NOTICES
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Scrapie Containment and Eradication Strategy
[29 Pa.B. 825] The Department of Agriculture (Department) hereby gives notice of its Scrapie Containment and Eradication Strategy. Scrapie--an infectious disease of sheep and goats caused by a virus-like agent--is currently present within the Commonwealth's sheep and goat populations. This notice is intended to provide sheep and goat owners an understanding of the Department's authority with respect to Scrapie and its planned approach to detecting, containing and eradicating this disease. In summary, the Department will use special quarantines and approved flock plans to work toward the elimination of this disease. A more detailed explanation of this strategy, and a glossary of terms, are set forth as follows.
A. Legal Background.
The Domestic Animal Law (3 Pa.C.S. §§ 2301--2389) gives the Department broad authority to detect, contain and eradicate ''dangerous transmissible diseases'' of animals. This includes authority to impose quarantines when the Department detects dangerous transmissible disease or has a reasonable suspicion of the presence of dangerous transmissible disease. The Department may also impose conditions and restrictions as part of a quarantine order.
Scrapie is a dangerous transmissible disease of animals, and is so designated in § 2321(a)(36) of the Domestic Animal Law (3 Pa.C.S. § 2321(a)(36)).
Scrapie has been present in various sheep and goat herds in this Commonwealth for several years. The Department is launching an effort to identify, contain and eradicate this disease in accordance with the duty and authority imparted it under the Domestic Animal Law.
B. Scrapie Containment and Eradication Strategy.
(1) Common Terms. An understanding of the words and terms associated with the Department's Scrapie Containment and Eradication Strategy is an important first step toward a clear understanding of the strategy itself. The following words and terms comprise the common vocabulary with respect to this Strategy:
Department--The Department of Agriculture.
Flock--All sheep and goats maintained on any single premises, and sheep and goats under common ownership or control on two or more geographically-separated premises with respect to which there is an interchange or movement of sheep or goats.
Flock Plan--A written flock management agreement designed by the owner of the flock, an accredited veterinarian and a USDA Veterinary Services representative or Department representative in which each participant agrees to undertake actions specified in the flock plan to control the spread of Scrapie from, and eradicate Scrapie in, an infected flock, a source flock or a trace flock. The flock plan shall require an epidemiologic investigation to identify high-risk animals that must be removed from the flock, and shall include other requirements found necessary by the USDA or Department representative to control Scrapie in the flock. These other requirements may include, but are not limited to, cleaning and disinfection of flock premises, education of the owner of the flock and personnel working with the flock to recognize clinical signs of Scrapie and control the spread of Scrapie, and maintaining records of animals in the flock.
High Risk Animal--An animal which is:
(i) The progeny of a Scrapie-positive dam; or
(ii) Born in the same flock during the same lambing season as progeny of a Scrapie-positive dam, unless the progeny of the Scrapie-positive dam are from a different contemporary lambing group (animals in this category intended for slaughter at less than 1 year of age will not be considered to be ''high risk'' animals, but will be identified and monitored); or
(iii) Born in a source flock or a trace flock during the same lambing season as a Scrapie-positive ewe or ram in the same flock.
Infected Flock--A flock in which a USDA or Department representative has determined a sheep or goat to be a Scrapie-positive animal.
Lambing group--Groups of sheep or lambs that are managed as separate units and that are not commingled during lambing and for at least 60 days following the date of the last lamb born in the same lambing facility, unless the lambing facility is cleaned and disinfected between lambings by removing all organic matter and spraying the lambing facility with a 2% sodium hydroxide solution or 0.5% sodium hypochlorite solution.
Scrapie-positive animal--An animal with respect to which a Scrapie diagnosis has been made by the National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL), USDA or another laboratory authorized to conduct Scrapie tests through histological examination of central nervous system tissue samples from the animal for microscopic lesions in the form of neuronal vacuoles or spongy degeneration, or by the use of Protease-resistant protein analysis or other confirmatory techniques used in the conjunction with histological examination.
Source Flock--A flock in which a USDA or Department representative has determined that at least two animals that were diagnosed as Scrapie-positive animals at an age of 54 months or less were born. In order to be a source flock, the second Scrapie-positive diagnosis must be made within 60 months of the first Scrapie-positive diagnosis.
Trace Flock--A flock in which a USDA or Department representative has determined that one animal was born that was diagnosed as a Scrapie-positive animal at an age of 54 months or less.
USDA--The United States Department of Agriculture.
Voluntary Scrapie Flock Certification Program--A voluntary Federal/State/Industry cooperative effort established and maintained to:
(i) Reduce the occurrence and spread of Scrapie;
(ii) Identify flocks which have been free of evidence of Scrapie over specified time periods; and
(iii) Contribute to the eventual eradication of Scrapie.
(2) Implementation of Quarantine. Any flock designated an infected flock, a trace flock or a source flock will be quarantined under an Order of Special Quarantine. High risk animals in other flocks will be individually quarantined under an Order of Special Quarantine and subject to the same restrictions/requirements found in paragraphs B. (3), (4) and (5).
(3) Identification of Individual Animals. All sheep and goats within a quarantined flock will be inventoried and individually identified.
(4) Movement of Sheep or Goats under Quarantine. While a flock is under quarantine, sheep or goats may not be moved from the premises unless the Department first issues a permit allowing the movement. A permit will only be issued to allow movement directly to one of the following locations:
(a) A slaughter establishment;
(b) A rendering establishment; or
(c) A diagnostic laboratory for diagnostic/disposal purposes.
(5) Prohibited Use. Sheep or goats designated as high risk animals or suspected of having Scrapie will not be used for human or animal food.
(6) Approved Flock Plan Required. An approved flock plan will be developed and implemented for each quarantined flock. Upon completion of all the actions called for under the flock plan, the Order of Special Quarantine will be revoked.
C. Contact Person.
Questions regarding this Scrapie Containment and Eradication Strategy should be directed to Phillip DeBok, DVM, Chief, Animal Health Division, Bureau of Animal Health and Diagnostic Services, at the Agriculture Building, 2301 North Cameron Street, Harrisburg, PA 17110-9408, (717) 783-5301.
SAMUEL E. HAYES, Jr.,
Secretary
[Pa.B. Doc. No. 99-229. Filed for public inspection February 12, 1999, 9:00 a.m.]
No part of the information on this site may be reproduced for profit or sold for profit.This material has been drawn directly from the official Pennsylvania Bulletin full text database. Due to the limitations of HTML or differences in display capabilities of different browsers, this version may differ slightly from the official printed version.
