Current through Reg. 49, No. 38; September 20, 2024
(a) Reporting of
tests. All cervidae tested shall be officially identified at the time of an
official test. A report of all tuberculosis tests, including the official
identification of each animal, a record of the size of the response of the
Single Cervical Tuberculin Test or the result of the TB Cervid Stat Pak
Antibody Testing where indicated, and test interpretation shall be submitted in
accordance with the requirements of the cooperating state and federal
officials.
(b) Classification of
cervidae tested.
(1) Single cervical
tuberculin test.
(A) Herds of unknown status.
All SCT responses shall be recorded and the animals classified as suspects and
quarantined for retest with the CCT, unless in the judgment of the testing
veterinarian the reactor classification is indicated.
(B) Known infected herds. All responses shall
be recorded and the animals classified as reactors.
(2) Comparative cervical test--All responses
are to be measured to the nearest 0.5mm.
(A)
Animals having a response to bovine PPD of less than 1mm should be classified
negative.
(B) Animals having a
response to bovine PPD from 1mm through 2mm that is equal to or greater than
the avian PPD response shall be classified as suspects.
(C) Animals having a response to bovine PPD
greater than 2.0mm but equal to the avian response shall be classified as
suspects, except when in the judgment of the testing veterinarian the reactor
classification is indicated.
(D)
Animals meeting the criteria for suspect classification on two successive CCTs
shall be classified as reactors.
(E) Animals having a response to bovine PPD
which is greater than 2.0mm and is 0.5mm greater than the avian PPD response
shall be classified as reactors.
(3) Suspect SCT cervids may be retested by
the CCT only. The CCT may be applied within ten days following the SCT
injection or after 90 days. If the CCT is applied within ten days of the SCT,
the opposite side of the neck shall be used. Animals positive to the CCT shall
be classified as reactors.
(4)
Suspects may be necropsied in lieu of retesting, and, if found without evidence
of M. bovis infection by histopathology and culture (including selected NGL
specimens submitted from animals having no gross lesions indicative of
tuberculosis), shall be considered negative for tuberculosis.
(c) Classification of captive elk,
red deer, white-tailed deer, fallow deer or reindeer tested.
(1) Cervid TB Stat Pak antibody test.
(A) Herds of unknown status. All Stat Pak
non-negative responses shall be recorded and the animals classified as suspects
and quarantined for retest with the DPP unless in the judgment of the DTE the
reactor classification is indicated.
(B) Known infected herds. All non-negative
responses shall be recorded and the animals classified as reactors.
(2) Dual-Path Platform Test shall
be performed on all non-negatives samples submitted for Stat Pak Testing.
Animals non-negative on the Stat-Pak test and non-negative on a single DPP test
should be classified as suspect unless the DTE determines that a reactor
classification is warranted.
(3)
Animals classified as suspect by a single DPP test may be retested with the DPP
test only with a new blood sample drawn no sooner than 30 days after the
initial sample was obtained.
(4)
Animals that are non-negative on two successive DPP tests should be classified
as reactor.
(5) Suspects may be
necropsied in lieu of retesting, and, if found without evidence of M. bovis
infection by histopathology and culture (including selected NGL specimens
submitted from animals having no gross lesions indicative of tuberculosis),
shall be considered negative for tuberculosis.
(d) Disposition of Tuberculin-Responding
Cervidae.
(1) Reactors shall remain on the
premises where they were disclosed until a state or federal permit for movement
has been obtained. Movement for immediate slaughter will be within 15 days of
classification directly to a slaughter establishment where approved state or
federal inspection is maintained. Alternatively, the animals may be destroyed
and necropsy conducted by or under the supervision of a state or federal
regulatory veterinarian that has been trained in tuberculosis necropsy
procedures.
(2) Herds containing
suspects to the SCT shall be quarantined until the suspect animals are:
(A) retested by the CCT within ten days of
the SCT injection; or
(B) retested
by the CCT after 90 days; or
(C)
shipped under permit directly to a slaughter facility under state or federal
inspection, or necropsied. If such animals are found without evidence of M.
bovis infection by histopathology and culture (including selected NGL specimens
submitted from animals having no gross lesions indicative of tuberculosis),
they shall be considered negative for tuberculosis.
(3) Suspects to the CCT shall remain under
quarantine until:
(A) comparative cervical
suspects are retested by the CCT after 90 days; or
(B) such animals are shipped under permit
directly to a slaughter facility under state or federal inspection, or
necropsied. If such animals are found without evidence of M. bovis infection by
histopathology and cultured (including selected NGL specimens submitted from
animals having no gross lesions indicative of tuberculosis), they shall be
considered negative for tuberculosis.
(4) An animal meeting the suspect criteria on
two successive CCT tests followed by one suspect CCT test shall be classified
as a reactor and be identified as such. The testing veterinarian must justify
exceptions in writing and have the concurrence of State or Federal animal
health personnel.
(e)
Identification of Reactors. Reactor cervids shall be identified by branding
with the letter "T" at least two by two inches in size, high on the left hip
near the tailhead, and by tagging with an official eartag bearing a serial
number and inscription "U.S. Reactor" attached to the left ear of each reactor
animal.
(f) Disposition of elk, red
deer, white-tailed deer, fallow deer or reindeer that are non-negative on the
Stat-Pak test and non-negative on a single DPP test.
(1) Reactors shall remain on the premises
where they were disclosed until a state or federal permit for movement has been
obtained. Movement for immediate slaughter will be within 15 days of
classification directly to a slaughter establishment where approved state or
federal inspection is maintained. Alternatively, the animals may be destroyed
and necropsy conducted by or under the supervision of a state or federal
regulatory veterinarian that has been trained in tuberculosis necropsy
procedures.
(2) Herds containing
suspects to the Stat-Pak test and a single DPP test shall be quarantined until
the suspect animals are:
(A) retested by the
DPP test only with a new blood sample drawn no sooner than 30 days after the
initial sample was obtained; or
(B)
shipped under permit directly to a slaughter facility under state or federal
inspection, or necropsied. If such animals are found without evidence of M.
bovis infection by histopathology and culture (including selected NGL specimens
submitted from animals having no gross lesions indicative of tuberculosis),
they shall be considered negative for tuberculosis.
(3) Animals that are non-negative on two
successive DPP tests should be classified as reactor. Any exceptions to reactor
classification must be justified by the designated TB epidemiologist in writing
and have the concurrence of the regional TB epidemiologist.
(g) Quarantine procedures.
(1) All herds in which reactor animals are
disclosed shall be quarantined. Exposed animals must remain on the premises
where disclosed unless a state or federal permit for movement to slaughter has
been obtained. Movement for immediate slaughter must be directly to a slaughter
establishment where approved state or federal inspection is administered.
Animals must be identified by official eartag. Use of "S" brand is required, or
animals must be shipped in an official sealed vehicle. The "S" brand shall be
applied to either the left jaw or the tailhead.
(2) Cervidae herds in which M. bovis is
confirmed shall remain under quarantine if not depopulated, and must pass three
consecutive official tuberculosis tests of all animals. The first test must be
conducted 90 days or more after the last test yielding a positive animal, with
two additional tests at 180-day minimum intervals. Five annual complete herd
tests of all animals shall be given following the release from
quarantine.
(3) Cervidae herds that
have had a test of all eligible animals with NGL reactors only and no evidence
of tuberculosis infection is found by histopathology and culture of M. bovis
(including selected NGL specimens submitted from animals having no gross
lesions indicative of tuberculosis) may be released without further
restrictions.
(4) Cervidae herds in
which compatible or suggestive lesions are found by histopathology without the
isolation of M. bovis may be released from quarantine following a negative
90-day retest of the entire herd, provided there is no known association with
M. bovis.
(5) Cervidae herds that
exhibit NGL reactors in which no evidence of tuberculosis infection is found by
histopathology and culture of M. bovis and are unable to conduct a test of all
eligible animals, shall be evaluated by the state and/or regional tuberculosis
epidemiologist for possible release of quarantine.
(h) Procedures in affected herds. Disclosure
of tuberculosis in any herd shall be followed by a complete epidemiological
investigation. All cervids in herds from which tuberculosis animals originate,
and all cervids that are known to have associated with affected cervids or
other affected animals, shall be tested promptly. These procedures shall apply
to adjacent and contact herds as well as to the evaluation and testing of
possible source herds for the affected herd. Herds that have received exposed
animals shall be tested following the slaughter or testing of the exposed
animals. Every effort shall be made to ensure the immediate elimination of the
disease from all species of animals on the premises. The herd shall be handled
as outlined under subsection (g) of this section.
(i) Retest Schedules for High Risk Herds.
(1) In herds with a history of lesions
compatible or suggestive for tuberculosis by histopathology, two complete
annual herd tests shall be given after release from quarantine. Herds with a
bacteriologic isolation of a Mycobacteria species other than M. bovis should be
considered negative for bovine tuberculosis with no further testing
requirements.
(2) In a newly
assembled herd on premises where a tuberculosis herd has been depopulated, two
annual herd tests shall be applied to all animals. The first test must be
approximately six months after assembly of the new herd. If the premises are
vacated for over one year, these requirements may be waived.
(3) Exposed animals previously sold from
known infected herds shall be depopulated if possible, or tested with the SCT
or Stat Pak/DPP by State or Federal veterinarians. All animals non-negative to
either test shall be classified as reactors.
(A) If bovine tuberculosis is confirmed in
the exposed animal(s), the remainder of the receiving herd shall be classified
as an infected herd and handled according to subsection (g)(2) of this
section.
(B) If negative to the
test, the exposed animal(s) will subsequently be handled as if a part of the
infected herd of origin for purposes of testing, quarantine release, and the
five annual high-risk tests. The remainder of the herd shall be tested at the
time of the initial investigation and retested in one year with the SCT or Stat
Pak/DPP. Supplemental diagnostic tests may be used if needed.
(4) Herds indicated as the
source(s) of animals in slaughter traceback investigations shall be placed
under quarantine within 30 days of notification to the area office, and a herd
test scheduled. Testing of source herds of slaughter animals having lesions of
tuberculosis shall be done by state or federal regulatory veterinarians using
the SCT or Stat Pak/DPP.
(A) If the herd of
origin is positively identified and M. bovis has been confirmed by bacterial
isolation from the slaughter animal, all animals responding to the SCT or Stat
Pak/DPP shall be classified as reactors. In all other cases, supplemental
diagnostic tests may be used.
(B)
In herds identified as the source of culture negative lesioned animals,
responding animals may be classified as reactors or suspects. If classified as
suspects, they may be retested by supplemental diagnostic tests.
(j) Cleaning and
disinfection of premises, conveyances, and materials. All premises, including
all structures, holding facilities, conveyances, and materials that are
determined by program officials to constitute a health hazard to humans or
animals because of tuberculosis, shall be properly cleaned and disinfected.
This shall be done within 15 days after the removal of tuberculosis-affected or
exposed cervids in accordance with approved procedures. However, these
officials may extend the time limit for disinfection to 30 days when a request
for such extension is received prior to the expiration date of the original
15-day period allowed.
