Bovine TB: TB in other species
The Government strategic framework for the sustainable control of bovine tuberculosis (bTB) in Great Britain, aims to achieve a common understanding of the disease with strong emphasis on disease prevention.As part of this, it is useful to investigate how bTB can also affect other animals such as:
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DeerDefra requires identification of deer to reduce the risk of disease
spreading. Deer are susceptible to bTB and can also spread Foot
and Mouth Disease. |
Farmed deer must be correctly identified if they have been tested for bTB or when they leave the farm of origin. The tag must show both the Defra or British Deer Farmers’ Association (BDFA) herd registration number and the animal’s own unique number. The letters “UK” must go before the Defra herdmark. For example, UK AB1234 000001. Where you decide to use the BDFA system of registration, you must notify the DVM and supply details of your BDFA mark.
The BDFA have further information on using their herd registration number on their website.
A list of eartag manufacturers is available.
Movement Standstill
Deer are not subject to a movement standstill, nor are they subject to the rules on multiple pick-ups and drop-offs. When deer are moved, the person who takes delivery of the animals must report the movements to the local authority within three days using the standard movement document (AML 1). Further information on movement licences is available here.
For copies of the licences to move deer please contact your local Animal Health Divisional office (AHDO).
Records of sale
When deer are sold the following must be recorded:
- The identification number of the deer
- The date of the sale of the deer
- The name and address of the vendor and purchaser of the deer
- Where the deer was sold at a market the number of the pen (if any) in which the deer was kept while at the market.
All movements or sales of deer must be recorded within 36 hours. The record must be retained for 3 years and must be available at all times for inspection by local authority inspectors.
Legislation
- The Tuberculosis (Deer) Order 1989
- The Tuberculosis (Deer) (Amendment) Order 1993
- The Movement of Animals (Records) (Amendment) Order 1989
TB Testing
Bovine TB in deer is a notifiable disease. Under the
Tuberculosis (Deer) Order 1989 (as amended), suspicion of TB in any deer
(or their carcases), whether farmed, park or wild must be notified to
the Divisional Veterinary Manager (DVM) of Animal Health (formerly SVS) .
Tests are required for:
- Imported animals, or
- The removal of restrictions, or
- Diagnostic purposes, or
- The Deer Health Scheme.
All testing, apart from that for imported animals, will be a private matter and arrangements for testing will be left to herd owners and their veterinary surgeons. Official tests may only be performed by veterinary surgeons who have been appointed to the LVI (Deer) Panel 6(b). For more information on bTB testing for deer, please contact your local AHDO.
The Deer Health Scheme was established in 1989. It is a GB wide voluntary scheme enabling herds to be tested and certified as free from bTB.
The aim of the scheme is to provide a pool of deer herds of defined and recognised status with respect to tuberculosis, so that people who buy deer from Scheme herds can be confident that the deer are not infected with bTB.
Owners of bTB attested herds are provided with a certificate that the herd is registered as bTB attested. Copies of this certificate are given to purchasers of deer from the herd, so they may be assured that their own status with respect to tuberculosis can be maintained.
Animal Health Divisional Offices manage the Scheme and can be contacted for more information.
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Notifying the disease
Under the Tuberculosis (England) Order 2007, farmed mammals or mammals kept as pets affected with, or suspected of being affected with, tuberculosis are notifiable to the Divisional Veterinary Manager (DVM) of the local Animal Health Divisional Office. Under the Order it is also compulsory to notify the Veterinary Laboratories Agency (VLA) if Mycobacterium bovis is identified by laboratory examination of samples taken from a mammal (other than humans), unless the organism was present in the sample as part of an agreed research programme.
Bovine TB in cats and dogs is a zoonosis (i.e. the disease can be spread from animal to human). Therefore, the DVM or private veterinary surgeon must inform the Consultant in Communicable Disease Control (CCDC) of the Local Health Authority so the health status of human contacts can be investigated.
Action the DVM takes
The DVM will request a pathological examination and bacteriological culture from the Veterinary Laboratories Agency (VLA), at Defra's expense. If notification of a positive culture comes from a private or Public Health Laboratory Service laboratory, they are encouraged to submit samples to VLA, at Defra's expense.
If bTB is reported in a farm cat or dog, the DVM will instigate tuberculin check tests of any cattle on the farm and other potentially exposed cattle on neighbouring premises.
Treatment
Treatment is not recommended due to the risk of transmission to other animals and the pet’s owners.
Bovine TB is not considered to be particularly contagious amongst pigs or to spread easily from pigs to other animals. In most cases, the disease is self-limiting and no control measures are required.
In the period 1999 to 2003 only four incidents of Mycobacterium bovis (M. bovis) infection were confirmed in pigs.
Notifying the disease
Under the Tuberculosis (England) Order 2007, farmed mammals affected with, or suspected of being affected with, tuberculosis are notifiable to the Divisional Veterinary Manager (DVM) of the local Animal Health Divisional Office. Under the Order it is also compulsory to notify the Veterinary Laboratories Agency if M. bovis is identified by laboratory examination of samples taken from a mammal (other than humans), unless the organism was present in the sample as part of an agreed research programme.
Currently, DVMs or Local Authorities have no legal powers to enforce bTB testing in pigs and slaughter any reactors. Similarly, there are no provisions to compensate owners for the loss of such animals.
Action the DVM takes
With the consent of the owner, the DVM will authorise the testing of pigs, ensuring that it is done using the Weybridge avian and bovine PPD tuberculins. When granting approval for testing pigs, Local Veterinary Inspectors (LVIs) should be reminded that regardless of the result of the test, they should submit completed test charts promptly to the DVM.
Notifying the disease
Under the Tuberculosis (England) Order 2007, farmed mammals affected with, or suspected of being affected with, tuberculosis are notifiable to the Divisional Veterinary Manager (DVM) of the local Animal Health Divisional Office. Under the Order it is also compulsory to notify the Veterinary Laboratories Agency if Mycobacterium bovis (M. bovis) is identified by laboratory examination of samples taken from a mammal (other than humans), unless the organism was present in the sample as part of an agreed research programme.
Currently, DVMs or Local Authorities have no legal powers to enforce bTB testing in camelids and slaughter any reactors. Similarly, there are no legal provisions to compensate owners for the loss of such animals.
Action the DVM takes
Camelids should be TB tested if infection with M. bovis of the camelid flock itself is confirmed by bacteriological culture; or M. bovis has been confirmed in a co-located cattle herd.
In these circumstances, restrictions should be served and remain in place until the DVM is satisfied that the flock is free from bTB.
Under the Tuberculosis (England) Order 2007, farmed mammals affected with, or suspected of being affected with, tuberculosis are notifiable to the Divisional Veterinary Manager (DVM) of the local Animal Health Divisional Office. Under the Order it is also compulsory to notify the Veterinary Laboratories Agency if M. bovis is identified by laboratory examination of samples taken from a mammal (other than humans), unless the organism was present in the sample as part of an agreed research programme.
Currently, DVMs or Local Authorities have no legal powers to enforce bTB testing in goats and slaughter any reactors. Similarly, there are no provisions to compensate owners for the loss of such animals.
Goats should be officially tuberculin tested at the Departments’ expense if located on premises where bTB has been confirmed in cattle, or if M. bovis infection has been confirmed in the goat herd itself.
Action the DVM takes
With the consent of the owner, the DVM will authorise the testing of goats (at owner’s expense, unless where bTB has been confirmed in cattle or if M. bovis infection has been confirmed in the goat herd itself).
When granting approval for testing goats, Local Veterinary Inspectors (LVIs) should be reminded that regardless of the result of the test, they should submit completed test charts promptly to the DVM.
The DVM should inform the Chief Environmental Health Officer (CEHO) of the relevant Local Authority if dairy goats test positive to the tuberculin test, or if M. bovis infection is confirmed in a herd of dairy goats.
Page last modified: 7 July, 2008