NEWS RELEASE
Texas Animal Health Commission
Box l2966 ï Austin, Texas 78711 ï (800) 550-8242 ï FAX (512) 719-0719
Linda Logan, DVM, PhD ï Executive Director
For info, contact Carla Everett, information officer, at 1-800-550-8242, ext. 710, or ceverett@tahc.state.tx.us
For Immediate Release -- September 9, 2002
New Entry Regulations in Effect;
Texas Borders Reopened for Importing Black-Tailed Deer & Elk
Texas' borders were reopened September 1 for the importation of live black-tailed deer and elk, but the animals now must meet new, stringent entry requirements. For nearly six months, the Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC) and Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) prohibited the entry of these species, along with white-tailed deer and mule deer, while new health standards were developed to help prevent the introduction of Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD). Following the TAHC actions that established the new entry requirements, TPWD commissioners have begun the process that will allow white-tailed deer and mule deer to be imported as well. Adoption of the TPWD changes are expected during their November meeting. The fatal, brain-wasting ailment, CWD has been diagnosed in deer and elk in 10 states (most recently in Minnesota), and in two Canadian provinces.
"Although only a low percentage of animals have been diagnosed with CWD in the U.S., this is a high-profile disease. Hunting, wildlife management, and deer and elk farming and ranching have an enormous impact on the agricultural community," commented Dr. Gary Svetlik, a U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) veterinarian in Texas who works with transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs), the family of diseases to which CWD belongs. Dr. Svetlik explained that CWD causes susceptible deer and elk to develop clinical signs, which include severe wasting, loss of body conditioning, incoordination, staggering, and in the latter stages, excessive salivation and urination. He noted that laboratory examination of the animal's brain tissue is essential to make a diagnosis, as injuries, malnutrition, parasites or rabies can cause similar clinical signs.
"In the past year, cases of the disease have been detected for the first time in Wisconsin, New Mexico and Minnesota," said Dr. Svetlik. "A national program and uniform regulations are being developed by the USDA, but until then, each state must develop its own plans to prevent the spread of CWD to other parts of the country."
"CWD has not yet been detected in Texas, and we can't gamble with the health of our state's deer and elk herds," said Dr. Linda Logan, Texas' state veterinarian and executive director of the TAHC. "Texas was one of the first states to close its borders in order to develop scientifically sound regulations to prevent the introduction and spread of CWD. Now, Texas is taking further steps in implementing protective regulations."
"State and national deer and elk association members worked together with the TPWD and TAHC to develop Texas' entry regulations that reduce disease risk, while allowing commerce with other states," said Dr. Logan. "The new regulations extend only to white-tailed deer, black-tailed deer, mule deer and elk, as these are the only species known to be affected by CWD. Fallow deer, axis and other exotic species of deer and antelope must meet health entry requirements previously in effect."
"Texas' first goal is to prevent the entry of CWD-affected animals into Texas," commented Dr. Ken Waldrup, a TAHC veterinarian and field epidemiologist, who specializes in deer and elk diseases. "Secondly, if CWD is present, we want to find it quickly, and deal with it immediately to prevent its spread. Finally, the TAHC, TPWD and owners must conduct adequate, ongoing surveillance of animals and herds to ensure confidence for trade, production and consumers."
"Under Texas law, mule deer and white-tailed deer are regarded as wildlife and are under TPWD rules for hunting, or ownership and importation by permitted scientific breeders. As our ally in preventing disease, the TPWD requires that incoming mule deer and white-tailed deer meet TAHC entry regulations," said Dr. Waldrup, "Black-tailed deer and elk are not considered native to Texas, and these animals come under TAHC rules as exotic livestock."
Dr. Waldrup explained that, under the new TAHC entry regulations, deer or elk imported from other states must originate from herds enrolled in an official CWD monitoring program for at least three years. In states where CWD has been detected, the required monitoring period is extended to five years.
"Monitoring involves making a yearly herd inventory, maintaining fences, keeping records on death losses, and having CWD tests run on brain tissue from adult deer and elk that die and on a percentage of those slaughtered or hunted," said Dr. Waldrup. "Animals added to the herd must originate from herds of equal status in the monitoring system. Otherwise, the entire herd will be reduced to the lower status of the new animal.î
"If a state does not have a CWD program, five years of herd records may be presented in lieu of official herd monitoring. The TAHC will review the records and determine on a case-by-case basis if the individual herd meets health standards for shipping animals to Texas," explained Dr. Waldrup.
"Animals shipped into Texas also must have two official identifiers, such as a tattoo, ear tag, microchip or breed registration number, making it possible for us to track them to their herd of origin. This information must be included on a certificate of veterinary inspection issued within the previous 30 days," he said. The animals also must meet TAHC's tuberculosis testing requirements that are based on the herd of origin's health status. Elk and black-tailed deer must have had a negative test for brucellosis within the previous 30 days.
"Permits for entry must be requested in writing at least 10 days prior to transporting the animals into Texas," said Dr. Waldrup. When requesting a TAHC entry permit, applicants must include monitoring status, destination of the shipment and an owner's statement attesting that the animals have not been exposed to a premise (or equipment) where CWD has been diagnosed. Dr. Waldrup said an entry permit also must be obtained from the TPWD prior to importing white-tailed deer and mule deer into Texas.
"In addition to raising health standards for importation, we're also working with the TPWD and owners to increase disease surveillance. In cooperation with TPWD, we plan to continue testing all clinically suspect deer," said Dr. Waldrup. As of early September, 30 free-ranging white-tailed deer have been tested, and all were negative for CWD. The TPWD will also collect tissue from some hunter-killed animals this season. CWD testing will be conducted at the Texas Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory in either College Station or Amarillo.
Dr. Waldrup commended Texas' scientific breeders of white-tailed deer and mule deer for actively participating in the CWD surveillance effort. More than 190 of the state's 462 scientific breeders have enrolled their herds in Texas' voluntary monitoring program, which will include surveillance not only for CWD, but also for tuberculosis (TB). Statistically, this level of surveillance should be sufficient to detect CWD if only 2 percent of the herds are actually infected.
"The TPWD and TAHC are developing plans for responding, in case CWD is detected in Texas. Scenarios could involve finding infection in an animal that is free-ranging or in a captive facility," said Dr. Waldrup. He said response could include quarantine and depopulation of captive herds and sampling of free-ranging deer to determine if the disease had spread. Federal indemnity payments are available for depopulated farmed or captive animals.
"Texas is doing everything possible to prevent the introduction of CWD," said Dr. Logan. "By partnering with other agencies and working with trade associations, we heighten surveillance and strengthen our ability to respond to disease situations quickly and effectively.î
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