Brucellosis Found In
Madison
County
Herd
A
bull on a
Madison
County
ranch has cultured positive for brucellosis.
The
brucellosis-infected bull was identified during a whole herd test, and was
subsequently confirmed by cultures performed at the National Veterinary Services
Laboratories (NVSL) in
Ames
,
Iowa
.
The
ranch is located within the state’s Designated Surveillance Area (DSA), a
disease management area in Beaverhead, Gallatin, Madison and Park counties, with
management practices that include Official Calfhood Vaccination as required by
DSA rules and a herd plan.
The
bull has been removed from the herd, and the ranch placed under quarantine. All
other animals on the ranch tested negative for the disease.
State
Veterinarian Dr. Marty Zaluski, Montana Department of Livestock, said discovery
of the infected bull is not likely to impact the state’s brucellosis status.
"USDA
has de-emphasized state status and now manages brucellosis on a case-by-case
basis,” Zaluski said.
An
epidemiological investigation should help identify the source of the disease,
Zaluski said. In all four of the state’s recent brucellosis incidents, elk,
not cattle or bison, were determined to be the likely source of the infections.
Results from genetic fingerprinting should be available in a couple of weeks.
After
going more than 30 years without a case of brucellosis, the state lost its
brucellosis-free status when the disease was found twice within a 24-month
period in 2007 and 2008. The department responded with the Brucellosis Action
Plan and later, the Designated Surveillance Area, resulting in the fastest ever
reinstatement of a state’s brucellosis class-free status.
Montana
Brucellosis Timeline
·
1934 – The U.S. Department of
Agriculture initiates a national brucellosis eradication program.
·
1952 –
Montana
begins an aggressive program to eliminate brucellosis from its livestock.
·
1985 – After more than three
decades of effort and an expenditure of more than $30 million by the state’s
livestock producers, the state obtains brucellosis-free status.
·
2000 – The Interagency Bison
Management Plan (IBMP) is implemented.
·
2007 (May) – Brucellosis is
found in a
Carbon
County
cattle herd.
·
2008 (May) – Brucellosis is
found in a
Park
County
cattle herd.
·
2008 (September) – The state
loses its brucellosis-free status.
·
2008 (November) – The
Brucellosis Action Plan is approved.
·
2009 (July) – The USDA
reinstates
Montana
’s brucellosis class-free status.
·
2010 (January) – The Brucellosis
Action Plan sunsets; the Designated Surveillance Area is implemented.
·
2010 (November) – A
brucellosis-infected domestic bison is found in
Gallatin
County
.
·
2011 (September) – Brucellosis
is found in a
Park
County
cattle herd.
·
2011 (November) – A
brucellosis-infected bull is found on a
Madison
County
ranch.
Montana
Department of Livestock
301
N. Roberts/PO Box 202001
Helena
MT 59620-2001
On
the web at http://liv.mt.gov
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