Analysis of BSE monitoring system in Lithuania.

in 2001 to 17.41% in 2006. 2.11% of healthy slaughtered adult cattle were tested in 2002, 1.5% in 2003, 9.96% in 2004 and 17.66% in 2005. The number of tested risk group adult cattle has increased 18 times from 0.08% in 2001 to 1.47% in 2006. 0.3% of risk group of adult cattle were tested in 2002, 0.47% in 2003, 0.63% in 2004 and 0.96% in 2005. 94.3% of all tested cattle were from 2 to 11 years old, 0.1% of them were less than 2 years old, 3.0% were 12 years old and 2.6% were 13 years old and more. 54.3% of all tested cattle were more than 5 years old. A total of 53.9% of healthy slaughtered cattle, 59.0% of fallen stock, 61.9% emergency slaughtered cattle and 62.6% of cattle with clinical signs at ante mortem inspection were more than 5 years old. Significant correlation was found between the age of healthy slaughtered cattle and emergency slaughtered cattle and cattle with clinical signs at ante mortem inspection (P < 0.05). There was no correlation between the age of fallen stock and healthy slaughtered cattle. The mean age of healthy slaughtered cattle was 6.5 years and the mean age of fallen stock was 6.7 years in 2005. Enfer TSE and Bio-Rad rapid tests were applied for BSE monitoring. Inconclusive test results were subjected to histopathological and immunocytochemical examination.