Requirements for the Eradication of Pullorum Disease and Fowl Typhoid in Poultry

PURPOSE: This rule contains the health standards designed to control and eradicate pullorum disease and fowl typhoid in Missouri. Poultry health standards are stated for hatcheries operating within the state and for exhibition of poultry and restrictions are placed on the importation of poultry and hatching eggs. Editor’s Note: The secretary of state has determined that the publication of this rule in its entirety would be unduly cumbersome or expensive. The entire text of the material referenced has been filed with the secretary of state. This material may be found at the Office of the Secretary of State or at the headquarters of the agency and is available to any interested person at a cost established by state law. (1) Definitions. (A) Baby poultry shall mean newlyhatched poultry that have not been fed or watered. (B) Department shall mean the Department of Agriculture of Missouri or its designee. (C) Exhibition shall mean the displaying or showing of any poultry for the purposes of competition or advancement of the species and shall include, among other examples, county, regional and state fairs, farm shows and breeding shows. (D) Flock shall mean all the poultry on one (1) premises except that any group of poultry which is segregated from other poultry and has been so segregated for a period of at least twenty-one (21) days, at the discretion of the department, may be considered as a separate flock. (E) Fowl typhoid or typhoid shall mean a disease of poultry caused by Salmonella Gallinarum. (F) Game birds shall mean peafowl, pheasants, partridge, quail, grouse and guineas, but not doves, pigeons or waterfowl. (G) Hatchery shall mean incubators, hatchers and auxiliary equipment on one (1) premises operated and controlled by any person for the hatching or incubating of hatching eggs. (H) Hatching eggs shall mean fertile eggs used to produce poultry or embryonated eggs. (I) Junior exhibitor shall mean an exhibitor under nineteen (19) years of age. (J) National Poultry Improvement Plan (NPIP) shall mean National Poultry Improvement Plan as outlined in the Code of Federal Regulations, 9 CFR parts 145–147. (K) Person shall include individuals, partnerships, corporations and associations. (L) Poultry shall mean domesticated fowl including chickens, turkeys, waterfowl and game birds. (M) Pullorum disease or pullorum shall mean a disease of poultry caused by Salmonella Pullorum. (N) Pullorum-typhoid tests shall mean one (1) of the methods recognized by the NPIP to test poultry for pullorum disease and fowl typhoid. (O) Started poultry shall mean young poultry that have been fed and watered and are less than six (6) months of age. (P) State veterinarian shall mean the state veterinarian of Missouri or his/her designated representative. (Q) Waterfowl shall mean domesticated fowl that normally swim, such as ducks and geese. (2) Importations. (A) Live poultry (except those consigned directly to slaughter) shall be accompanied by an official certificate of veterinary inspection or a VS Form 9-3 (see 2 CSR 30-2.040). If a VS Form 9-3 is used, a signed and dated owner/shipper statement must be included stating that to his/her best knowledge the birds are healthy. Poultry known to be infected with pullorum or typhoid that are consigned directly to slaughter must be identified as infected by the consignor. (B) Live poultry entering Missouri must be tested negative for pullorum-typhoid within the past ninety (90) days or originate from a flock approved by the NPIP or an equivalent program which has been tested within the past twelve (12) months with no change of ownership. (C) Hatching eggs must be accompanied by an official certificate of veterinary inspection certifying the eggs to be from pullorumfree flocks or by a VS Form 9-3. (D) All poultry and hatching eggs imported into Missouri require an entry permit prior to shipment. Annual entry permits shall be issued by the department to participants in the NPIP or an equivalent program. Producers not approved by NPIP or an equivalent program must request a permit with each shipment. (3) Hatcheries, Started Poultry and Hatching Eggs. (A) All started pullets, baby poultry and hatching eggs marketed in Missouri must originate from flocks and hatcheries participating in the NPIP or must have met equivalent requirements for pullorum-typhoid control under official supervision by the Missouri Department of Agriculture. (B) Recordkeeping. Persons marketing poultry (except birds for immediate slaughter) and hatching eggs shall maintain the identity of the product and keep adequate records. The records of product purchased shall include the name and address of each flock owner, the number of eggs or poultry received from each flock owner, the number of poultry received in each shipment and the date received. The records of product sold shall include the name and address of each purchaser, the number, breed and variety sold, and the date of shipment. These records shall be retained for at least twenty-four (24) months, and be made available to a representative of the department during their inspection of the premises. (C) Sanitation. All hatcheries, incubator equipment and brooder rooms shall be kept strictly sanitary. Sanitation evaluations will be based on the appropriate sections of the NPIP provisions. (D) Inspection. Any representative of the department shall have access at any reasonable time, whether in operation or not, to inspect the premises of all hatcheries. (4) Exhibitions. (A) An official representing the person or organization sponsoring the exhibition shall notify the state veterinarian no later than thirty (30) days prior to the exhibition giving the names, place, inclusive dates and times of the event. (B) Recordkeeping. The sponsor of the exhibition shall compile a list of all poultry present at the exhibition. The list shall contain the name and address of each owner, the number, species, breed, variety, type, sex and pullorum-typhoid status of all poultry present. A copy of this list shall be retained by the sponsor of the exhibition for at least twelve (12) months thereafter and shall be made available upon request to a representative of the department. (C) Inspection. All poultry to be exhibited must be free of clinical signs of any infectious or contagious disease. A representative of the department shall have access to the exhibits and may conduct inspections and tests as deemed necessary to enforce the requirements of this regulation. (D) Pullorum-Typhoid Status. All poultry (except waterfowl) exhibited shall be tested negative for pullorum-typhoid within the past ninety (90) days or originate from a flock approved by the NPIP or an equivalent program which has been tested within the past twelve (12) months with no change of ownership. This information shall be documented on a VS Form 9-2 (see 2 CSR 30-8.020) or similar certificate which shall accompany the poultry to the exhibition and shall be made available on request. (5) Diagnosis of Pullorum or Typhoid Disease. (A) Reporting. All persons performing poultry disease diagnostic services within Missouri are required to report to the state veterinarian within forty-eight (48) hours, the source of all poultry specimens from which S. pullorum or S. gallinarum is isolated. (B) Investigation. Upon receipt of a report of pullorum or typhoid in poultry, the state veterinarian shall direct an immediate investigation by a representative of the department to determine the origin and avenue of transmission of the infection. A representative of the department may enter a place or premises for those inspections or investigations as deemed necessary. (6) Containment by Quarantine. All flocks found to be infected with Salmonella pullorum and Salmonella gallinarum shall be quarantined until the flock is slaughtered or the flock is determined to be free of infection by retesting at intervals based on the NPIP provisions. All hatcheries found to be infected with Salmonella pullorum or Salmonella gallinarum shall be quarantined until infected eggs and birds are destroyed and disposed of properly, and the hatchery is thoroughly cleaned and disinfected with a United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)-approved disinfectant. (7) Removal of Flock Quarantine. Quarantine may be removed either through depopulation or an approved and monitored testing program. (A) Depopulation. Birds shall be sent to slaughter or killed on the premises and disposed of in an approved manner. After depopulation, the house and the equipment in the house must be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected with a USDA-approved disinfectant before another flock of birds is placed in the house. State personnel shall inspect the facilities after the cleaning and disinfection. (B) Testing Program. If testing is chosen as the method of eradication of the disease, the testing shall be supervised and directed by state personnel. That testing shall follow guidelines in the appropriate sections of the NPIP provisions. Once the flock is determined to be negative, the quarantine shall be removed. AUTHORITY: section 267.560, RSMo 1986.* Original rule filed July 15, 1991, effective Dec. 9, 1991. *Original authority 1959.