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USDA Animal Care Policies 21-29Last updated on 01/19/01 Policy #21 ---Control of Tuberculosis in Elephants --- April 1, 1998
History: This is a new policy statement Justification: Tuberculosis is a contagious disease that affects elephants, other animals, and humans. If left untreated or if treated improperly, it can cause death. Several elephants owned by licensed exhibitors have either tested culture positive for tuberculosis or have died due to this disease. In addition, elephants with tuberculosis can transmit the disease to other elephants, other animals, and, potentially, to humans. The Animal Plant & Health Inspection Service (APHIS), Animal Care (AC) is requiring the periodic testing of all Animal Welfare Act regulated elephants. Testing will help us to identify those elephants that are infected and ensure that appropriate quarantine and/or treatment measures are instituted.
As part of the adequate veterinary care standard in the U. S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) animal welfare regulations, all captive elephants in the United States must be periodically tested for tuberculosis. Any animals found positive on culture will be required to undergo quarantine and/or treatment. In conjunction with this policy, USDA, APHIS, AC is offering a protocol, The Guidelines for the Control of Tuberculosis in Elephants, that specifies criteria for the testing, surveillance, and treatment of elephants for tuberculosis. Copies of this protocol are available from all AC Regional Offices and on the AC homepage at http://www.aphis.usda.gov/ac . Licensees must either follow the recommended guidelines or provide a comparable testing and monitoring program that is consistent with AC's goals of ensuring the welfare of captive elephants and minimizing the potential spread of tuberculosis. Any protocol other than the recommended guidelines must be reviewed and approved by AC prior to implementation. Alternate plans should be submitted to the appropriate AC Regional Office. During the course of routine inspections, AC inspectors will review documentation that assures that elephants are being tested, and, if the animals test positive or are diseased, are treated according to the recommended guidelines or other APHIS approved protocol. In addition, in order to protect the health of elephants that have not been exposed to the disease from humans who may be infected with tuberculosis, AC is requiring that all attendants, handlers, and/or trainees which have direct contact with elephants be tested for tuberculosis on at least an annual basis. It is the responsibility of each licensee, in consultation with a physician or other appropriate medical authority, to determine how this requirement will be satisfied. Policy #22 -- Necropsy Requirements -- October 13, 1998
9 CFR, Part 2, Section 2.33 and 2.40(b)(2) History: This is a new policy statement. Justification: Current regulatory and policy requirements
for the performance of a necropsy have focused on elephants and marine mammals.
Notwithstanding these requirements, there are times when the performance of one
or more necropsies is necessary to provide adequate veterinary care for a
facility by providing diagnoses of conditions, thereby allowing for adequate
prevention, control, and treatment of the disease.
When warranted by circumstances including--but not limited to--the list below, and at the discretion of the attending veterinarian, regulated facilities should perform necropsies as part of providing adequate veterinary care. Similarly, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) inspector, in consultation with their Regional office supervisor, may require a facility to perform necropsies on selected regulated animals which die (including euthanasia) at that licensed or registered facility. Necropsy records, like other medical information, will be maintained at the facility for at least 1 year or as otherwise specified in the Animal Welfare Act (AWA) regulations and standards, and be made available on request to APHIS personnel. Necropsies should be conducted within an appropriate interval after the death, and/or the body should be kept at appropriate refrigerated temperatures to ensure a meaningful examination. All necropsy reports must be signed and dated by the veterinarian preparing the report. Circumstances which may warrant necropsy performance:
For the purposes of this policy, a "necropsy" means an appropriate post-mortem examination (which complies with currently acceptable professional standards) of the animal performed by or under the direct supervision of a veterinarian experienced with that species which may include, but not limited to, a systemic gross pathology examination (internal and external), appropriate microbiological culture and histopathology of lesions, and other indicated testing. All results are to be recorded in the animal's medical record. Policy #23 -- Criteria for Licensing Hoofstock
Dealers -- October 13, 1998
History: Replaces five previous policies: Justification: The policies listed above were in need of consolidation, coordination, and clarification.
Persons selling hoofstock may or may not require licensing as dealers. The following criteria should be used to determine whether a dealer's license is required: - The sale must be for regulated purposes. Policy #24 -- Adequate Enclosures for Flying Species and Aquatic Species -- October 13, 1998
9 CFR, Part 3, Section 3.128 History: Regulated flying species and aquatic or semi-aquatic species are covered under Subpart F. Justification: The unique biological and physiological needs
of these species require clarification of their space requirements as set forth
under the general language of Section 3.128.
Subpart F species that fly (i.e., bats) must be provided with sufficient unobstructed enclosure volume to enable movement by flying and sufficient roosting space to allow all individuals to rest simultaneously. For Subpart F species that, under natural conditions, spend a significant portion of their time in water (such as capybaras, beavers, river otters, hippopotami, tapirs, etc.,), compliance with space requirements will necessitate both dry and aquatic portions of the primary enclosure, each of which must, at a minimum, provide sufficient space to allow each animal therein to make "normal postural and social adjustments with adequate freedom of movement." "Normal postural and social adjustments" and "adequate freedom of movement" are to be determined according to what is normal for that species under natural conditions. The spaces provided must, within each enclosure portion, comfortably accommodate species-typical postures, postural adjustments, and movement. For example, hippopotami are known to be aquatic during daylight hours and often submerge completely for long periods, sometimes walking underwater, often floating without standing. However, at night, they become terrestrial and graze on the ground. Thus, an amount of space that permits "adequate freedom of movement" and "normal postural and social adjustments" must consist of dry and aquatic areas that each allow for at least minimal locomotion of the kind that hippos would normally engage in within that medium. Aquatic areas of primary enclosures shall not contain water which would be detrimental to the health of the animals in those enclosures. This policy is not meant to cover marine mammals, whose requirements are delineated in Subpart E. Policy #25 -- Proper Diets for Large Felids -- October 13, 1998
9 CFR, Subpart F, Section 3.129 History: This is a new policy statement. Justification: To clarify what is considered acceptable
nutritious food for large felids (lions, tigers, cougars, pumas, jaguars,
leopards, snow leopards, clouded leopards, and cheetahs)
The diet for large felids must be wholesome, palatable, and free from contamination. A number of commercially prepared diets are available which are appropriate for the varying needs of large exotic felids. If such diets are not used, the attending veterinarian--preferably in consultation with a nutritionist--must approve, in writing, a nutritionally complete alternative diet. The written diet is to specify the type, quantity, and frequency of any nutritional supplements. A diet composed exclusively of poultry necks or red muscle meat is not nutritionally complete, and will result in metabolic disease and severe structural damage, if not the death of the animal. A diet based on muscle meat alone will result in a vitamin A deficiency. The feeding of road kills should be discouraged. If they are used, they must be fresh, wholesome, and fed as soon as possible. The carcass must be removed when spoilage begins, or 12 hours after it has been placed into the enclosure. If not immediately fed, it must be processed into smaller pieces and frozen for future use. Sick animals, or animals that have died of illness or unknown causes, must not be used for food. Animals euthanized with chemical euthanizing agents must not be used for food because of the danger of poisoning. When food animals have been euthanized by gunshot, the lead shot should be removed to prevent lead poisoning from ingestion of the pellets. Downer animals exhibiting signs of central nervous system disorders, including dairy and beef cows, horses, other livestock (particularly sheep), and wildlife species, must not be used for food because of the risk of transmissible spongiform encephalopathies. This includes animals suffering from scrapie and any chronic wasting disease. If the downer animals were clearly harvested because of physical injuries only, they may be used for food when properly processed. In addition, animals known or suspected of being affected with Johne's disease should not be fed to large felids. Adherence to a strict feeding schedule is strongly recommended. Scheduled feedings will result in the animals consuming the meal more quickly, decreasing the time for potential spoilage. Meals should be of proper proportions, to facilitate consumption before they spoil or become contaminated. If spoilage does not require earlier removal, food not consumed within 12 hours must be removed and disposed of properly. Stored meat must be refrigerated, or wrapped and frozen. Frozen meats must be handled appropriately to prevent contamination; i.e., thawed under refrigeration. Bakery products are not to be fed since felids do not have the enzymes necessary to digest food with a high carbohydrate content. Outdated meats from grocery stores may be fed if kept refrigerated or frozen until used. If fish are provided as a part of the diet, appropriate vitamin E and thiamine supplementation is required to compensate for thiaminase and high polyunsaturated fatty acid content. In order to mimic natural feeding behaviors and when approved by the attending veterinarian, animals may be fasted for 1 or 2 nonconsecutive days per week. During fasting, long femur bones, oxtails, horsetails, or rawhides should be fed in order to promote periodontal health and provide an opportunity for the animals to engage in more natural feeding behaviors. This is a good practice even when the animals are not fasted. If young felids are not kept with the dam until weaned, a balanced formula and an appropriate feeding schedule should be approved in writing by the attending veterinarian. Policy #26 -- Regulation of Agricultural Animals -- November 17, 1998
9 CFR, Part 3, Subpart F
Justification: The Animal Welfare Act (AWA) regulations
cover farm animals that are used in activities that are regulated by the AWA.
Farm animals, such as domestic cattle, horses, sheep, swine, and goats that are used for traditional, production agricultural purposes are exempt from coverage by the AWA. Traditional production agricultural purposes includes use as food and fiber, for improvement of animal nutrition, breeding, management, or production efficiency, or for improvement of the quality of food or fiber. Farm animals that are used to manufacture and test veterinary biological products intended for use in the diagnosis, treatment, or prevention of diseases in agricultural animals are, therefore, exempt from U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) regulatory authority under the AWA. USDA considers this use to be agricultural research, thus, not a regulated activity. Farm animals that are used to test and produce biologicals for nonagricultural or nonproduction animals are covered by Part 3, Subpart F of the regulations. We consider this to be nonagricultural research and testing that is covered by the AWA and the regulations. As such, when farm animals are used to test or manufacture vaccines, bacterins, toxoids, and other related veterinary biologicals that will be used exclusively in nonproduction animals such as dogs and cats and other pet animals, or in both nonproduction, as well as, farm animals, they are regulated and monitored for compliance with the regulations. An example of the latter may include rabies vaccine or other product that has a multi-species label recommendation. Farm animals that are used as models for human subjects in order to test or manufacture biologicals that will ultimately be used in humans are also regulated. USDA considers this to be biomedical research which is a regulated activity. Policy 27 (revised) -- Capture Methods of Prairie Dogs -- November 17th, 2000
History: Provides requested guidance. This replaces previous Policy #27, dated February 23, 1999. Additions to this policy clarify the use of water for capturing prairie dogs, and adds the requirement for an itinerary. Justification: Methods used to capture prairie dogs from natural habitats for covered purposes will be done in a humane manner.
To comply with 9 CFR, Section 2.126, an itinerary of capture dates and sites must be provided to the Regional Office at least two days prior to collection. Policy #28 --- Licensing Sales of Dead Animals --- September 30, 1999
History: This is a new policy statement Justification: The definition of "dealer" in the Animal Welfare Act (AWA) states that a dealer "is any person who . . . buys or sells . . . any dog or other animal whether alive or dead for research, teaching, exhibition, or use as a pet . . . ." Some confusion has arisen concerning when sales of dead animals should be regulated to meet Congressional intent. Section 1(b) of the AWA clearly states that the intent of the Act is:
In order to meet these goals, we must ensure humane euthanasia of all covered live animals. Therefore, persons who acquire live animals, kill them, and then sell them for covered purposes must be licensed. Regulatory coverage of animals that are already dead when obtained is aimed at preventing stolen pets from being sold for covered purposes. Since pounds are an unlikely source of stolen animals, persons who obtain dead dogs/cats from pounds do not need to be regulated. Likewise, dead animals obtained from USDA licensed dealers come from a documented source and requiring further regulation would serve no purpose. This policy is to clarify when persons who sell dead animals or animal parts need to be licensed.
The following persons who sell dead animals or animal parts do require a license:
Any person who acquires a dead dog or cat from a private, unlicensed source is required to obtain a USDA license to sell that animal for covered purposes. The following persons who sell dead animals do not require a license: Policy #29 ---Farm Animals Used for Nonagricultural Purposes -February 11, 2000
History: This is a new policy. Farm animals used in activities regulated under the AWA are maintained in both agricultural and nonagricultural environments. Animal Care inspectors, the research and exhibition communities, as well as other members of the public, have requested that we provide more specific guidance than what the regulations contain for the humane care of farm animals used in regulated activities. Justification: The AWA authorizes APHIS to regulate farm animals, such as cattle, sheep, pigs, and goats, when the animals are used for biomedical or other nonagricultural research or nonagricultural exhibition. In light of the increased use of farm animals for covered purposes and because the needs of farm animals can be different from other kinds of animals typically used in research and exhibition, we developed this policy.
This policy offers guidance on how regulated entities can comply with the standards in the regulations as they apply to farm animals. Animal Care has adopted two guides, the "Guide for the Care and Use of Agricultural Animals in Agricultural Research and Teaching," published by the Federation of Animal Science Societies, and the "Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals," published by the Institute for Laboratory Animal Research (ILAR). The two publications are commonly known as the "Ag Guide" and the "ILAR Guide," respectively. We adopted these two specific guides because they represent the most current scientific information available on handling, housing, care, treatment, and transportation of farm animals for nonagricultural purposes. They are widely used, are the most complete guides available, are relatively inexpensive and easily obtained, and are being used by most institutions that receive funding from the Public Health Service or are accredited by the Association for Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care International (AAALAC International). The Ag Guide contains recommendations to ensure the humane care of farm animals that are maintained in agricultural or typical farm-like settings. It contains principles that apply to all farm animals, as well as species specific recommendations. The ILAR Guide is a general guide that recommends practices that may be applied to the care and use of farm animals when they are housed in typical laboratory settings. Regulated entities may use applicable sections of the guides to supplement their understanding of how to meet the standards in the regulations. Use of these guides should help ensure consistent enforcement by Animal Care inspectors. Adoption of these guides is intended only as additional guidance on how to meet the already existing standards in the regulations. They are to be used only to supplement or interpret the regulations. Both guides contain recommendations concerning animals such as poultry and areas such as environmental enhancement and individual animal identification that are not covered or required under the regulations. Those portions of the guides that do not relate to or support the current standards in the regulations cannot be enforced by Animal Care inspectors. At the same time, nothing in the guides will be used to reduce or lessen any of the requirements in the current regulations. As there are other published guides, as well as other sources of information that provide recommendations on the humane care of farm animals in various settings, licensees and registrants may use recommendations from other sources, as long as the chosen practice satisfies the standards in the regulations. All Animal Care inspectors have been provided these guides; however, since
they are not published by APHIS, we cannot provide copies to the public. To
obtain a copy of the Ag Guide and ILAR Guide contact the the following:
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©1999, Janet Becker Rodgers, DVM, MS, DipACLAM, MRCVS All rights reserved. Comments? Send an email to janet.rodgers@vet.ox.ac.uk |
