(A) Brucella canis tests.
(1) As used in this rule,
a "brucella canis test" means one of the following:
(a) An indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFA
test);
(b) A tube agglutination test (TAT test); or
(c) A brucella canis culture test.
(2) "Accredited laboratory" means a laboratory
which maintains current accreditation through the international organization
for standardization (ISO) or the American association of veterinary laboratory
diagnosticians (AAVLD).
(3) The tests contained in paragraphs
(A)(1)(a) to (A)(1)(c) of this rule may only be conducted by an accredited
laboratory or the Ohio department of agriculture's diagnostic
laboratory.
(4) Accredited laboratories or the Ohio
department of agriculture's diagnostic laboratory may combine no more than
five samples for IFA testing. If the composite sample is positive for brucella
canis, each canine sample making up the composite sample must be tested
individually.
(5) Any blood samples which are taken to
conduct a brucella canis test shall only be taken by an accredited veterinarian
or by a registered veterinary technician who is supervised by an accredited
veterinarian.
(6) A validated testing methodology approved and
administered by the Ohio department of agriculture's diagnostic
laboratory.
(B) Brucella canis
classifications.
(1) Suspect.
(a) A canine shall be classified as brucella canis suspect, if
the canine tests positive for brucella canis using the following
tests:
(i) An IFA test; or
(ii) A TAT test, at dilutions of 1:50 or 1:100.
(b) A canine which has been classified as brucella canis suspect
according to paragraph (B)(1)(a)(i) or (B)(1)(a)(ii) of this rule, shall
either:
(i) Be referred to the
Ohio department of agriculture for confirmation of the canine's brucella
canis status; or
(ii) Be humanely
euthanized.
(2) Negative.
A canine shall be classified as brucella canis
negative if, through tests conducted by the Ohio department of
agriculture's diagnostic laboratory or an accredited laboratory, the
canine tests negative for brucella canis using the following tests:
(a) An IFA test; or
(b) A TAT test.
(3) Positive.
A canine shall be classified as brucella canis
positive if, through tests conducted by the Ohio department of agriculture or
an accredited laboratory, the canine tests positive for brucella canis using
the following tests:
(a) A TAT test, at dilutions 1:200; or
(b) A brucella canis culture test.
(4) Reclassification.
Brucella canis positive animals may be
reclassified by the Ohio department of agriculture to brucella canis suspect
pending the following:
(a) The animal's history;
(b) Clinical signs of the animal;
(c) Vaccination and treatment history;
(d) An epidemiological study of the animal;
(e) Examination; and
(f) Further testing at the discretion of the Ohio department of
agriculture.
(C) Identification and
reporting.
(1) All accredited
veterinarians who conduct a brucella canis test, submit a sample for brucella
canis testing, or employ any other method of detection for brucella canis,
shall include in the report to the Ohio department of agriculture, the
following information:
(a) Name, mailing address and residence address of the
canine's owner;
The residence address of the animal if
different from the canine's owner;
(b) Date of test or sample collection;
(c) Official identification as outlined in paragraph (C)(4) of
this rule, sex, and breed of each individual animal tested or sampled;
and
(d) The results of the test performed, if available.
(2) All accredited
veterinarians who conduct brucella canis testing or submit samples for brucella
canis testing at a laboratory other than the Ohio department of
agriculture's diagnostic laboratory shall report the results of the tests
to the Ohio department of agriculture within seven days. The report shall
include all information contained in paragraphs (C)(1)(a) to (C)(1)(d) of this
rule and be submitted electronically to the state veterinarian's
office.
(3) All accredited veterinarians who draw blood for
brucella canis testing shall submit the blood sample to an accredited
laboratory within seven days.
(4) An accredited veterinarian must
identify any canine to be tested for brucella canis with any of the following
items which are approved by the Ohio department of agriculture:
(a) A microchip;
(b) A collar affixed
around the dog's neck with a tag made of metal or aluminum that contains
the following engraved, stamped, or imprinted information:
(i) The individual dog's number; and
(ii) The Ohio high volume breeder license
number.
(D) Quarantine.
(1) Pursuant to Chapter
941. of the Revised Code, the Ohio department of agriculture shall quarantine
any canine on any premises that has been exposed to or diagnosed as brucella
canis suspect or brucella canis positive animal.
(2) A whole kennel test is defined as all test-eligible
dogs located at a premises being tested within thirty days. Test-eligible dogs
are dogs that are six months of age and older.
(3) A brucella canis positive, exposed,
or suspect canine shall be released from quarantine upon:
(a) An epidemiological
study conducted by the Ohio department of agriculture;
(b) The owner has been
advised by the Ohio department of agriculture as to the zoonotic potential;
and
(c) Two negative whole
kennel IFA or TAT tests at least sixty days apart that were conducted by the
Ohio department of agriculture or the national veterinary services laboratory;
or
(d) The canine has been
humanely euthanized or is otherwise deceased and documented by a licensed
veterinarian or confirmed by the Ohio department of agriculture.
(4) Once a canine or a premises is under a quarantine order
for brucella canis, all testing must be conducted by the Ohio department of
agriculture's diagnostic laboratory or the national veterinary services
laboratory in order for the quarantine order to be modified or
lifted.
(E) Selling, movement, and disposal of
animals.
(1) No canine known to be
brucella canis exposed, suspect, or positive shall be offered for sale, trade,
barter, or otherwise removed from the premises without prior written permission
from the Ohio department of agriculture.
(2) Puppies born to a
brucella canis suspect or positive dam shall not be offered for sale, trade,
barter, or be removed from the premises unless the dam is later classified as
brucella canis negative by the Ohio department of agriculture or the national
veterinary services laboratory. These puppies may be isolated and quarantined
in accordance with paragraph (D) of rule 901:1-5-12 of the Administrative Code
and shall be tested after six months of age and must be re-tested no sooner
than sixty days after the initial test in accordance with paragraphs (A)(1)(a)
to (A)(1)(c) of this rule.
(3) Puppies under six-months of age which
are classified as brucella canis suspect or positive may be re-tested after
six-months of age and must be re-tested no sooner than sixty days after the
initial test in accordance with paragraphs (A)(1)(a) to (A)(1)(c) of this
rule.
