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News Release
Texas Animal Health Commission
Box l2966
* Austin, Texas 78711 * (800) 550-8242 * FAX (512) 719-0719
Bob Hillman,
DVM * Executive Director
For info, contact Carla Everett, information
officer, at 1-800-550-8242, ext. 710, or ceverett@tahc.state.tx.us
For
immediate release---
Hauling Livestock from Wyoming to
Texas?
Vesicular Stomatitis (VS) Regulations Apply!
Texas
hunters or ranchers hauling horses or other livestock from Wyoming this fall
should be aware of regulations affecting the animals’ entry or re-entry into
Texas, says Dr. Bob Hillman, head of the Texas Animal Health Commission
(TAHC), the state’s livestock and poultry health regulatory agency.
Vesicular stomatitis (VS), a viral disease that can affect horses, cattle,
swine, deer, sheep or goats, has been confirmed in 12 horses and 10 cattle on
a total of nine premises in Natrona and Converse counties in southeast
Wyoming. As of late September, these are the only cases confirmed in the U.S.
in 2006.
To help prevent the spread of VS, Texas livestock health
regulations prohibit the entry of horses, cattle, swine, (live) deer, sheep or
goats from VS-quarantined premises or areas. Animals may enter Texas
from non-quarantined areas of an affected state, provided an accredited
veterinarian in that state examines the animals and determines that they are
not exhibiting evidence of vesicular stomatitis and writes the following
statement on a current or new certificate of veterinary inspection: “the
animals represented on this health certificate have not originated from a
premise or area under quarantine for vesicular stomatitis."
“VS
can cause susceptible livestock to develop blisters and lesions in the mouth,
on the muzzle or teats, or above the hooves,” said Dr. Hillman. “When
the disease affects cattle or other cloven-hoofed animals, animal health
officials and producers are immediately concerned, as these clinical signs
mimic those of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD), the world’s costliest, highly
contagious disease. Horses, though not susceptible to FMD, certainly can
become infected with VS, and it can take several weeks for animals to
heal. During this time, the painful sores may cause affected animals to
become lame, or refuse to eat, drink or allow their offspring to nurse.”
“There is no vaccine for VS, so prevention is the key, and that
includes controlling insects such as culicoides gnats and black flies, which
are the primary vectors for the disease, and keeping infected animals away
from ‘clean’ stock, as infection also can be spread from animal to animal,”
explained Dr. Hillman.
“If blisters or lesions appear in
livestock of any species, the owner or manager should contact their accredited
veterinarian or the Texas Animal Health Commission as soon as possible, so a
disease investigation can be launched,” he said. “Laboratory testing to
confirm the diagnosis can be run at no charge to the livestock owner.”
Treatment of VS-infected animals consists of supportive care, and in some
cases, antibiotics to prevent secondary infections in the open sores.
Although VS is rarely fatal, production losses can be substantial,
particularly in dairies. In nearly all states, VS-infected animals and their
herd mates are quarantined until at least 30 days after all lesions have
healed.
In addition to causing animals to suffer, VS can result
in trade embargoes with Canada and European countries, where VS is not
seen. Animal health authorities want to prevent introduction of a new
disease that may impact the health of their livestock. Dr. Hillman said
VS outbreaks in the U.S. occur randomly, mostly in the Southwest. In
2005, VS-infected livestock were confirmed on 445 premises in nine states,
including one in Texas. In 2004, Texas had 15 of the 294 premises
with VS-infected animals. Other affected premises were in New Mexico and
Colorado. The cases in 2004 were the first confirmed since
1998.
Dr. Hillman said more information about VS is available on
the TAHC web site at: http://www.tahc.state.tx.us.
The
TAHC headquarters may be reached at
1-800-550-8242.
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