Texas Administrative Code
Title 4 - AGRICULTURE
Part 2 - TEXAS ANIMAL HEALTH COMMISSION
Chapter 60 - SCRAPIE
Section 60.5 - Management of Affected and Source Flocks, and Exposed, High-Risk, and Suspect Animals

Universal Citation: 4 TX Admin Code ยง 60.5

Current through Reg. 49, No. 38; September 20, 2024

(a) All flocks determined to be infected (as per definition of a scrapie positive animal in 60.1) shall be placed under quarantine.

(1) All animals and the flock shall be identified.
(A) Red tags for positive or QQ animals.

(B) White tags for all other animals.

(2) The following options shall be offered to the owner.
(A) Standard flock plan

(B) Pilot project flock plan

(C) Post-exposure, management, and monitoring flock plan

(D) Complete depopulation of the flock with indemnity (while funds are available)

(E) Flocks whose owners decline the options listed in subparagraphs (A)-(D) of this paragraph will be designated as non-compliant and remain under quarantine until the requirements for quarantine release are met.

(b) All flocks containing animals suspicious of scrapie, and source flocks, will be placed under hold order and investigated pending final determination:

(1) Scrapie suspect animals and animals suspected of other neurological or chronic debilitating disease are required to be made available for destruction (depending on the decision of the Designated Scrapie Epidemiologist) so that diagnostic specimens can be collected and submitted to an APHIS approved laboratory for diagnostic purposes.

(2) The Designated Scrapie Epidemiologist for any of the following reasons may remove the suspect designation, of animals reported as positive on the live animal test:
(A) If the animal is not showing clinical signs of scrapie, is over 18 months of age, is negative on the third eyelid test, and is RR at the 171 codon on the genotype test; or,

(B) An epidemiological investigation shows the animal is not likely to be infected and the third eyelid test cannot be done due to lack of sufficient tissue; or,

(C) The animal is purchased for diagnostic purposed, is sacrificed, and is negative on the histopathological tests conducted on tissues submitted.

(3) Require removal of the following animals
(A) Offspring of positives regardless of genotype

(B) Suspects - i.e., animals showing clinical signs or that are positive on an unofficial test

(C) Scrapie positive animals

(D) Female goats

(E) QQ sheep unless exempted and maintained as described in paragraph (4)(E) of this subsection

(4) Cleanup options
(A) Full flock depopulation - they must either do full genotype plan or take full depopulation, we will allow them to pick and choose QR and RR sheep to keep.

(B) Genotype the flock.

(C) Retain RRs only. (There was some concern about paying indemnity for QR animals.) Require an enhanced basis PEMMP which would be reviewed annually.

(D) Retain RRs and QRs. Follow with enchanted basic PEMMP.

(E) Retain RRs, QRs and some QQs under the following conditions:
(i) All QQ sheep are quarantined to premise or move by VS 1-27 to slaughter only and arrangements must be made for them to be sampled for testing at slaughter, culling or death.

(ii) Keep QQ sheep only if they have negative third eyelid tests (APHIS pays for one test on each QQ sheep, owner is responsible for additional tests).

(iii) Full PEMMP as defined in 9 CFR plus the requirements listed here for 5 years after the last positive animal is removed or until all of the original QQs have been removed which ever is longer.

(iv) Use double tested RR bucks on entire flock i.e. male animals must be castrated, removed to another premises or tested twice as RR before they reach sexual maturity. Owner could use a QR ram but would be required to genotype the offspring, the first year APHIS would pay for testing, subsequent years would be at owners' expense. (This will allow producers additional time to find a RR ram.)

(v) QQ sheep will be identified with two forms of ID, one of which will be an official ear tag or APHIS assigned tattoo in the case of animals that can not retain an ear tag.

(vi) QR, HR, or RR genotype of animals sold for breeding purposes must be documented using an official ID and test document or retested at owners' expense prior to sale.

(vii) The DSEs determination, based on low scrapie prevalence in flock and adequate management and facilities, that theses retained animals poses a minimal risk.

(viii) Establish separate flock with separate equipment for QQ animals.

(ix) Require proper lambing hygiene.

(c) High-risk animals in other flocks that have been traced out of source or infected flocks will be placed under quarantine until depopulated and tested or the Designated Scrapie Epidemiologist makes another determination.

(d) Exposed animals will be placed under hold order and a post-exposure management and a monitoring plan formulated. The Designated Scrapie Epidemiologist will determine the final disposition of the animals.

Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. Texas may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.
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