Livestock Management RANCHING Texas Animal Health Commission Busy in South Texas
All Vesicular Stomatitis Quarantines Released
T
EXAS ANIMAL HEALTH COMMISSION (TAHC) OFFICIALS released all premises quarantined for vesicular sto-
matitis (VS) after clearing the last premises in Bastrop County and another in Travis County. The fi rst case of VS was found in Kinney County
on May 28, 2014. Since then, the TAHC had quaran- tined a total of 62 premises in 13 counties, including Bastrop, Guadalupe, Jim Wells, Falls, Hidalgo, Kinney, Lee, McLennan, Nueces, San Patricio, Travis, Val Verde and Williamson. Livestock affected by VS was limited to equine and
cattle. However, other susceptible livestock include sheep, pigs, deer and other cloven-hooved animals. Some states and countries may still impose enhanced
entry requirements on VS-susceptible livestock coming from Texas. Producers are encouraged to contact the state of destination for offi cial requirements or visit
tahc.texas.gov for more information. “On behalf of the TAHC, I would like to thank all
cattle and equine owners and Texas veterinarians for the constant support and generous help with harness- ing the spread of VS,” said Dr. Dee Ellis, Texas’ state veterinarian and TAHC executive director. “All livestock that were tested positive for VS this year have been released because of the supportive care by veterinar- ians and caretakers.” The TAHC advises livestock owners to continue
practicing VS preventative measures by minimizing livestock exposure to sand fl ies and black fl ies, both of which are known to transport the virus through biting. Outbreaks of VS are sporadic and years may lapse
between cases. The last confi rmed case of VS in Texas was in 2009.
New Temporary Cattle Fever Tick Preventative Quarantine Area in Cameron County The Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC) and
the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) have con- fi rmed the presence of cattle fever ticks on a Cameron County premises located outside the permanent quar- antine zone. In order to protect premises and animals from exposure to cattle fever ticks, the TAHC is cre- ating a temporary preventative quarantine area, also
68 The Cattleman December 2014
Temporary Preventative Quarantine Area (TPQA) Permanent Fever Tick Quarantine Line
Sources: Esri, DeLorme, USGS, NPS 0 1.5 3 6 9 Miles Approx. 223,000 acres
commonly known as the “TPQA” or “blanket area,” in Cameron County. This TPQA and its requirements will become effective Oct. 7, 2014. The TPQA consists of approximately 223,000 acres.
The TPQA will be in effect until all premises within it are released from fever tick quarantines and the area is determined to no longer be at risk of infestation. All livestock within this area, including cattle,
equines and live or hunted wildlife such as nilgai an- telope and white-tailed deer, are subject to movement restrictions, inspections and treatment as prescribed by TAHC fever tick regulations. Fever ticks, known scientifi cally as Rhipicephalus,
formerly Boophilus, annulatus and R. microplus, are capable of carrying the protozoa, or microscopic para- sites, Babesia bovis or B. bigemina. Infected fever ticks inject the protozoan into the bloodstream of cattle as they feed. The Babesia organism attacks and destroys red blood cells, causing acute anemia, high fever and enlargement of the spleen and liver, ultimately result- ing in death for up to 90 percent of susceptible cattle. A permanent cattle fever tick quarantine zone
currently exists at a width of 200 yards to 10 miles wide along the Rio Grande River. This strip of land extends 500 miles long, through eight South Texas
Cattle Fever Tick Temporary Preventative Quarantine Area Cameron County, Texas
.
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