Texas Register, Volume 37, Number 40, Pages 7815-8094, October 5, 2012 Page: 8,015
7533-7814 p. ; 28 cm.View a full description of this periodical.
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Since August 2011, a newly-identified infectious disease has
been reported in cattle, sheep, goats, and bison in Europe. This
disease was first reported in German dairy cows that exhibited
signs of fever, anorexia, reduced milk yield, and loss of condi-
tion. Herd morbidities were high (20-70%) over 2-3 weeks, with
affected individuals recovering in a few days. Reports of disease
among cattle in Germany, and subsequently in the Netherlands,
persisted throughout September and into October. By Novem-
ber 2011, farmers began reporting abortions and stillbirths asso-
ciated with congenital malformations, mostly among sheep but
also in goats and cattle. Some dystocias, with no other clini-
cal signs, were observed in mature animals. The virus caused
fever, viremia, and diarrhea in a small number of experimentally
infected calves. By mid-March 2012, the virus had been identi-
fied on more than 2,100 farms in eight European countries. Most
infected premises have been sheep farms (85%), followed by
cattle (11%) and goat farms (4%) (FluTrackers.com).
This new virus is provisionally named Schmallenberg virus
(SBV) after the town in Germany where the first positive samples
were found. As of March 2012, cases of Schmallenberg virus
infection has been confirmed in Germany, the Netherlands,
Belgium, France, the United Kingdom, Luxembourg, Italy, and
Spain. Spread of SBV from mainland Europe to Great Britain
has been tentatively linked to natural movements of insects
from infected areas, similar to the pattern of bluetongue virus in
2008 (European Commission 2012). In experimental challenge
trials, three calves inoculated intravenously or subcutaneously
with blood that was PCR positive for SBV became infected
and had positive PCR results 2-5 days post-inoculation. The
viremic stage in cattle seems to be short, as viral detection was
negative in all three infected animals 6 days after inoculation,
and clinical signs subsided within a few days.
USDA-APHIS-VS has placed additional restrictions on ship-
ments of ruminant semen and embryos (germplasm) originating
from the European Union (EU), and from countries that are not
formally part of the EU but which follow EU legislation (see list
below). These restrictions became effective February 21, 2012,
and were placed to address the emergence of Schmallenberg
virus in Europe. The virus, thought to be distributed by flying
insects such as midges and possibly mosquitoes, is not known
to be present in the U.S. and has not been reported to be of
human health concern. Infection with the virus causes transient
disease in adult cattle, sheep and goats, resulting in production
losses, but has also been associated with a high percentage of
fetal malformations, abortions, dystocias and death of infected
pregnant animals. No treatments or vaccines are currently are
available, and testing is currently limited in nature.
Shipments of bovine germplasm collected in EU countries af-
ter June 1, 2011, are no longer eligible for importation to the
U.S. To be eligible for importation, any consignments of bovine
germplasm originating from the countries listed below must in-
clude a statement on the official export health certificate that they
were collected prior to June 1, 2011. All other APHIS import re-
quirements continue to apply.
Importations of live ruminants from the EU are currently prohib-
ited due to bovine spongiform encephalopathy there. Sheep and
goat semen protocols are currently being negotiated with the EU,
and will be revised to include similar restrictions for Schmallen-
berg virus. Cervid and camelid germplasm shipments are not
affected by these additional restrictions for Schmallenberg virus.
No restrictions have been placed by APHIS at this time on any
ruminant products or by-products.No comments were received regarding adoption of the amend-
ment.
STATUTORY AUTHORITY
The amendment is adopted under the following statutory author-
ity as found in Chapter 161 of the Texas Agriculture Code. Sec-
tion 161.101 provides that the Commission may adopt rules that
require a veterinarian, a veterinary diagnostic laboratory, or a
person having care, custody, or control of an animal to report
a disease not covered by subsection (a) or (b) if the Commis-
sion determines that action to be necessary for the protection of
animal health in this state. The Commission shall immediately
deliver a copy of a rule adopted under this subsection to the ap-
propriate legislative oversight committees. A rule adopted by the
Commission under this subsection expires on the first day after
the last day of the first regular legislative session that begins af-
ter adoption of the rule unless the rule is continued in effect by
act of the legislature. House Bill 4006 relating to veterinarian re-
ports of diseased animals was passed during the 81st Legislative
Session and amended the requirements found in 161.101.
This agency hereby certifies that the adoption has been reviewed
by legal counsel and found to be a valid exercise of the agency's
legal authority.
Filed with the Office of the Secretary of State on September 20,
2012.
TRD-201204979
Gene Snelson
General Counsel
Texas Animal Health Commission
Effective date: October 10, 2012
Proposal publication date: July 6, 2012
For further information, please call: (512) 719-0724
CHAPTER 49. EQUINE
4 TAC 49.6
The Texas Animal Health Commission (Commission) adopts
new 49.6, concerning Piroplasmosis: Area or County Test,
without changes to the proposed text as published in the July
6, 2012, issue of the Texas Register (37 TexReg 5066) and will
not be republished.
The new rule authorizes the Executive Director to issue an order
which will classify an area or a county as high risk for holding
equine exposed or positive for Piroplasmosis.
Equine Piroplasmosis is a disease of horses and other equine
caused by the protozoa Theileria equi or Babesia caballi. A num-
ber of species of ticks are capable of transmitting the disease. At
least one species, Amblyomma cajennense, is endemic to South
Texas and several other southern states. The disease may also
be spread between horses by unsafe animal husbandry prac-
tices such as sharing needles or equipment that is contaminated
with blood. While Piroplasmosis can be a fatal disease, many
horses may display vague signs of illness, such as fever, inap-
petence or jaundice. Equine Piroplasmosis is endemic in many
countries around the world. It is considered a foreign animal
disease in the United States, though sporadic outbreaks have
occurred.ADOPTED RULES October 5, 2012 37 TexReg 8015
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Texas. Secretary of State. Texas Register, Volume 37, Number 40, Pages 7815-8094, October 5, 2012, periodical, October 5, 2012; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth288982/m1/200/: accessed July 17, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting UNT Libraries Government Documents Department.