USDA - APHIS - Animal Welfare

Policy #1: Control of Tuberculosis in Regulated Elephants
Issue Date: March 25, 2011

References:
Animal Welfare Act (AWA) Section 2143
9 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), Part 2, Section 2.40(b)(2)

History:
Replaces policy dated April 1, 1998 and previously identified as Policy #21.

Justification:
Tuberculosis is a contagious disease that affects elephants, other animals, and humans. If left untreated or if treated improperly, it can cause death. Several elephants owned by licensed exhibitors have either tested culture positive for tuberculosis or have died due to this disease. In addition, elephants with tuberculosis can transmit the disease to other elephants, other animals, and, potentially, to humans. The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), Animal Care (AC) is requiring the periodic testing of all Animal Welfare Act regulated elephants. Testing will help us to identify those elephants that are infected and ensure that appropriate quarantine and/or treatment measures are instituted.

Policy:
As part of the adequate veterinary care standard in the U. S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) animal welfare regulations, all captive elephants in the United States must be periodically tested for tuberculosis. Any animals found positive on culture will be required to undergo quarantine and/or treatment.

In conjunction with this policy, USDA, APHIS, AC is offering "Guidelines for the Control of Tuberculosis in Elephants", a protocol that specifies criteria for the testing, surveillance, and treatment of elephants for tuberculosis. Copies of this protocol are available from all AC Regional Offices and on the AC website at: http://www.aphis.usda.gov/animal_welfare/publications_and_reports.shtml.

Licensees must either follow the recommended guidelines or provide a comparable testing and monitoring program that is consistent with AC's goals of ensuring the welfare of captive elephants and minimizing the potential spread of tuberculosis.

Any protocol other than the recommended guidelines should be reviewed and approved by AC prior to implementation. Alternate plans should be submitted to the appropriate AC Regional Office.

During the course of routine inspections, AC inspectors will review documentation that assures that elephants are being tested, and, if the animals test positive or are diseased, are treated according to the recommended guidelines or other APHIS approved protocol.

In addition, due to the possibility of humans transmitting tuberculosis to elephants, AC's guidance is that all attendants, handlers, and/or trainees who have direct contact with elephants should be tested for tuberculosis on at least an annual basis. It is the responsibility of each licensee, in consultation with a physician or other appropriate medical authority, to determine how this procedure should be satisfied.