Ala. Admin. Code r. 80-3-6-.39 - Bovine Trichomoniasis

Bovine trichomoniasis is a venereal disease caused by the protozoon Tritrichomonas foetus. This disease can result in: decreased reproductive efficiency, early embryonic death, abortion, pyometra and transient infertility in infected cattle. Trichomoniasis has the potential to severely impact the reproductive health of cattle in Alabama. In view of the threat posed by this disease to the health of the state's livestock and the economy of the livestock industry, the following rule will be considered and so ordered by the state veterinarian:

(1) All virgin and non-virgin bulls 18 months of age and older entering the state of Alabama must test negative for Trichomoniasis within the 60 days prior to entry into the state. The sample utilized for this test shall be collected by a trained, accredited veterinarian. The testing requirements mandate that bulls shall be negative based an official confirmatory real-time Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) on a single sample. These tests shall be performed by a laboratory accredited by the American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians, a laboratory operated by another state government, or another USDA approved laboratory. All bulls tested must be identified with an official USDA approved ear tag. Any bull comingled with female cattle between testing and importation into Alabama must be retested as outlined above.

(2) All bulls entering the state must be accompanied by a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (CVI) containing the date of the negative Trichomoniasis test, the name of the lab used for testing, complete address of consignor and consignee, a complete description of the bull including official identification, and signature of the accredited veterinarian issuing the CVI. Chapter 80-3-6 Agriculture and Industries Supp. 12/31/15 3-6-18

(3) The following bulls entering the state shall be exempt from Trichomoniasis testing:

(a) Exhibition and rodeo bulls that are temporarily in the state for the purpose of an event with no comingling with female cattle and will be leaving the state after the event.

(b) Bulls consigned directly to slaughter.

(c) Bulls being transported through Alabama in interstate commerce and not offloaded to be comingled with female cattle in Alabama.

(d) Virgin bulls under 18 months of age as determined by breed registry records or the absence of permanent central incisor teeth in wear. A virgin bull must be accompanied by a CVI containing a complete description of the bull including age and official identification, declaring that the bull is virgin and less than 18 months of age, and signed by the issuing accredited veterinarian.

(4) All positive test results for trichomoniasis within the state shall be reported by the accredited veterinarian and the approved laboratory to the state veterinarian within 72 hours after receipt of positive test results.

(5) Any bull testing positive for trichomoniasis within the state shall be immediately separated from the herd, isolated, officially identified as needed, and shall be placed under official quarantine. A request can be made to the state veterinarian within five days to confirm the positive test result with official PCR testing performed, at the owner's expense, by trained, accredited veterinarians from the state veterinarian's office. If the confirming PCR test is positive, then the bull shall be considered infected and subject to the restrictions set out in these regulations. Three consecutive negative official tests performed at least fourteen days apart by trained, accredited veterinarians from the state veterinarian's office shall be required for the bull to be designated trichomoniasis negative and have the quarantine released. All three, confirmatory tests must be completed within 90 days of the original positive test. Confirmed positive bulls shall be consigned to slaughter or permitted directly for slaughter and shall only be moved under an official permit issued by the state veterinarian or his/her representative. An infected bull accompanied by an official permit issued by the state veterinarian or his/her representative shall be moved directly to slaughter or permitted directly for slaughter through a licensed livestock market within thirty days from receipt of the positive test results of the original test or the results of the confirmatory PCR test, whichever is later.

(6) All breeding bulls commingled with females within the state that have been comingled with a trichomoniasis-positive bull for any period of time within six months prior to the receipt of a positive trichomoniasis test result shall immediately be separated from other cattle and shall be placed under official quarantine, officially identified as needed, and tested by an accredited veterinarian for trichomoniasis by PCR. Test samples shall not be pooled. Each official test conducted on a bull shall demonstrate a negative result before the tested bull will be released from quarantine.

(7) Females testing positive for trichomoniasis within the state shall be separated from all breeding bulls. All breeding bulls commingled with a positive female shall be quarantined and trichomoniasis tested by an accredited veterinarian. The quarantine shall be released once the bulls have tested negative by PCR. Bulls testing positive shall be subject to the restrictions set out in these regulations.

(8) Any trichomoniasis positive animal or herd within the state shall be subject to a Trichomoniasis Response Herd Plan developed by the State Veterinarian in consultation with the owner's accredited veterinarian and the state extension veterinarian.

Notes

Ala. Admin. Code r. 80-3-6-.39

New Rule: Filed May 16, 2012; effective June 20, 2012. Amended: Filed February 12, 2014; effective March 19, 2014. Amended by Alabama Administrative Monthly Volume XXXIV, Issue No. 02, November 30, 2015, eff. 12/17/2015. Adopted by Alabama Administrative Monthly Volume XXXIX, Issue No. 05, February 26, 2021, eff. 4/12/2021.

Author: Patrick B. Moody, N. Gunter Guy, Jr.

Statutory Authority: Code of Ala. 1975, §§ 2-15-150, 2-15-170, 2-15-171.