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This case study explores the risk assessment of Bovine Somatotrophin (BST) and its impact on animal and public health. It analyzes the effects of BST on milk yield, composition, and potential health issues. The study also investigates the organization, working procedures, and sources used in the assessment process.
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Risk Assessment Bovine Somatotrophin - BST Case Study Jim Moynagh European Commission
What is BST and what does it do • Risk analysis carried out - what and how • Analysis of animal health aspects • Analysis of public health aspects • Risk management decisions taken
What is BST? • Protein found in pituitary • Commercial versions have small amino acid differences • Administered to dairy cows by i/m injection every 14 days - 60 days after calving until end of lactation • BST acts to increase milk yield • BST has no therapeutic use
Changes to milk yield and composition • Yield 0% to 25% - 12% typical • milk composition - changes seen but within normal variation over lactation
Other Changes • Increase in BST secretion in milk • Increase in Insulin Growth Factors in milk • both naturally found in milk from untreated cows but usually in lesser amounts
Organisation • Human Health • Animal Health • General examination of substance • NOT examination of product dossier
Types of assessment • Qualitative • Quantitative • Qualitative approach adopted • (NB quantitative approach adopted concurrently by Canada with similar results)
Working Procedures • Two Scientific Committees • Public Health • Animal Health and Welfare • Established expert working groups to review evidence and prepare report • minority reports encouraged • Reports extensively referenced and published on web
Sources used • Published papers in peer reviewed journals • Material from Company submissions With considerable caution; • Non peer reviewed published material • Personal communications
Assessing papers • Was the experiment statistically robust enough to detect the effect? • Was the effect reported researched in detail?
Assessing papers • Was the experiment statistically robust enough to detect the effect? Meta-analysis. • Was the effect reported researched in detail?
Assessing papers • Was the experiment statistically robust enough to detect the effect? Meta-analysis. • Was the effect reported researched in detail? Emphasise results from experiments that specifically measure effect.
Animal Health - Issues? • Increase in mastitis levels • Increase in foot problems • Fertility / reproductive problems • Injection site reactions • Heat tolerance, burnout etc.
Public Health - Issues? • effects of increased BST in milk • Increase in mastitis causing increased use of antibiotics thereby increasing problems of resistance • allergic reactions to changes in milk protein composition • effects of increased IGF-1 in milk
Outcome - Animal health • Mastitis • Foot problems • Reproductive problems • Site reactions
Outcome - Animal health • Mastitis definite increase (c. 25%) • Foot problems • Reproductive problems • Site reactions
Outcome - Animal health • Mastitis • Foot problems increase in older cows ( x 2.1) • Reproductive problems • Site reactions
Outcome - Animal health • Mastitis • Foot problems • Reproductive problems variable • Site reactions
Outcome - Animal health • Mastitis • Foot problems • Reproductive problems • Site reactions reported
Outcome - Animal health • Mastitis definite increase (c. 25%) • Foot problems increase in older cows ( x 2.1) • Reproductive problems variable • Site reactions reported
Possible reasons for effects • Part of being a high yielding cow? • Negative energy and protein balance too prolonged? • Direct effect of BST?
Public Health Issues • Direct effect of BST in milk • Effects of IGF-1 in milk • Indirect issues • Increased use of antibiotics increasing risk of resistance developing • change in milk protein composition and allergies
Direct effect of BST in milk • BST and metabolites rapidly broken down in gastrointestinal tract • and by pasteurisation • bovine BST does not interact with human GH receptors • no evidence for any direct biological effect in humans following oral ingestion
Insulin like growth factors (IGFs) • IGF-I and IGF-II production in liver stimulated by BST • Involved in numerous physiological processes including cellular growth regulation and tumour promotion • because of IGF is involved in multiple biological processes, it is not possible to define a dose-effect relationship which describes all individual events.
Effects of IGF-1 in milk • Bovine IGF-I is identical to human IGF-I though truncated, more active forms occur • IGF-1 present in normal milk, increased levels in BST milk (x1.25 - x5) • IGF-I is not denatured by pasteurisation
IGF-1 survives digestion in combination with casein • Intake in milk is much lower than normal secretion into GIT • IGF-I may have specific physiological role in the neonate
IGF-I increases all intestinal cellular growth parameters and stimulate cell division • High normal levels of IGF-1 in humans linked to greater risk of cancer development (cause or marker?) • positive correlation between dairy product consumption and breast cancer
Need to know…. • To what extent can IGF-I in the diet induce any adverse effects on the gastrointestinal tract as a consequence of long term exposure?
Secondary Risks • RESIDUES • BST produces effects by regulating expression of genes including enzymes involved in bio-inactivation and elimination of pharmaceuticals • Risk to increase undesirable drug residues
Secondary Risks • MASTITIS • BST Treatment increases the risk of mastitis • leading to more use of antibiotics and increased risk of resistance and allergies • Policy is to reduce unnecessary use of antibiotics
Summary - Animal Health • BST administration results in adverse health effects in the treated animal.
Summary - Public Health • There are grounds for concern concerning the long term effects of increasing the levels of IGF in the gut. • Need to determine to what extent can IGF-I in the diet induce any adverse effects as a consequence of long term exposure?
Action of policy makers • ANIMAL HEALTH • Administration of BST in the European Union was prohibited
Action of policy makers • PUBLIC HEALTH • Precautionary Principle utilised • No trade measures taken but, Scientific evidence being kept under review
Web Site http://europa.eu.int/comm/dg24/index.html