By MEGGIE. I. FOSTER
Assistant Editor

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — Despite a third cervid animal testing positive for bovine tuberculosis (TB) in Indiana in the past several months, the Board of Animal Health (BOAH) insists that the state continues to be TB-free for cattle and bison.

“At this point, there is no need to worry, because we’ve had no positive results come back from any of the cattle tested,” said Denise Derrer, public information director for BOAH.

“Indiana will remain under TB-free status until two unrelated infected herds within 48 hours of each other are diagnosed. We are still at zero.”

Last week, BOAH indicated that the positive red deer was identified through testing by the agency as part of an ongoing investigation related to the first TB-positive cervid identified in May 2009. Cervid is a category of animals that includes elk and various species of deer, according to Derrer.

The most recent herd, a multispecies cervid operation in Harrison County, Ind., is currently under quarantine, she added. The animals on the property were purchased directly from the index herd, meaning the property with the first TB-infected animal in Franklin County.

Derrer said that bovine TB is spread primarily through nose-to-nose contact, also sneezing, coughing and leaving saliva in feed bunks and on fencerows can contaminate the area.

“The best safeguard to protect cattle is to amp up biosecurity as much as you can, find out the health status of animals coming on your farm and also control wildlife contact as much as you can,” she said, indicating that BOAH is currently working on testing the wildlife population for TB with the Department of Natural Resources and Wildlife Services. “Depending on what we find out here it could elevate the concern for contact with wildlife.”

As stated previously, even though this case marks the third herd declared “infected,” Indiana’s TB status for cervids has remained unchanged because under USDA guidelines. Because all three premises are linked, this remains one case.

In regards to bovine TB cases infected cattle, Derrer said that the state remains clean so far. She did share however, that a TB-positive beef cow was traced to a Franklin County, Ind. farm in December 2008. Although in the vicinity of the index cervid herd, this herd was not declared to be a TB-positive cattle herd by USDA. That herd, which was fully tested two times over 60 days, did not yield any positive animals, leaving Indiana’s cattle status unchanged since 1984.

Bovine TB is a chronic bacterial disease that affects primarily cattle, but can be transmitted to any warm-blooded animal. Often difficult to diagnose, clinical signs are not visible until later that may include emaciation, lethargy, weakness, anorexia, low-grade fever and pneumonia with a chronic, moist cough. Derrer recommends that cattle producers contact their local veterinarian if clinical symptoms appear in cattle or cervid on their farm.

To follow the investigation and to read more about the disease, go online at www.boah.in.gov