SECTION 43.20. Definitions

The following words and terms, when used in this subchapter, shall have the following meanings, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

(1) Accredited Herd--A herd that has passed at least two consecutive official tuberculosis tests of all eligible animals conducted at nine to 15 month intervals, has no evidence of bovine tuberculosis, and meets the requirements of the UM & R

(2) Affected herd--A herd that contains or has recently contained one or more animals infected with Mycobacterium bovis and has not passed the required tests for release from quarantine.

(3) Approved laboratory--A State/Federal Veterinary Diagnostic laboratory. The primary laboratory for tuberculosis histopathology and bacteriology culture and Cervid TB Stat-Pak Antibody Testing shall be the National Veterinary Services Laboratory, Ames, Iowa. Food Safety Inspection Service, Field Service Laboratories, may be utilized for histopathology.

(4) Cervid TB Stat-Pak Antibody Test--A primary supplemental serologic test used to screen for bovine tuberculosis in elk, red deer, white-tailed deer, fallow deer, and reindeer only. Samples for this test shall only be collected by state and federal animal health officials or designated accredited veterinarians.

(5) Cervidae--All species of deer, elk, and moose raised under agricultural conditions for the production of meat, the production of other agricultural products, sport, or exhibition.

(6) Commission--The Texas Animal Health Commission.

(7) Comparative Cervical Tuberculin (CCT) Test--The intradermal injection of biologically balanced bovine Purified Protein Derivative (PPD) tuberculin and avian PPD tuberculin at separate sites in the mid-cervical area to determine the probable presence of bovine tuberculosis (Mycobacterium bovis) by comparing the response of the two tuberculins 72 hours (plus or minus six hours) following injection. This test may be used for retesting Single Cervical Tuberculin Test suspects and shall be administered only by an approved state or federal veterinarian.

(8) Designated Accredited Veterinarian (DAV)--An accredited veterinarian trained and approved to conduct the Single Cervical Test for tuberculosis on Cervids and the Cervid TB Stat-Pak Antibody Test for tuberculosis on elk, red deer, white-tailed deer, fallow deer, and reindeer.

(9) Designated Tuberculosis Epidemiologist (DTE)--An epidemiologist who has demonstrated the knowledge and ability to perform the functions specified by the Bovine Tuberculosis Eradication Uniform Methods and Rules. The DTE must be selected jointly by the cooperating State Animal Health Official, the Area Veterinarian in Charge, and the Regional Epidemiologist. The National Animal Health Programs staff must concur in the appointment. The DTE has the responsibility to determine the scope of epidemiological investigations, assist in development of individual herd plans, and to coordinate disease surveillance and eradication programs within their geographic area of responsibility. The DTE has authority to make independent decisions concerning the use and interpretation of diagnostic tests and management of affected herds when those actions are supported by sound disease eradication principles.

(10) Direct shipment to slaughter--The shipment of tuberculosis reactors and suspects and tuberculosis-exposed cervids from the premises of origin, by permit, directly to a slaughtering establishment operating under state or federal inspection, without diversion to assembly points of any type.

(11) Dual-Path Platform Test (DPP)--A secondary more specific serologic test used when animals have non-negative results on the Stat-Pak test. The initial DPP is run on the non-negative blood submitted for the Stat-Pak test.

(12) Herd--A group of cervids and other hoof stock maintained on common ground or two or more groups of cervids and other hoof stock under common ownership or supervision that are geographically separated but can have an interchange or movement without regard to health status. (A group is construed to mean one or more animals.)

(13) Individual Herd Plan--A written disease management plan that is designed by the herd owner and/or other herd representative and a State or Federal veterinarian to eradicate tuberculosis from an affected herd while reducing human exposure to the disease. The herd plan will include appropriate herd test frequencies, tests to be employed, and any additional disease or herd management practices deemed necessary to eradicate tuberculosis from the herd in an efficient and effective manner. The plan must be approved by the State Animal Health Official and the Area Veterinarian in Charge, and have the concurrence of the Regional or Designated Tuberculosis Epidemiologist.

(14) Monitored Herd--A herd on which identification records are maintained on animals over one year of age slaughtered and inspected for tuberculosis at an approved State/Federal slaughter facility or an approved laboratory, and animals tested negative for tuberculosis in accordance with the requirements for interstate movement specified in the Tuberculosis Eradication in Cervidae Uniform Methods and Rules. The initial qualifying total herd size is the annual average of animals one year of age or older during the initial qualifying period, which period shall not exceed three years. The combined number of slaughtered or tested animals in the sample must be evenly distributed over a three year period, and no less than half of the qualifying animals must be slaughter inspected. The rate to detect infection at a 2.0% prevalence level with 95% confidence would require a maximum number of 178 animals.

Attached Graphic

(15) Negative animals--Cervids that show no response to a Single Cervical Tuberculin test or elk, red deer, white-tailed deer, fallow deer or reindeer that test negative on the Stat-Pak test. Animals that show a non-negative response on the Single Cervical Tuberculin Test or the Stat-Pak test may be classified negative by the DTE based upon history, secondary supplemental tests (CTT or DPP) or examination of carcasses.

(16) No gross lesion (NGL) animals--Cervids that do not reveal a lesion(s) of bovine tuberculosis upon necropsy.

(17) Official eartag--An identification eartag that provides unique identification for each individual animal by conforming to the alpha-numeric National Uniform Eartagging System.

(18) Official tuberculosis test--A test for bovine tuberculosis applied and reported by approved personnel. The official tests for cervidae are the single cervical test and the comparative cervical test. The Stat-Pak test and the DPP test are considered official tests for elk, red deer, white-tailed deer, fallow deer or reindeer only.

(19) Permit--An official document issued by a representative of the Commission, USDA APHIS-VS, or an accredited veterinarian that is required to accompany reactor, suspect or exposed cervids to slaughter. The permit will list the reactor tag number or official eartag number in the case of suspect and exposed cervids; the owner's name and address; origin and destination; number of cervids included; and the purpose of the movement. If a change in destination becomes necessary, a new permit must be issued by authorized personnel. No diversion from the destination of the permit is allowed.

(20) Qualified herd--A cervid herd that has undergone at least one complete official negative test of all eligible animals within the past 12 months and is not classified as an accredited herd, has no evidence of bovine tuberculosis, and meets the standards of the UM & R

(21) Reactor--Any cervid that shows a response to an official tuberculosis test and is classified a reactor by the DTE.

(22) Single Cervical Tuberculin Test (SCT)--The intradermal injection of 0.1 mL (5,000 tuberculin units) of USDA PPD Bovis tuberculin in the mid-cervical region with reading by visual observation and palpation in 72 hours (plus or minus six hours) following injection. This test shall be administered only by a state, federal, or designated accredited veterinarian.

(23) Surveyed Herd--A cervid herd in which surveillance records are maintained on all animals over one year of age that are surveyed for evidence of bovine tuberculosis by routine post mortem inspection at an approved state/federal slaughter facility, or approved diagnostic laboratory, or routine tuberculosis tests performed by a designated accredited veterinarian or by other appropriate surveillance methods approved by a representative of the TAHC.

(24) Suspect--Any cervid that shows a response to the single cervical tuberculin test or any elk, red deer, white-tailed deer, fallow deer or reindeer that test non-negative on the Stat-Pak test and is not classified a reactor, or is classified suspect by a supplemental tuberculosis test.

(25) Tuberculin--A product that is approved by and produced under USDA license for the intradermal injection of cervids for the purpose of detecting bovine tuberculosis.

(26) Tuberculosis--A disease in Cervidae caused by Mycobacterium bovis (M. bovis).

Source Note: The provisions of this §43.20 adopted to be effective August 31, 1995, 20 TexReg 5857; amended to be effective October 1, 1997, 22 TexReg 11345; amended to be effective June 14, 2007, 32 TexReg 3172; amended to be effective October 7, 2013, 38 TexReg 6912