345 IAC 2-6-5 Suspects; retesting; sale; depopulation

Sec. 5. (a) For suspects found in herds on original partial or complete herd test the following applies: (1) Only the suspects are quarantined on the premises until retests of the suspects, in not less than thirty (30) day intervals, reveal them to decrease in titer, stabilize (stabilized suspect), or return to a negative status, at which time the herd will be classified as negative. Results of tests will be evaluated by a Brucellosis epidemiologist, and a determination made that infection does not exist, before testing and surveillance on such animals is concluded. (2) Supplementary tests will be used to determine advisability of retesting suspects. (3) If the retest does not include all previous suspicious animals, the entire herd shall be retested at the owner's expense. (4) Suspects or stabilized suspects cannot be sold except to slaughter under permit. (5) Suspects or stabilized suspects cannot be exhibited. (b) Milk ring suspect herds shall be quarantined immediately and tested within thirty (30) days. If the owner fails to comply, attending penalties may be initiated. (c) Tests and retests at program expense are area tests and tests of herds where infection is suspected or found, or those authorized by regulatory personnel or by an epidemiologist and the following applies: (1) The owner shall, upon due notice by a duly designated representative of either cooperating agency, confine his cattle in suitable quarters for testing and shall render reasonable assistance in such testing or retesting. (2) The Indiana state board of animal health or its agent reserves the right to supervise any testing or any aspect relating to this rule. (d) Testing of areas where infection is found shall be conducted as follows: (1) All cattle six (6) months of age and over in the area or county shall be tested for Brucellosis, except the following: (A) Steers, spayed heifers, and vaccinated animals under twenty (20) months of age for dairy breeds and twenty-four (24) months of age for beef breeds unless parturient or postparturient. (B) Feeding cattle, approved as such, maintained separate and apart from all other cattle. Any feeder heifers of any age, if visibly pregnant, must be Brucellosis tested. (C) Herds negative to the last three (3) consecutive milk ring tests, sufficient market cattle identification tests, or recent blood tests to be optional with the cooperating agencies. (2) Any herd, where reasons exist to believe that infection may be present, shall be tested for Brucellosis to determine the possibility and/or extent of infection. (e) Any person owning or having custody of cattle where testing is deemed advisable who refuses to permit his cattle to be tested or who fails to render reasonable assistance, as set forth in this section, shall be deemed to have violated the provisions of this rule, and shall be subject to all of the penalties provided by law as set forth in the Indiana Code. (f) Herds in which the state veterinarian or his epidemiologist determine an animal has or had a confirmed Brucellosis infection will be given one (1) year from date of confirmed infection to establish a negative herd. If this does not occur, the herd shall be depopulated.