Download Sheep and goat genetic material - Import risk analysis (October 2005)

This risk analysis considers the risk of introduction of disease-causing organisms through the importation of sheep and goat genetic material (semen or embryos).

Eighty five disease agents were considered in the analysis. Forty five endemic agents and one exotic agent (Acholeplasma oculi) that was considered to be unlikely to be pathogenic and not an economically significant disease, were excluded from further consideration. Scrapie was not included in this risk analysis as it has been the subject of a previous risk analysis. Diseases caused by ectoparasites such as insects, ticks and mites, and endoparasites such as roundworms and tapeworms were not considered because these parasites cannot be transmitted by semen or by embryos.

All organisms classified as exotic were subjected to more detailed analysis. For each disease agent, a conclusion was reached as to whether the risk posed by the importation of semen or embryos was considered to be negligible or non-negligible.

For all diseases that were posed a non-negligible risk, recommendations for risk management were made. In 12 cases it was concluded that importation of germplasm would involve negligible risk. Many of these cases involved diseases that are transmitted exclusively by vectors that are not present in New Zealand. For the remaining cases risk management measures have been proposed. These measures generally involve quarantine procedures and or test procedures to ensure that the donors of germplasm are free from infection.