Animal Plant Health Agency
Much of APHAs scientific activity is focused on protecting the UK against the threat and impact of a wide variety of plant and animal diseases and other species conflicts. Many of these diseases are zoonotic, which means the infection is transmitted from animals to humans.
Scientific research
Our research provides scientific evidence that allows us to provide expert advice and supports policy development for the government, devolved administrations, the European Union, United Nations Food and Agriculture Authority (FAO), the World Association for Animal Health (OIE) and the World Health Organisation (WHO) in our capacity as international reference centre for a large range of diseases.
Staff from APHA also work with academia, industry, farmers, vets and managers in the field and undertake surveillance activities to detect and respond to exotic diseases, and to identify and assess new and emerging diseases in livestock and wildlife. See the APHA Vet Gateway for more information on our surveillance expertise and activities.
The agency undertakes a broad range of research on a range variety of plant, animal and wildlife diseases including emerging pathogens, endemic and exotic viral diseases, bovine TB, food-borne bacteria and antimicrobial resistance.
Our main areas of research include:
- bovine tuberculosis and development of vaccines and diagnostic tests for cattle
- bacterial diseases and food safety including food-borne bacteria such as Salmonella, campylobacter and E.coli, bacterial pathogens such as Brucella and Mycoplasma, and antimicrobial resistance
- viral diseases including avian and mammalian viruses such as Newcastle disease, influenza and classical swine fever, zoonotic and wildlife viruses such as rabies and vector-borne diseases
- transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs)
- wildlife management including wildlife diseases, invasive non-native species, methods development and human-wildlife conflicts
These activities are delivered via the agencys scientific disciplines: epidemiology, virology, bacteriology, pathology, parasitology, biomathematics, modelling and risk analysis, molecular biology, immunology and ecology.
Science strategy and review
Our science strategy, 2021 to 2026 outlines how science is embedded across APHA and is the foundation for the evidence and expert advice provided to policy customers, industry and stakeholders in delivering threat awareness, definition and mitigation.
International science
The International Development Programme was established in 2018 to respond to the risks and opportunities of Brexit and to develop new engagement strategies at an international level in support of future UK global trade deals. This work has involved reviewing a number of priority policy areas including trade and border arrangements, vaccine suppliers, as well as establishing new international reference laboratory centres.
APHA has a long standing reputation as a world leading centre of veterinary science expertise and this is acknowledged by our status as a for a wide range of infectious and non-infectious diseases in animals. The agency provides veterinary and scientific consultancy to countries throughout the world offering:
- confirmatory testing
- technical training and expert consultancy
- development and standardisation of diagnostic methods to ensure they are fit for purpose to detect new strains of pathogens
For further information on the international development work contact APHAIDT@apha.gov.uk.
Further information
- TSE Global Net - OIE (World Organisation for Animal Health) TSE Reference Laboratory
- Flu Global Net - OIE (World Organisation for Animal Health) / FAO (UN Food and Agricultural Organisation) Animal Flu Reference Laboratory, including the laboratory protocols for the detection of avian influenza
National Reference Laboratory for Trichinella and Echinococcus
The UK National Reference Laboratory (NRL) for Trichinella and Echinococcus is responsible for:
- diagnostic testing of pigs and wild boars for the zoonotic parasite Trichinella sp.
- the UKs annual surveillance of the parasite Echinococcus multilocularis
The Food Standards Agency (FSA) designated the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) responsible for maintaining standards of Trichinella testing in the UK. This is described in Magnetic stirrer method for pooled sample digestion in Annex 1, Chapter 1 of Retained Reg 2015/1375.
Read more about the .
Reports
APHA produces annual reports for the National Reference Laboratory for Trichinella and Echinococcus.
APHA also provides information to support meat hygiene laboratories, including news and standard operating procedures for testing methods.
Contact
National Reference Laboratory for Trichinella and Echinococcus
Animal and Plant Health Agency
York Biotech Campus
York
YO41 1LZ
Email: nrl.parasitology@apha.gov.uk
Science blog
See our APHA Science blog to read more about our science and research work at APHA. You can also subscribe for email updates whenever the blog is updated.
Scientific papers
Scientific papers published by APHA
Contact
If you have an enquiry about our research or reference laboratory, email apha.corporatecorrespondence@apha.gov.uk.
Commercial services
APHA Scientific offers a range of commercial scientific services and products to customers outside of government.
Full details can be found on the APHA Scientific web pages.
Ethics Committee
For APHA to achieve its mission to safeguard animal and