Utah Administrative Code
Topic - Agriculture and Food
Title R58 - Animal Industry
Rule R58-20 - Elk Ranches
Section R58-20-15 - CWD Surveillance and Investigation

Universal Citation: UT Admin Code R 58-20-15

Current through Bulletin 2024-06, March 15, 2024

(1) Any person or laboratory who suspects or diagnoses CWD in a domesticated elk in Utah shall notify the state veterinarian immediately.

(2) The state veterinarian shall promptly investigate any animals reported as CWD-positive domesticated elk or CWD-suspect domesticated elk.

(3) The state veterinarian may:

(a) conduct an epidemiologic investigation of CWD-positive, CWD-exposed, and CWD-suspect herds that includes the designation of suspect domesticated elk and exposed domesticated elk and that identifies animals to be traced;

(b) conduct tracebacks of CWD-positive animals and trace outs of CWD-exposed animals and report any out of state traces to the appropriate state promptly after receipt of notification of a CWD-positive animal; and

(c) conduct tracebacks based on slaughter or another sampling promptly after receipt of notification of a CWD-positive animal at slaughter.

(4) Within 30 days of the date a suspect domesticated elk or positive domesticated elk is reported to the department, the state veterinarian shall provide written notice to an owner of a domesticated elk facility of:

(a) the status of the animal disease traceability investigation, including any findings; and

(b) the owner's right to appeal.

(5) With the approval of the commissioner, the state veterinarian may place an elk facility under quarantine if a domesticated elk at the elk facility has, within the previous 60 months:

(a) tested positive for CWD; or

(b) commingled with a CWD-positive elk in a quarantined domesticated elk facility.

(6) The state veterinarian may not place an elk facility under quarantine if no CWD-positive, CWD-suspect, or commingled domesticated elk resided at the domesticated elk facility.

(7) Each licensed elk ranch shall be required to submit both the obex portion of the brainstem and medial retropharyngeal lymph nodes of any elk over 12 months of age that die or are otherwise harvested or destroyed for testing for CWD by an official test at an approved laboratory.

(8) The samples shall be collected by an approved laboratory or a person authorized by the state veterinarian. Approved personnel shall have training on collecting, storing, handling, shipping, and identifying specimens for submission.

(9) At least 90% of the elk shall have at least one sample be testable by the laboratory.

(10) Samples designated as "location," "unsuitable," or "insufficient follicles" and missing samples are considered untestable.

(11) Individuals with less than 90% testable samples may lose their approval to collect samples and may be required to undergo additional training before being re-approved.

(12) The department may deny, revoke, or suspend a domestic elk ranch license if the ranch fails to submit at least one testable sample for 90% of elk.

(13) The CWD surveillance samples from elk residing on elk ranches shall be collected and preserved in formalin within 48 hours following the animal's death and submitted within 30 days to a laboratory approved by the state veterinarian.

(14) Laboratory fees and expenses incurred for collecting and shipping samples shall be the responsibility of the participating elk ranch.

(15) The state veterinarian will determine the designation and disposition of CWD-exposed, positive, or suspect domesticated elk or herds in Utah.

Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. Utah 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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