| Colorado Maintains its TB Accredited Free Status |
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LAKEWOOD, Colo. - Tests results are negative on nearly 700 head of livestock tested for bovine tuberculosis (TB). The testing stems from an investigation by the Colorado Department of Agriculture and United States Department of Agriculture after a Douglas County bull tested positive for TB.
"At this time, we have not found any other Colorado cattle with bovine tuberculosis," said Colorado State Veterinarian John Maulsby. "We are optimistic that Colorado will maintain its TB Accredited Free status, which is granted by USDA, and we will continue to work to protect the Colorado livestock industry." The investigation began when a bull was sold by its Colorado owner to a meat packing plant in San Angelo, Texas. During routine inspection of the carcass, lesions were discovered in the lungs of the bull. The meat was isolated from the processing line, and no parts of the animal entered the food chain. Five Colorado herds were quarantined comprising of nearly 700 cattle. Each head of livestock underwent two tests to ensure the most accurate outcome. The results of those tests show none of those cattle had TB. "The next step will be to retest all of those cattle in 60 days," said Maulsby. "If those tests also come back negative, then Colorado's TB Accredited Free Status will be secure." Bovine tuberculosis is a zoonotic pathogen that causes lesions in the thoracic and abdominal cavity of infected animals. It is spread primarily by respiratory aerosols being exhaled or coughed out by infected animals and can then be inhaled by animals or humans. Colorado has been a TB Accredited Free State since 1974. For more information on bovine TB, log onto www.ag.state.co.us/animals/LivestockDisease/tb.html |
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| Last Updated ( Wednesday, 14 March 2007 ) |