Suspected BSE Case Tests Positive

Suspected BSE Case Tests Positive
March 13, 2006

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Chief Veterinary Officer John Clifford has announced that the inconclusive BSE test results announced March 11 have returned a positive result.

Clifford reported that the positive Western blot confirmatory test conducted at USDA laboratories in Ames, Iowa, was from samples taken from a non-ambulatory animal on a farm in Alabama. Clifford said a local private veterinarian euthanized and sampled the animal, which was later buried on the farm; it did not enter the animal or human food chains.

“We are now working with Alabama animal health officials to conduct an epidemiological investigation to gather any further information we can on the herd of origin of this animal,” he stated. “The animal had only resided on the most recent farm in Alabama for less than a year.”

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) officials will now work to locate any offspring and animals born in the same herd within one year of the affected animal. Feed history will also be investigated.

Clifford said all animals of interest will be tested for BSE.

Although the animal’s precise age is yet to be determined, Clifford said the attending veterinarian has indicated that, based on dentition, it was an older animal, quite possibly upwards of 10 years of age.

“This would indicate that this animal would have been born prior to the implementation of the Food and Drug Administration’s 1997 feed ban,” he said. “Older animals are more likely to have been exposed to contaminated feed circulating before the FDA’s 1997 ban on ruminant-to-ruminant feeding practices, which scientific research has indicated is the most likely route for BSE transmission.

Clifford reviewed USDA’s surveillance program, noting that, to date, including the animal in today’s announcement, only two high-risk animals have tested positive for BSE as part of the enhanced surveillance program.

“As we approach the conclusion of our enhanced surveillance program, let me offer a few thoughts regarding surveillance going forward,” he said. “I can assure you that we will continue to base our maintenance surveillance testing on international guidelines. Though the nature and extent of maintenance surveillance has not yet been finalized, the incidence of BSE in this country remains extremely low and our interlocking safeguards are working to protect both human and animal health, and we remain very confident in the safety of U.S. beef.

“As we move forward with the epidemiological investigation that has been initiated today into this case of BSE, we will continue to be very transparent in sharing information with the public and with our trading partners around the world.”

For the full release, visit www.aphis.usda.gov.

— compiled by Crystal Albers, Angus Productions Inc.