NOTICES
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
General Quarantine Order; Equine Infectious Anemia
[54 Pa.B. 4001]
[Saturday, July 13, 2024]Recitals.
A. Equine Infectious Anemia (EIA) is a designated ''dangerous transmissible disease'' of animals under the provisions in the Domestic Animal Law (3 Pa.C.S.A. §§ 2301—2389), at 3 Pa.C.S.A. § 2321(a)(21) and is defined as an infectious disease of equines caused by a virus.
B. EIA is a noncontagious, infectious disease of equids caused by a RNA virus classified in the Lentivirus genus, family Retroviridae. It may also be known as Swamp Fever. Infected animals may exhibit a variety of clinical manifestations from the subclinical case to animals exhibiting signs including fever, depression, muscle weakness, thrombocytopenia, anemia, jaundice, tachycardia, mucous membrane hemorrhages, epistaxis, and collapse. Infection may lead to death. Diagnosis of EIA is based on serologic testing and demonstration of antibodies to the virus in blood.
C. There is no specific treatment for infected animals and there is no vaccine to prevent infection.
D. EIA has been identified throughout the world.
E. All equids infected with EIA virus remain lifelong carriers, and infected animals are usually euthanized.
F. EIA is a regulated disease and the only alternative to euthanasia is permanent isolation through official quarantine of the infected animal, at a distance of at least 200 yards from all other equids.
G. The EIA virus is transmitted predominately between equids via the transfer of blood from infected animals by blood-feeding flying insects, such as mosquitoes and flies. However, all tissues and body fluids should be regarded as potentially infectious, especially during febrile episodes in the infected animal. Foals may be infected in utero. Iatrogenic transmission is also an important method of transmission, through the use of syringes and needles, surgical instruments, dental equipment, and IV sets contaminated with blood from an infected animal, and through transfusion of infective blood or blood products.
H. EIA is of concern to the entire Pennsylvania equine industry. Based on a 2017 survey report by the American Horse Council, Pennsylvania was ranked eighth in the total number of horses in the United States, with a total of over 223,000 horses at the time of the survey. In addition to recreational horse activities, Pennsylvania has a large Thoroughbred and Standardbred racing industry.
I. The agar gel immunodiffusion (AGID) test is the primary official laboratory test for diagnosis of EIA in which precipitates are formed by interaction of EIA antigens and antibodies that diffuse through gel. AGID is the most widely accepted procedure for the diagnosis of EIA and may be referred to as the ''Coggins'' test. Results are recorded as either positive or negative.
J. The enzyme-linked immunoassay (ELISA) test is an official test for the diagnosis of EIA and detects antibodies against one or more antigens of the EIA virus. Results of ELISA tests can be obtained within a few hours, compared to the 24 hours minimum required with the AGID test. The ELISA test is considered a screening test and a higher number of false-positive results are expected with ELISA tests than with AGID tests. ELISA test results are recorded as either positive or negative, and samples with positive tests must be subsequently tested using the AGID test.
K. There are currently no USDA FSIS-inspected equid slaughter plants in the United States. There are no slaughter channels in Pennsylvania for equids.
L. The Department, under the edicts established by section 2327 (relating to disease surveillance and detection) of the Domestic Animal Law (3 Pa.C.S.A. § 2327), has the authority and duty to carry out disease surveillance and detection and more specifically to regularly monitor the domestic animal population of this Commonwealth to determine the prevalence and incidence of transmissible diseases or contamination by hazardous substances.
M. The Department, under the provisions set forth at section 2329 of the Domestic Animal Law (3 Pa.C.S.A. § 2329) (related to quarantine) has the authority to establish three different types of quarantine orders—Interstate and International, General, and Special.
N. The Department may establish a Quarantine Order, ''Whenever a dangerous transmissible disease. . .exists anywhere within or outside of this Commonwealth, or whenever it is deemed advisable to test or treat any domestic animal upon the reasonable suspicion that it has contracted or been exposed to a dangerous transmissible disease. . .or whenever the testing or treatment of a domestic animal indicates that the domestic animal has been exposed to a dangerous transmissible disease. . .so as to render future accurate testing for recent exposure of that domestic animal to that dangerous transmissible disease. . .impractical or impossible, the department shall have the power to establish and enforce quarantines of any such infected, exposed, contaminated, suspected or susceptible domestic animal. In addition, to the aforedescribed domestic animals, a quarantine may apply to any goods, products, facilities, containers, vehicles or materials that may carry dangerous transmissible disease. . .and may be applied on or in or against any premises, area or locality as defined in this chapter.'' (3 Pa.C.S.A. § 2329(a)).
Order.
With the foregoing recitals incorporated into this Order by reference, the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture under authority of the Domestic Animal Law, at 3 Pa.C.S.A. § 2329(d) and § 1702 of the Administrative Code of 1929 (71 P.S. § 442), hereby establishes a General Order of Quarantine (Quarantine Order) related to the dangerous transmissible disease Equine Infectious Anemia and with respect to health requirements for equids in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Compliance and assurance of compliance with the provisions and terms of this Quarantine Order shall be the responsibility of all persons, individuals, businesses, and entities subject to its terms. It shall be unlawful for any person to violate any provision or term of this Quarantine Order or any other standards established at section 2329(f) (related to violations of quarantine) of the Domestic Animal Law (3 Pa.C.S.A. § 2329(f)). The terms of this Quarantine Order are as follows:
I. Quarantine Area. This Quarantine Order is applicable to the entire Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
II. Definitions.
AGID—Agar gel immunodiffusion (AGID) test.
Category II Accredited Veterinarian—A veterinarian approved by the USDA Administrator in accordance with the provisions of 9 CFR § 161 (Requirements and Standards for Accredited Veterinarians and Suspension or Revocation of Such Accreditation) to perform functions specified in 9 CFR for Category II animals (food and fiber animal species; horses; birds; farm-raised aquatic animals; all other livestock species; and zoo animals that can transmit exotic animal diseases to livestock).
ELISA—Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.
Equid—A mammal of the horse family (Equidae), which includes horses, zebras, asses, and mules.
Equine—A horse or other member of the family Equid.
Exhibition—A show or display of animals, including competitions such as rodeos and racing.
III. General Provisions.
a. No equid shall be exhibited, shown, sold, exchanged, transferred, leased, bartered or given away unless such animal has been test-negative on an EIA AGID test or ELISA test within the 12 months prior to such exhibition, show, transfer of ownership, or lease and the animal is accompanied by the final laboratory report. Samples must be collected by a Category II Accredited Veterinarian and testing must be completed at a USDA-approved laboratory.
b. A foal under six (6) months of age is exempt from the EIA test requirement if the foal accompanies the test-negative dam.
c. A foal exhibited, shown, sold, exchanged, transferred, bartered or given away to a new owner in the Commonwealth that is not accompanied by its test-negative dam shall be required to have an individual negative EIA AGID test or ELISA test.
d. Any equid found in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania which violates any of the provisions in this Quarantine Order shall be returned to the premises of origin until all EIA testing requirements are met. If the equid cannot be returned to the premises of origin, it shall be quarantined at a location chosen by the Department.
e. All test reports required under this Quarantine Order shall contain all of the following:
i. The date of sample collection for the EIA test.
ii. The type of test completed.
iii. The date of final laboratory report for the EIA test.
iv. The laboratory accession number for the EIA test.
v. The name of the testing laboratory.
vi. The name of Category II veterinarian who collected the sample.
vii. The name and description of the equid.
viii. The official ID of the equid, if applicable.
ix. The address of the location where the sample was collected.
f. Testing records shall be maintained by the current owner for a minimum of one year and shall be made available to the Department upon request.
g. Criminal and civil penalties. The Department may impose those criminal and civil penalties specifically established at section 2383 of the Domestic Animal Law (3 Pa.C.S.A. §§ 2383) for any violation of the provisions of this Quarantine Order.
h. Civil remedy. In addition to any other action or remedy sought, the Department may seek any civil remedy, as specifically established at section 2386 of the Domestic Animal Law (3 Pa.C.S.A. § 2386), for any violation of the terms and provisions of this Quarantine Order.
i. This Quarantine Order shall not be construed as limiting the Department's authority to establish additional requirements for equids in or entering the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania or to limit any authority the Department possesses under the Domestic Animal Law or any other Act or Law administered by the Department.
j. This Quarantine Order is effective immediately upon publication in the Pennsylvania Bulletin.
k. Contact information. Questions regarding this General Quarantine Order may be directed to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture Bureau of Animal Health, 2301 North Cameron Street, Harrisburg, PA 17110 or by telephone at 717-772-2852, or email at RA-ahds@pa.gov.
RUSSELL REDDING,
Secretary
[Pa.B. Doc. No. 24-983. Filed for public inspection July 12, 2024, 9:00 a.m.]
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