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: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service : Veterinary Services -- Texas
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Eradication
of Brucellosis in Cattle and Bison
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Brucellosis is an infectious and contagious disease of animals and humans. Brucella abortus, the species commonly associated with brucellosis in cattle and bison, causes abortions, calves to be born dead or weak, reduction in fertility and loss of milk production. There is no effective treatment for brucellosis in cattle and bison.
Brucellosis in humans, also known as undulant fever, causes a broad spectrum of symptoms including intermittent fever, fatigue, joint and bone pain, and psychotic disturbances. Humans contract brucellosis through exposure to infected animals and the products of infected animals.
A cooperative State-Federal program to eradicate brucellosis in cattle was begun in 1951. More than 124,000 cattle herds were known to be infected in the United States in 1957. Through herd testing and removal of infected animals, vaccination, herd management, and in some cases herd depopulation, the number of known brucellosis infected cattle and bison herds in the United States has been reduced to one as of December 31, 2001.
As of December 31, 2001, forty-eight (48) states, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands had achieved Class Free status. A major requirement for a state to be recognized as being free of brucellosis is finding no infected herds for 12 months or longer while maintaining a high level of surveillance. For the 12 month period ending December 31, 2001, five (5) newly affected herds were identified in the United States; one (1) each in Arkansas, Kansas, and Missouri, and two (2) in Texas.
The major challenge in accomplishing the eradication of brucellosis is locating the remaining cattle or bison herds in which brucellosis continues to exist. This challenge is particularly great in Texas with a cattleherd population of 152,000. Most index infected herds are found as a result of testing eligible animals moving through livestock markets or at the time of slaughter. While this has proven to be an effective method of surveillance, it generally requires many years to locate the last infected herds in large populations. To hasten the process in finding the remaining infected herds in Texas, herd owners are advised to test all animals with clinical signs suggestive of brucellosis; require the testing of all eligible animals being purchased and test all eligible animals being sold through private treaty. Cattle owners whose herds have had little or no surveillance testing conducted in recent years or reside in communities where brucellosis has been diagnosed are urged to get their herds tested to assure their herds are free of brucellosis.
Questions concerning the brucellosis eradication program in Texas may be directed to the Central Texas Animal Health Commission office in Austin (phone no. 1-800-550-8242), or to one of the area Texas Animal Health Commission offices located near you:
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USDA
: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service : Veterinary Services -- Texas
AreaEradication
of Brucellosis in Swine
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TX Home PageVS
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Brucellosis is an infectious and contagious disease of animals and humans. Brucella suis, the species commonly associated with brucellosis in swine, causes abortions, pigs to be born dead or weak, and reduced fertility. Brucella suis is highly pathogenic in man and can cause severe flu-like symptoms.
As of December 31, 2001, there were no known brucellosis infected domestic swine herds in the United States.
Five (5) brucellosis infected swine herds have been identified in Texas in the 12 month period ending December 31, 2001. The last infected herd was found in October, 2001. Eliminating brucellosis from infected swine herds through testing and removal of the reactor animals is not highly effective; therefore, depopulation of brucellosis infected swine herds is generally the option of choice.
Since October 1, 1998, Texas has required that sows and boars changing ownership, including those sold at livestock markets, be tested for brucellosis. This has significantly increased the level of surveillance for the disease in the states' swine population. Two of the five brucellosis infected swine herds identified in Texas during the 12 month period ending December 31, 2001, were found as a result of market testing. Three infected swine herds were found as a result of "High Risk" herd surveillance testing.
Feral swine are prevalent in many of the southern states. Both brucellosis and pseudorabies have been diagnosed in captured feral swine. Owners of domestic swine are advised to take precautions that would assure their animals do not come into contact with feral swine.
Questions concerning the brucellosis eradication program in Texas may be directed to Dr. Terry Conger at the Central Texas Animal Health Commission office in Austin (phone no. 1-800-550-8242), or to one of the area Texas Animal Health Commission offices located near you:
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: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service : Veterinary Services -- Texas
AreaPseudorabies
Eradication Program
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The national Pseudorabies Program is dedicated to eliminating pseudorabies from the U. S. domestic swine population.
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USDA
: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service : Veterinary Services -- Texas
AreaTuberculosis
Eradication Program
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The Tuberculosis Program is an eradication program with the aim of eliminating Tuberculosis from domestic cattle and cervidae in the U. S. by the year 2001.
As of January 31, 2001, one (1) dairy in the El Paso, TX area was under quarantine for tuberculosis.
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: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service : Veterinary Services -- Texas
AreaSwine
Health Protection ProgramVS
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