- 5. Maintaining biosecurity
- DNA diagnostic procedures for the identification of selected species and populations of Lymantria and Orgyia moths from intercepted egg masses.
- Assessment of contamination soil as a risk pathway.
- The production of a broad-spectrum attractant for use in quarantine monitoring and surveillance of Scolytidae and Cerambycidae in New Zealand.
- Validation of pest-host associations.
- Development of diagnostic keys for Tortricidae.
- Distribution, seasonality and prevalence of the biting stable fly, Stomoxys calcitrans in New Zealand.
- Determining the relationship of amplicons of European foulbrood (EFB) PCR to the bacterial fauna of New Zealand bees.
- Development and validation of a serological assay for the detection of Echinococcus granulosus (hydatid) cysts in animals.
5. Maintaining biosecurity
This category provides information which will assist in developing and implementing policies which help to protect New Zealand's agricultural, horticultural and forestry industries from the adverse effects of introduced pests and diseases.
5.1 MBS 301
Programme Goal: To develop DNA methods for use with seven lymantriid species to accurately identify intercepted egg masses to the species level.
Objective 1
Objective Title: DNA protocol for species identification
Research Leader: Karen Armstrong
Description:
Species-specific DNA markers will be developed for Lymantria dispar, L. monacha, L. mathura, Orgyia antiqua, O. leucostigma, O. pseudotsugata and O. thyellina using polymerase chain reaction (PCR), restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) and sequence analysis. Extraction of DNA will be optimised for use with viable, nonviable or contaminated egg/larval material. A composite molecular protocol will subsequently be established for the rapid and routine identification of these species from early instar interceptions.
5.2 MBS 302
Programme Title: |
Assessment of contamination soil as a risk pathway. |
| Programme Leader: | Dr John Marshall |
| Institution: | Crop & Food Research, Lincoln |
Programme Goal: To identify pathways, and determine relative risks to New Zealand, of pest and disease entry as a result of soil introductions into New Zealand with particular reference to the container trade.
Objective 1
Objective Title: Sampling approaches.
Research Leader: Dr John Marshall
Description:
Using existing data the researchers will develop a sampling regime that will target particular countries of origin and develop a cost-effective statistically-based sampling system.
Using a stratified random sampling approach, same source of origin container shipments will be randomly sampled at Auckland. Soil samples from 3-5 same source containers will be pooled to ensure sufficient soil is collected for examination and all sampling will be replicated three times to determine statistical consistency.
Objective 2
Objective Title: Organism detection.
Research Leader: Dr John Marshall
Description
Soil samples from a number of countries of origin will be analysed by specialists for fungi (plant and animal based), bacteria (plant and animal based), nematodes (saprophytic and parasitic). A range of a selected set of organisms with actual and potential quarantine significance will be determined through consultation with MAF.
Samples will be collated and distributed to key staff in September and December 1999 and March and April 2000. All records will be collated and anlaysed by May 2000.
5.3 MBS 303
Programme Goal: To identify a primary attractant that will be useful in monitoring wood-boring beetles from the families Scolytidae and Cerambycidae.
Objective 1
Objective Title: Broad-spectrum attractants of forest beetles.
Research Leader: Dr Ken Hobson
Description:
Three broad spectrum attractants will be tested in the US and a fully replicated stratified sampling programme will be carried out in a forest with known high populations of Scolytidae and Cerambycidae. The trapping programme will use baited and non-baited funnel traps in multiple sites with traps grouped in clusters of five with treatments of monoterpene, with or without ethanol and a blank control.
A two-way mixed model analyses of variance on weekly trap results will identify the most attractive product and the most efficient trapping arrays for operational use.
Funnel traps and billet traps will be deployed at ports in New Zealand, so as to identify `best practice' and develop appropriate operational procedures.
5.4 MBS 304
Programme Title: |
Identification of fungal infections in imported timber. |
| Programme Leader: | Roberta Farrell |
| Institution: | Waikato University |
Programme Goal: To address biosecurity by conducting a risk assessment of fungi isolated from imported wood.
Objective 1
Objective Title: Isolate fungi from imported timber.
Research Leader: Roberta Farrell
Description:
The aims are to isolate fungi on imported timber, focusing on wood packaging. The outcome will be to compare the fungi found on wood to known New Zealand organisms in order to establish potential biosecurity risk.
A statistically significant risk assessment study will be conducted at several New Zealand ports at different times of the year, on wood packaging originated from diverse locations, to establish quantitatively and qualitatively the fungal species being brought to New Zealand.
5.5 MBS 305
Programme Title: |
Validation of pest-host associations. |
| Programme Leader: | Lindsay Hawke |
| Institution: | National Plant Pest Reference Laboratory, Lincoln |
Continuation of 1997/98 project
Programme Goal: To make publicly available a comprehensive record of validated pest-host associations in economically important New Zealand crops.
Objective 1
Objective Title: Validation of additional information.
Research Leader: Dr Veronica Herrera
Description:
To validate information on pest-host associations in the crops: Asparagus, Capsicum, Zea, Vaccinium, and the emerging crop Olea.
Objective 2
Objective Title: Validation of external information.
Research Leader: Juliet Richmond
Description:
To validate the information of external organisations on pest-host associations in crops of interest.
Objective 3
Objective Title: Validation of Forest Health Database information.
Research Leader: Dr Brett Alexander
Description:
To validate Forest Health Database information on forestry crops also grown for ornamental or amenity purposes.
5.6 MBS 306
Programme Title: |
Development of diagnostic keys for Tortricidae. |
| Programme Leader: | Peter Holder |
| Institution: | National Plant Pest Reference Laboratory, Lincoln |
Year Two
Programme Goal: To develop and integrate a series of morphological and molecular diagnostic keys to economically important larvae and adult New Zealand Tortricidae, as well as to the exotic Tortricidae species most likely to be introduced.
Objective 1
Objective Title: Development of morphological diagnostic keys for Tortricidae.
Research Leader: John Dugdale
Description:
Morphological keys to larvae will be developed following the framework established by morphological and molecular Objectives of the 1998/99 season of this project. These keys will combine existing tortricid references with new research and be integrated with the molecular key. The keys will include New Zealand pest species and as many other New Zealand species as practical (including diagnostic deficiencies highlighted during Specific Crop Surveys), plus exotic species which are candidates for establishment.
5.7 MBS 350
Programme Title: |
Distribution, seasonality and prevalence of the biting stable fly, Stomoxys calcitrans in New Zealand. |
| Programme Leader: | Dr Allen Heath |
| Institution: | AgResearch, Wallaceville |
Programme Goal: To determine the distribution, seasonality and prevalence of Stomoxys calcitrans using a simple, adhesive trap and employing principally the services of school children in rural areas.
Objective 1
Objective Title: Trapping Stomoxys calcitrans.
Research Leader: ACG Heath
Description:
Employing adhesive-covered fibreglass panels the traps (4 per site) will be deployed within 29 regions in rural localities using up to 4 schools per region. Sites will be selection close to cattle or horses if they are present. A simple guide to identification of S. calcitrans will be prepared for school children to enable them to distinguish this species and all panels will be sent to AgResearch, Wallaceville for confirmation of identifications.
5.8 MBS351
Completion of project commenced in 1998/99
Program Goal: To clarify the relationship of the non-specific amplicons with the bacterial fauna of the honey bee using molecular techniques such as PCR assay, cycle sequencing and phylogenetic analysis, to confirm that New Zealand is free of Melissococcus pluton, the causative organism of EFB.
Objective 1
Objective Title: Genetic analysis of EFB PCR amplicons.
Research Leader: Dr K. M. Tham
Description:
To determine the genetic relatedness of the non-specific amplicons of EFB PCR with the bee bacterial fauna using advanced molecular techniques such as PCR, cycle sequencing and gene sequence analysis.
5.9 MBS352
Year Two
Program Goal: To further validate the ProtELISA and to establish immunoblotting as a confirmatory method.
Objective 1
Objective Title: An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for E. granulosus in intermediate hosts.
Description:
To develop and validate an ELISA that could be used to test imported animals for the presence or absence of cysts of E. granulosus. This serological test should be highly sensitive. In case of limited specificity a confirmatory test, such as immunoblot, would be used.
Objective 2
Objective Title: An immunoblot for E. granulosus infections.
Description:
After initial screening has been performed in ELISA (Objective 1), positive or suspicious reactors will be retested by immunoblot, a test that will be adjusted to maximise specificity. Immunoblotting has the potential to distinguish antigenic components that are specific from those that cause false positivity. Immunoblotting will be used to identify the status of samples with unclear ELISA results.
Objective 3
Objective Title: Validation of serology for E. granulosus.
Description:
The assay developed in Objective 1 will require extensive field validation. The serum bank will be expanded by collecting a wider range of sera from a number of different infected and uninfected animals of different species (cattle, small camelids, pigs, etc) that may be intermediate hosts for E. granulosus. These will be collected from South Africa, Europe, South America to fully validate the assays to conform with the guidelines of the OIE (1,000 positive sera, 5,000 negative sera).
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