method to detect HPAI viruses with high sensitivity from migratory bird flight lake water will be developed, and a nationwide HPAI detection network will be established in 8-university consortium.
Furthermore, in collaboration with local government and farmers a system will be established to immediately return correct information on disease control measures to livestock production sites, with the aim of realizing 'Disease control in advance' through the concerted efforts of industry, academia and government.

8-University Consortium on Livestock Disease Control