Equine Infectious Anemia

Equine Viral Arteritis

National Animal Health Reporting System Provides Data for Confirmed Diseases

Feedlot Monitoring Data Show VS What is Happening in Animal Health

Low Pathogenic Avian Influenza

West Nile Virus

Chronic Wasting Disease

Modernization of Ames

National Animal Identification System

Bovine Tuberculosis

BSE Surveillance

Foreign Animal Disease Investigations

Trichinea Certification Program

Pseudorabies

Assessing Brucellosis in the Tristate Area: Montana, Wyoming, and Idaho

Bluetongue Survey

Confiscation of Belgian Sheep in Vermont

Scrapie Eradication Program

Johnes Program

National Veterinary Services Laboratories Domestic Detection and Surveillance Testing

Confiscation of Sheep in Vermont

In April 2002, VS announced that two sheep from a flock of 125 that were confiscated in March of 2001 from a farm in Vermont had tested positive for an atypical undifferentiated TSE.

TSEs are a class of degenerative neurological diseases that are characterized by a very long incubation period and a 100-percent mortality rate. Two of the better known varieties of TSEs are BSE in cattle and scrapie in sheep.

Additional tests will be conducted to try to determine exactly what TSE the animals had—BSE or scrapie. These tests involve the use of bioassays that consist of injecting mice with tissue from the infected animals and waiting for them to develop disease. This testing may take at least 2 to 3 years to complete.

This flock of 125 sheep was confiscated in March 2001 after four animals from an associated flock tested positive for an atypical TSE of foreign origin in July 2000. On July 14, 2000, USDA issued a declaration of emergency and extraordinary emergency to acquire the sheep.

In all, APHIS acquired 380 sheep from a total of three flocks. All of the animals were humanely euthanized, sampled, and properly disposed of. The animals did not enter the animal or human food supply.

The first flock of 21 sheep were voluntarily sold to USDA on July 14, 2000. Those animals tested negative for a TSE.

The owners of the other two flocks contested USDA's action. A Federal district court judge ruled in favor of USDA based on the merits of the case. The flock owners appealed to the Second Circuit Court requesting a stay, which was denied. After the request for a stay was denied, the flocks were confiscated by USDA in March 2001.

The second flock of 234 animals was confiscated on March 21, 2001. Testing for TSEs is ongoing for this flock. The third flock of 125 sheep was confiscated on March 23, 2001.